CLASSIC ROCK INTERVIEWS: #The Beatles

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Thursday, August 30, 2018

GUITARIST JOHN MCNALLY AND THE LEGENDARY SEARCHERS BID FAREWELL IN 2019

J O H N

M C N A L L Y

GUITARIST

WITH THE LEGENDARY

SEARCHERS

A LONG AND FINAL FAREWELL!

EXCLUSIVE

Remember....

"Sweets for My Sweet"; "Needles and Pins" "When You Walk in the Room"; "Sugar and Spice"; "Don't Throw Your Love Away"' "Love Potion No. 9" to name just a few … the Searchers tied for the second group from Liverpool, after the Beatles, to have a hit in the US when their "Needles and Pins" and the Swinging Blue Jeans' "Hippy Hippy Shake" both reached the Hot 100 on 7 March 1964.
It’s little wonder then that most observers considered The Searchers to be the most successful and important Group, after the Beatles, in that quite wonderful period of Pop Music.

Originally founded as a skiffle group in Liverpool in 1959 by John McNally and Mike Pender (Mike Prendergast), the band took their name from the classic 1956 John Wayne western The Searchers.

The band grew out of an earlier skiffle group formed by McNally, with his friends Brian Dolan (guitar) and Tony West (bass). When the other two members lost interest, McNally was joined by his guitarist neighbor Mike Prendergast. They soon recruited Tony Jackson with his home-made bass guitar and amplifier and styled themselves Tony and the Searchers with Joe Kelly on drums. Kelly soon left to be replaced by Norman McGarry and it is this line-up—McNally, Pender (as he soon became known), Jackson and McGarry—that is usually cited as the original foursome.

The band returned to a residence, at the Iron Door Club and it was there that they tape recorded the sessions that led to a recording contract with Pye Records with Tony Hatch as producer.

Hatch played piano on some recordings and wrote "Sugar and Spice"—the band’s second number one record—under the pseudonym Fred Nightingale; a secret he kept from the band at the time.

The group continued to tour through the 1970s and were rewarded in 1979 when Sire Records signed the band to a multi-record deal. Two albums were released by them, The Searchers and Play for Today (retitled Love's Melodies outside the UK). Both records garnered great critical acclaim but did not break into the charts. They did however revitalize the group's career. According to John McNally, the band were ready to head into the studio to record a third album for Sire when they were informed that due to label reorganization, their contract had been dropped.

In 1981, the band signed to PRT Records (formerly Pye, their original label) and began recording an album but only one single, "I Don't Want To Be The One" backed with "Hollywood", saw the light of day at that time. The rest of the tracks would be released as part of 2004's 40th Anniversary collection.

In 1985 MIKE PENDER left The Searchers to form his own group. His aim was, and still is to this day, to faithfully recreate the sound and feel of those Hit Recordings and at the same time introduce other material that compliments Mike's unique voice and guitar style.

In 1988, Coconut Records signed The Searchers and the album Hungry Hearts was the result. A very contemporary sounding release, it featured modern sounding remakes of "Needles and Pins" and "Sweets For My Sweets". While the album was not a major hit, it did keep the group in the public eye.

John McNally and the Searchers are still going strong today and hold a significant fanbase worldwide.

The band members are:

John McNally - original member and founder, 6string/12 string guitarist and vocals

Frank Allen - bass guitarist, vocals and front man

Spencer James - guitar synth and lead vocals

Scott Ottaway – on drums.

For more information about John McNally and The Searchers and up to the minute concert dates visit … http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/

JOHN MCNALLY GUITARIST

FOR

THE SEARCHERS

ON 'INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS'

w/RAY SHASHO

EXCLUSIVE

BBS RADIO

THE SEARCHERS TOUR DATES

Fri 31 August: WORTHING Pavilion Theatre (S)

SEPTEMBER

Sat 1 September: FALMOUTH Princess Pavilion (S)

Sun 2 September: TORQUAY Princess Theatre (S)

Fri 7 September: CHRISTCHURCH Regent Centre (S)

Fri 28 September: GREAT YARMOUTH St Georges Theatre (S)

Sat 29 September: CROMER Pier Pavilion (S)

