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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.

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Larry | Gerry | Gordon | Don | Dave

Karl

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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.

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