HISTORY
The Spacemen Skiffle Group in 1957 with Joe Brown, Peter Oakman and Gary Gleed standing at the back with Sid Rodwell, George Staff and Tony Oakman at the front.
The Spacemen skiffle group was formed in 1956 by Tony and Peter with some members of Wanstead Aeromodellers' Club of which Tony was a member. In 1957 Joe Brown joined the group as lead guitarist. Gradually The Spacemen changed members with the band consisting of Tony, Peter, Joe, George Staff on guitar, Sid Rodwell on washboard and Gary Gleed on double bass. Eventually Gary left and Peter became the bass player.
In 1959 the group became a backing band for impresario Larry Parnes, who was putting together rock 'n' roll package tours. The artistes on the first tour were The Viscounts, Vince Eager, Sally Kelly, Marty Wilde and Gerry Dorsey, later to become Englebert Humperdinck.
Jack Good, who was producing 'Oh Boy', the T.V. music show featuring Cliff Richard, produced the group's first record for Decca "The Darktown Strutters Ball" but we needed a new name. Joe said to Jack Good: "Well, we're like bruvvers" hence the name Joe Brown & The Bruvvers. It was around this time Gene Vincent made his first trip to the UK and it was Joe & The Bruvvers who backed Gene.
'The Echoes in 1960 with Dave Burns, Peter Oakman, Johnny Satan, George Staff and Tony Oakman with Johnny Preston, Conway Twitty & Freddy Cannon at the front.
In 1960 Joe Brown featured in Jack Good's new TV show "Boy Meets Girl" which left The Bruvvers at a loose end, so they formed The Echoes bringing in Chris Wayne on vocals and Dave Burns on lead guitar. During 1960 The Echoes worked with Wee Willie Harris and then toured with Conway Twitty, Freddie Cannon and Johnny Preston.
Chris Wayne and The Echoes are, left to right, Peter and Tony Oakman, Chris Wayne, George Staff, Dave Burns and drummer Laurie Jay who, like most drummers, is hidden!
Joe Brown with Peter and Tony Oakman rehearsing on stage at The Globe Theatre in Stockton in 1962. Drummer Bobby Graham can just be seen to the left of Joe's guitar!
Back as Joe Brown & The Bruvvers the group switched labels and joined Pye Piccadilly where they had a string of hits including "A Picture Of You" written by Peter Oakman and Johnny Beveridge, which went to No.1 in the charts during the Summer of 1962. It was around this time that The Beatles were supporting Joe Brown & The Bruvvers at The Cavern and other venues in the Liverpool area.
Joe Brown with Peter backstage at the Rialto Theatre in York about 1962/63.
Joe Brown and The Bruvvers topped the bill at The Cambridge Hall, Lord Street in Southport on Thursday, July 26th, 1962 co-starring The Beatles. Thanks to Tony Booth of The Beatles Posters for allowing us to use this posters on our site.
Joe Brown & the Bruvvers with co-starred The Beatles at the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton in 1962. Thanks to the Southport Visiter website for the use of this nostalgic poster.
Peter says: "I can remember John Lennon saying that they'd just recorded their first single "Love Me Do" which was to be released soon". It became their first hit in 1963. Peter has The Beatles version of "A Picture Of You" - with lead vocals by George Harrison. In 1963 Joe Brown & The Bruvvers toured with Dion and Del Shannon and also that year saw the group doing their first Summer Season in Great Yarmouth at the Windmill Theatre. On the show were The Tornadoes, Mark Wynter, Rolf Harris and the Ross Taylor Dancers, which included Ann who Peter married in January 1966. During the Summer Season, Tony and Peter rented a large house near to Caister Horse Race Track and every Sunday The Beatles played the ABC Theatre and then partied back at the house afterwards. Good times for sure!
"A Picture of You" which was written by Pete Oakman takes pride of place on this poster which is displayed in the famous Cavern in Liverpool. Joe Brown and The Bruvvers, supported by the north's greatest sound the sensational Beatles were at The Cambridge Hall in Southport on July 26th, 1962. Thanks to Tony Booth of The Beatles Posters for granting permission to use this poster.
Peter Oakman in 1964 on double bass with legendary Lonnie Donegan - the British hero who started the UK guitar craze. In December 1963 Peter left Joe Brown and a few days later got a phone call from Lonnie Donegan which started his long involvement with him which sadly ended when Lonnie passed away in November 2002. Lonnie was the person who started it all for UK guitarists in 1955 with "Rock Island Line".
The Bruvvers with Danny & The Juniors in 1995 with, in the top row, Steven Oakman, John Clare, Peter Oakman and Tony Collier with Frank Maffei, Joe Terry and Johnny Petillo in the light blue jackets.
The Lonnie Donegan Tribute Show
'The Lonnie Donegan Tribute Show at The Royal Albert Hall, London, June 21st 2004. Musical Director & Master of Ceremonies: Peter Oakman. On June 21st 2004 The Donegan Band played host to a multitude of artists who came to The Royal Albert Hall, London to pay tribute to Lonnie Donegan who died in 2002. The condition was that all artistes performed Lonnie Donegan songs. Stars included Billy Bragg, Joe Brown, Joe Cocker, Roger Daltrey, Rolf Harris, Mark Knopfler, Gerry Marsden (Gerry & The Pacemakers), Van Morrison and Rick Wakeman. This really was a night to remember.
Peter Oakman with Van Morrison and, on the right, with Joe Cocker.