Sun 30 September: WHITBY Pavilion Complex

SIXTIES GOLD AUTUMN TOUR

Featuring The Searchers, P J Proby, The Merseybeats,

The Fortunes, Steve Ellis (Love Affair) and Vanity Fare

For fuller information please see www.sixtiesgoldtour.co.uk

OCTOBER

Tues 2 October: OXFORD New Theatre

Wed 3 October: SOUTHPORT Southport Theatre

Thur 4 October: LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru

Fri 5 October: CARDIFF St David’s Hall

Sat 6 October: ST ALBANS Alban Arena (2 shows)

Sun 7 October: IPSWICH Regent Theatre

Fri 12 October: LEICESTER De Montfort Hall

Sat 13 October: STEVENAGE Concert Hall

Sun 14 October: SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion

Fri 19 October: WEYMOUTH Pavilion Theatre

Sat 20 October: MARGATE Winter Gardens

Sun 21 October: WIMBLEDON Wimbledon Theatre

Thur 25 October: DARTFORD Orchard Theatre (2 shows)

Fri 26 October: STOW ON THE WOLD St Edward's Church (Stow Music Festival) (not part of Sixties Gold tour)

Sun 28 October: LEEDS Grand Theatre (2 shows)

NOVEMBER

Thur 1 November: GLASGOW Royal Concert Hall

Fri 2 November: DUNDEE Caird Hall

Sat 3 November: INVERNESS Eden Court (2 shows)

Sun 4 November: ABERDEEN Beach Ballroom

Tue 6 November: GATESHEAD The Sage

Wed 7 November: BLACKPOOL Opera House

Sat 10 November NORTHAMPTON Derngate

Sun 11 November: NORWICH Theatre Royal

Sat 17 November: LIVERPOOL Philharmonic Hall

Sun 18 November: CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange

Fri 23 November: DONCASTER The Dome

Sun 25 November: SOUTHAMPTON Mayflower Theatre

Wed 28 November: BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall

Fri 30 November: MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall

DECEMBER

Sun 2 December: CARLISLE Sands Centre

(end of Sixties Gold Tour)

Fri 7 December: WIMBORNE Tivoli Theatre (S)

Sat 8 December: WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall

Fri 14 December:    NR NOTTINGHAM   Lowdham Village Hall (S)

Sat 15 December:    NR CHARD Cricket St Thomas (Warner's weekend break)

Sun 23 December:   HULL City Hall

THE SEARCHERS FAREWELL TOUR

4 January – 31 March 2019

S = Solo all evening show, with no support acts

Please note that although some of these shows are already on sale,

others may not be for a while yet.

JANUARY

Fri 4 January: MARKET DRAYTON Festival at Drayton Centre (S)

Sat 5 January: MARKET DRAYTON (as above - second night)

Fri 11 January: DISS Corn Hall (S)

Sat 12 January: HAYES The Beck Theatre (S)

Sun 13 January: NR READING The Mill at Sonning (dinner and show)

Thurs 17 January: MAIDSTONE Hazlitt Theatre (S)

Fri 18 January: BASILDON Towngate Theatre (S)

Sat 19 January: BURY ST EDMUNDS Apex Theatre (S)

Sun 20 January: EPSOM Playhouse (S)

Wed 23 January: MORECAMBE Platform Theatre (S)

Thurs 24 January: RUNCORN The Brindley (S)

Fri 25 January: DONCASTER The Cast (S)

Sat 26 January: STOCKPORT Plaza (S)

Sun 27 January: LINCOLN New Theatre Royal (S)

Thurs 31 January: SOLIHULL Core Theatre (S)

FEBRUARY

Fri 1 February: RHYL Pavilion Theatre (S)

Sat 2 February: BARROW IN FURNESS Forum 28 (S)

Sun 3 February: BOLTON Albert Halls (S)

Weds 6 February: YEOVIL Octagon Theatre (S)

Thurs 7 February: HEREFORD Courtyard Theatre (S)

Fri 8 February: PORTHCAWL Grand Pavilion (S)

Sat 9 February: NR CAERPHILLY Blackwood Miners Institute (S)

Sun 10 February: EVESHAM Arts Centre (S)

Thurs 14 February: WAKEFIELD Theatre Royal (S)

Fri 15 February: WHITLEY BAY Playhouse (S)

Sat 16 February: BROMSGROVE The Artrix (S)

Sun 17 February: STAFFORD The Gatehouse (S)

Mon 18 February: CANTERBURY Marlowe Theatre (S)

