I started my professional musical career in Liverpool. In the late1950s and my main
musical Influence at that time was the music of Lonnie Donegan. I helped
co-form the Pop Group "Karl Terry & The Cruisers" We played the music of Chuck Berry,
Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Cliff Richard and The Shadows etc.I started on
Rhythm Guitar then became the Bass Guitarist.The group went on to become one
of Liverpool’s most popular "Groups".And in the early 60s we were voted
Liverpool’s 7th most popular group in a MerseyBeat Poll. We appeared at
most of Merseyside’s venues including New Brighton Tower Ballroom,
The Locano and Grafton Ballrooms, the world famous "Cavern Club" and
"The Star Club" Hamburg.
Larry | Gerry | Gordon | Don | Dave
Karl
Returning early from Hamburg due to a family bereavement, I joined The Frank Walmsley
Quartet playing at a gambling casino in Everton, Liverpool. This was a great venue and
a pleasure to be in until the police raided it!! I then joined forces with Ricky Tomlinson
and became one of his "City Slickers". We toured around the pubs and clubs of
Merseyside doing his manic type of entertainment. This was always unpredictable.
We went down to London for an audition at The Television Theatre for the BBC.
We didn’t get the job. After all, we were from “Up North” and they’d never seen
anything like us before. Seeing Ricky wearing just a night shirt and singing the
George Formby song “My Grandad's Flannelette Night Shirt” was too much for the
BBC in those days !!!
In 1969 I moved house to Manchester and went on to pursue my own musical ideas and
started working with a Jazz Trio at The Last Drop near Bolton entertaining the “Diners”.
There, I met amongst other celebrities Neil Sedaka who gave me a whole lot of
encouragement. I then recorded many sessions in numerous recording studios
including the famous Strawberry Studios in Stockport and for many years as "Backing
and Session Musician both in studios and social clubs around the Manchester area.
This part of my career lasted until the arrival of technology and the start of the
self-contained acts bringing their own pre-recorded backing tracks. Because of these
actions by club committees most musicians in club-land became redundant. I still feel that
this action was the downfall of a lot of excellent social clubs.
Over the years I appeared on many shows with The Beatles, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates,
The Shadows, Johnny Cymbal (Mr. Bass man), The Tornados, Billy Fury, The Searchers,
Karl Denver, Don Estelle, Danny La Rue, Little & Large, Emile Ford,
Gerry & The Pacemakers,Jerry Lee Lewis etc. etc.
After moving to Blackpool in 1988 I took up playing the Double Bass and formed
"The Gerry Clayton Quartet" to supply a need for a multi-purpose function band able
to cater for dancers and non-dancers alike. The Quartet was resident at The Imperial Hotel
Blackpool for four years, The Queens Hotel, Blackpool for four years and three years at
The Grand Hotel, St. Annes. The Lonnie Donegan influence is still apparent with willing
members of the audience taking part in a tribute "Skiffle Session". I joined The Festival
Jazzmen as Bass Player and backed many Local and Internaionaly famed jazz players
such as John Barnes, (All the Saxes), Digby Fairweather, (Trumpet), Kenny Ball,
Roy Williams, (Trombone), Humphrey Littleton.(Trumpet) Digby Fairweather (Trumpet)
and many more too numerous to list.
In 2000 I was honoured when asked to join Blackpool Symphony Orchestra on Double Bass which
brought a whole new style to my repetoire.
On 2nd March 2008 Karl Terry & I played at ”The Cavern” together
again for the 1st time in 47 years.