Rolf Harris, Gerry Marsden and Peter and, on the right, Joe Brown entertains with Mark Knopfler.
Mark Knopfler, Roger Daltry and Peter Oakman and, on the right, Peter Oakman gives a closing speech next to Lonnie's widow Sharon. We appreciate the quality of these photographs are not brilliant but a night to remember.
Looking Back
Some of the great names Peter has enjoyed working with include:
Chet Atkins, Len Barry, Gary 'US" Bonds, Freddie Cannon, Lou Christie, Don Gibson, Peter Green, George Hamilton IV, Albert Hammond, Tim Hardin, Herman's Hermits, Justin Hayward, Danny & The Juniors, The Kinks, Brenda Lee, Chris Montez, Jerry Lee Lewis, Linda Gail Lewis, Little Eva, Hank Locklin, Johnny Preston, Charley Pride, Marvin Rainwater, The Shangri-La's, Del Shannon, Nat Stuckey, Connie Smith, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Gene Vincent, B. Bumble & The Stingers, Johnny Tillotson, The Troggs, Conway Twitty, The Yardbirds.
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Categories
History
The Spacemen Skiffle Group in 1957 with Peter Oakman, Mick Reeves, Tony Oakman, Dave Platt, Bert Remmet and Charles Thompson. Thanks to Mick Reeves for supplying the photograph.
Joe Brown and The Bruvvers taken at The Globe Theatre in Stockton with with Peter Oakman, Bobby Graham, Brian Dunn and Joe Brown.
Joe Brown and The Bruvvers on the television programme "Thank Your Lucky Stars' in 1962 with Peter Oakman, Bobby Graham and Brian Dunn.
Joe Brown singing "A Picture of You" on a television show with Bobby Graham, Brian Dunn and Peter Oakman.
"A Picture of You" on the Piccadilly label reached number one in 1962.
Congratulations from all at Piccadilly for reaching number one!
The sheet music for "A Picture Of You" sold for 2/6. The song, a No.1 hit for Joe Brown in 1962, was written by Peter Oakman and Johnny Beveridge.
Pete backstage at the Rialto Theatre in York around 1962/63 time.
Fooling around backstage.
Pete with "Bruvver" Brian Dunn in York 1962/63.
Country Fever during late 1968 with Jon Derek, Pete Oakman, Albert Lee and Jed Kelly.
Country Fever in 1969 with John Kitchener, Faron Young, Peter Oakman, Jamie Gunn and Albert Lee. Jon Derek was absent from this photograph because of illness at the time.
Peter's first break away from Lonnie Donegan came in 1968 when he joined a country band called Country Fever. The band consisted of Jon Derek vocals, Gerry Hogan on steel guitar, John Kitchener (aka Jed Kelly) on drums and Albert Lee on guitar.
Over a three-year period Country Fever worked with many visiting country artistes such as Don Gibson, Chet Atkins, Nat Stuckey, Connie Smith, George Hamilton IV, Bobby Bear, Charley Pride, Marvin Rainwater, Guy Mitchell and Hank Locklin. In 1971 Peter was back with Joe Brown in the band Home Brew. The band also featured Joe's wife Vicki, who later became a superstar in her own right throughout Northern Europe.
Harley Quinne with Peter Oakman, John Kitchener, Roger Dean and Steve Simpson.
Two writer/producers Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, who were friends of the band, were having many successes at this time with artistes such as Andy Williams, Cilla Black, The Drifters, Edison Lighthouse and The Fortunes. One of their biggest hits was The New Seekers with "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" which became a Coca Cola advertisement theme. Roger Cook produced the Home Brew album and in 1972 Roger Greenaway produced a new band that Peter and John Clare formed called Harley Quinne.
Their first hit was "New Orleans" which had previously been a hit for Gary US Bonds in 1962. Two more singles "Rock 'n' Roll Is Back Again" and "Such A Night" were minor hits. After a few years John Clare and Peter decided to get back to their roots and reformed The Bruvvers, which included Chris Hunt on drums and Peter's 17- year-old son Steven on piano.
Their reputation took them right back into recording regular sessions with the BBC and playing at their Gala Ball at the Savoy Hotel, London to launch the Children In Need Appeal.
Harley Quinne's recording of "New Orleans" which proved very successful.
Tramline - classic rock, blues, rhythm & blues, rock 'n' roll were all delivered by this all star collection of musicians. Tramline consisted of seasoned musicians from The Bruvvers (formerly with Joe Brown), Mick Avery's All Stars (formally with the Kinks), Harley Quinne and The Naturals, plus many special guests. The individual members of Tramline have worked with Paul McCartney, Chris Montez, Len Barr, Lonnie Donegan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gary U.S. Bonds, Brenda Lee, Mike Berry, Jet Harris, Daniel Boon and many, many more.
The Joe Brown album "A Picture of You" displayed in The Cavern in Liverpool along with a poster which has Joe and The Bruvvers topping the bill with support from The Beatles. Photograph © John Foster.
Balloons and bunting at Stella McCartney's 18th birthday party with Sir Paul McCartney and The Bruvvers having a chat.
The Bruvvers and Joe Brown Reunion during August 2001.
Vince Eager, Peter Oakman with Lonnie Donegan. This was Lonnie’s last ever performance at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall on October 30th, 2002. Lonnie passed away on Sunday, November 3rd, 2002. Photography kindly supplied by Vince Eager.
Pete with Stan Laundon in May 2010. Stan used to run Joe Brown's Fan Club from 1959-1966 and now does this website!
...Copyright © Peter Oakman