Thurs 21 February: LOWESTOFT The Marina (S)

Fri 22 February: BEDFORD Corn Exchange (S)

Sat 23 February: KINGS LYNN Corn Exchange (S)

Sun 24 February: HAYLING ISLAND Sinah Warren (Warner’s weekend break)

(not part of the Solo Tour)

Wed 27 February: POCKLINGTON (near York) Arts Centre (S)

Thurs 28 February: GLENROTHES Rothes Hall (S)

MARCH

Fri 1 March: MOTHERWELL Concert Hall (S)

Sat 2 March: MUSSELBURGH Brunton Hall (S)

Sun 3 March: LIVINGSTONE Howden Park Centre (S)

Weds 6 March: FAREHAM Ferneham Hall (S)

Thurs 7 March: HARLOW Playhouse (S)

Fri 8 March: CREWE Lyceum Theatre (S)

Sat 9 March: NEW BRIGHTON Pavilion Theatre (S)

Sun 10 March: LEEDS City Varieties (S)

Thurs 14 March: MANSFIELD Palace Theatre (S)

Fri 15 March WIMBORNE Tivoli Theatre (S)

Sat 16 March: HORSHAM Capitol Theatre (S)

Sun 17 March: PETERBOROUGH Key Theatre (S)

Weds 20 March: CANNOCK Prince of Wales Theatre (S)

Thurs 21 March: DARLINGTON Hippodrome (formerly Civic) (S)

Fri 22 March: LOUGHBOROUGH Town Hall (S)

Sat 23 March: LYTHAM ST ANNES Lowther Pavilion (S)

Sun 24 March: REDDITCH Palace Theatre (S)

Weds 27 March: HIGH WYCOMBE Swan Theatre (S)

Thurs 28 March: CROMER Pier Pavilion (S)

Fri 29 March: CAMBERLEY Camberley Theatre (S)

Sat 30 March: WEYMOUTH Pavilion Theatre (S)

Sun 31 March: NR MILTON KEYNES The Stables, Wavendon (S) SOLD OUT

Sadly the Searchers will then be retiring

Thursday, June 8, 2017

PETER ASHER TALKS ABOUT THE BEATLES-PETER & GORDON-APPLE RECORDS-JAMES TAYLOR-LINDA RONSTADT AND MUCH MORE!

P E T E R A S H E R

INTERVIEWED ON

THE RAY SHASHO SHOW-BBS RADIO

Peter Asher’s legendary music career began in 1964 as one-half of the singing duo Peter & Gordon, who amassed nine Top 20 records during their career. Their debut single, “A World without Love” – a song given to them by Paul McCartney – went to number one in over 30 countries, including the U.S. and U.K. In 1968, Mr. Asher became head of A&R for the Beatles newly formed record company, Apple Records, where he found, signed and produced James Taylor and worked closely with the Beatles on their individual projects. During this period he became a key figure in the “revolution” of The Sixties, founding the book shop and art gallery “Indica” (where John and Yoko met and where Allen Ginsberg and William Boroughs visited) and found himself at the centre of an era of profound social and artistic change.

In 1971, Asher moved to the U.S. and founded Peter Asher Management, representing James Taylor and, beginning in 1973, the management and production of Linda Ronstadt as well. Peter Asher Management became one of the most successful Artist Management companies in the US, handling artists such as Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, and Carole King as well as James and Linda.

Asher quit the personal management business in 1995 when he was appointed Senior Vice President of Sony Music, a post he held for eight years.

He has been awarded 37 RIAA-certified gold albums and 22 platinum albums in the U.S., and many more internationally. Mr. Asher has produced fourteen Grammy Award-winning recordings, and in 1977 and 1989 was honored individually with the Grammy Award for “Producer of the Year”. He won a further Grammy in the category of “Comedy Album of the Year” for his production work with Robin Williams.

After a 37 year gap, Peter & Gordon reunited in New York for one benefit concert for a friend on August 2, 2005 which was very successful and they went on to perform together on various special occasions just for the fun of it until Gordon’s untimely death in July of 2009.

Since then Peter has continued to be in high demand as a record producer, consultant, lecturer and as a performer again in his highly successful one-man show, “A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond”. He has also received various international awards, is a member of Mensa and of SAG-AFTRA, President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Recording Academy and has been a frequent keynote speaker at industry events.

Other projects have included “Carole King & James Taylor Live at the Troubadour”, an album from guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela (“Area 52”, recorded in Cuba) and the Buddy Holly tribute “Listen to Me” (an album and PBS TV Special).

With Hans Zimmer, Peter produced music for “Pirates of the Caribbean 4”, “Sherlock Holmes 2”, “Madagascar 3”, “Man of Steel” and “Rush”. In fact, Peter sang and produced the only original song in “Madagascar 3”, the love theme “Love Always Comes as a Surprise” which Peter co-wrote with his friend Dave Stewart.

Recent productions include “So Familiar”, the follow-up album to the highly successful (and Grammy-winning) “Love Has Come for You” (Steve Martin & Edie Brickell) .

These albums have also generated a PBS special and a stage musical, “Bright Star”, of which Peter is the music supervisor. Peter also directed the highly acclaimed Hans Zimmer Live show which first opened in London in 2014. It is now on an extensive world tour which began at the legendary Coachella Festival in California.

He recently worked with Steve Martin on a new bluegrass album with the Steep Canyon Rangers, and with Elton John on an album to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Elton John/Bernie Taupin songwriting partnership.

In the New Year’s Honours list for 2015, Peter Asher was awarded a CBE (“Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire”) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, for services to the music industry. The official investiture took place at Buckingham Palace on February the 24th, conducted by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

Most recently, it was announced with much fanfare that an official Apple-approved Beatles channel is to premiere on SiriusXM Radio at the end of May and that the programming will include a weekly one hour show, “From Me to You”, hosted exclusively by Peter Asher.

P E T E R A S H E R

INTERVIEWED ON

THE RAY SHASHO SHOW-BBS RADIO

(CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN)

AND PLEASE SUBSCRIBE

TO MY YOU TUBE CHANNEL

For more information about Peter Asher and upcoming tour dates visit www.peterashermusic.com

Be sure to listen to Peter Asher’s new radio show ‘From Me To You’ every Thursday at 8pm ET on Sirius XM Channel 18 -The Beatles Channel

Peter Asher will Host the 2018 Flower Power Cruise Feb 24-March 3rd …Visit www.flowerpowercruise.com for more information

Also visit …www.peterandgordon.net

SPECIAL ACOUSTIC DUO DATES BY

PETER ASHER AND ALBERT LEE

SAT. JUNE 17, 2017 -- VAN DYCK LOUNGE, SCHENECTADY, NY

SUN., JUNE 18, 2017 --CUTTING ROOM, NEW YORK, NY

MON. JUNE 19, 2017--WORLD CAFE LIVE, PHILADELPHIA PA

TUE. JUNE 20, 2017 -- TIN PAN, RICHMOND, VA

WED. JUNE 21, 2017 -- JAMMIN JAVA, VIENNA, VA

THUR., JUNE 22, 2017 -- MCLOONE'S, ASBURY PARK, NJ

FRI. JUNE 23, 2017 -- TOWNE CRIER, BEACON, NY

SAT. JUNE 24, 2017 -- PETER ASHER (NO ALBERT LEE, BUT MANY OTHER PERFORMERS...)-CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY, LOCATION TBA, NY,NY

SUN., JUNE 25, 2017 --STEPHEN TALKHOUSE, AMAGANSETT, NY

MON., JUNE 26, 2017 --PETER ASHER (NO ALBERT LEE, BUT MANY OTHER PERFORMERS...)-CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY, LOCATION TBA, NY, NY

JULY 22^ND 2017 –SPACE, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS

THE RAY SHASHO SHOW

Bi-weekly Monday Afternoon at 3 pm Pacific/6 pm Eastern

On the BBS Radio 1 Network

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Please don’t forget to purchase a copy of my book entitled Check the Gs -the true story of an eclectic American family and their Wacky family business … or the second edition entitled … Wacky Shenanigans on F Street- ‘Proud to be Politically Incorrect in Washington DC’ ... available now at amazon.com.

Have a great week everybody!

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Ray Shasho Interviews Michael Pinder

Interviewed on Wednesday February 12th 2014

Michael Pinder Exclusive: The Moody Blues Founder Admits to Seeing UFO Formations
http://www.classicrockhereandnow.com/2014/02/michael-pinder-exclusive-moody-blues.html