The man who for more than 40 years has been the 'Rock' of so many Rock'n'Roll Stars sings the hits and tells his stories live in concert
Peter Oakman was born 12th December 1943 in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, England to parents Albert and Francesca, the middle child of three sons. Tony had been born in 1939 (now deceased) and Michael in 1950. Peter's first public performance was in 1953 at a local talent competition with Tony, in celebration of the ascension to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II. Peter played guitar, Tony played banjo.
The 'Spacemen Skiffle Group' in 1957. Back: Joe Brown, Peter Oakman, Gary Gleed Front: Sid Rodwell, George Staff, Tony Oakman
In 1956 The Spacemen skiffle group was formed 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 Humperdink.
Jack Good, who was producing 'Oh Boy', the T.V. music show featuring Cliff Richard, produced the group's first record for Decca 'Darttown 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' 1960. Back: Dave Burns, Peter Oakman, Johnny Satan, George Staff, Tony Oakman Front: Johnny Preston, Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon
In 1960 Joe featured in Jack Good's new T.V. 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.
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 Beveridg, 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 & the Bruvvers' with co-stars 'The Beatles'
Tower Ballroom, New Brighton 1962
Peter says: "I can remember John Lennon saying that they had 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' - 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 A.B.C. Theatre and then partied back at the house afterwards.
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 and a few days later got a phone call from Lonnie Donegan which started his long involvement with Lonnie, 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'.
'Country Fever' 1969. Left to right: John Kitchener, Faron Young, Peter Oakman, Jamie, Albert Lee.
Peter's first break away from Lonnie 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 3-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, Charlie 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 Vikki, who later became a superstar in her own right throughout Northern Europe.
'Harley Quinne' 1972. John Clare, Peter Oakman, John Kitchener.
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 'Teach The World To Sing', which became the 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.
'The Bruvvers' with 'Danny & The Juniors' 1995. Top: Steven Oakman, John Clare, Peter Oakman, Tony Collier. Bottom: Frank Maffei, Joe Terry, Johnny Petillo.
Stella McCartney's 18th Birthday Party Above: Sir Paul McCartney and The Bruvvers having a chat. '
Some of the great names Peter has enjoyed working
with include:
Conway
Twitty
Freddie
Cannon
Johnny Preston
Brenda Lee
Johnny Tillotson
Chris Montez
Len Barry
Danny & The Juniors
Gary US Bonds
Jerry Lee Lewis
Linda Gail Lewis
Don Gibson
The Shangri-La's
Lou Christie
Charlie Pride
Hank Locklin
Chet Atkins
George Hamilton 1V
Nat Stuckey
Connie Smith
Marvin Rainwater
Gene Vincent
Del Shannon
Dion
Little Eva
B. Bumble & The Stingers
Tim Hardin
Herman's Hermits
The Troggs
The Yardbirds
The Kinks
Justin Hayward
Peter Green
Albert Hammond
The Swinging Blue Jeans
'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 artistes 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. Artistes included Rolf Harris, Gerry Marsden (Gerry and The Pacemakers), Rick Wakeman, Billy Bragg, Roger Daltrey, Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison and Joe Cocker. This really was a night to remember. Pi
Peter Oakman with Van Morrison. Joe Cocker with Peter Oakman. Peter Oakman, Gerry Marsden & Rolf Harris.
Mark Knopfler. Peter Oakman with Roger Daltrey. Peter Oakman gives closing speech next to Lonnie's widow Sharon
Peter Oakman 'The Rock' of the Stars
"Almost
40 years ago it was Lonnie Donegan who first called me 'his Rock'. 'Rock Solid'
as bass player, in reliability, in person - a rock always there for him. After
that the name kind of stuck and was taken on by many other of the great artistes
I have worked with throughout an enjoyable and rewarding career".
That is how Peter Oakman became 'The Rock' of the Stars.
Career highlights outside of music
During the seventies Peter set up a PR company. One of his clients was the actor Peter Ustinov who had been asked by Prince Charles to narrate his story "The Old Man Of Lochnagar". Peter recalls: 'I had a meeting in London with Peter about 18 months before the release of the product to organise three days of his time so that I could arrange Press, Radio and TV interviews. He was a wonderful man with a great sense of humour and he made my job so easy'. This came about through Peter's good friend Anna McCorquodale who at the time was married to Ian McCorquodale who is the son of the novelist Barbara Cartland. Anna was also Princess Diana's stepsister-in-law. In 1976 Peter was also asked to promote the American Bi-centenary, setting up interviews with visiting American artistes to Great Britain from all aspects of the arts. Outside of music Peter has worked for two Archbishops of Canterbury, but that's another story.............
Peter Oakman performs the hits of the 'Rock 'n' Roll Legends' he's worked with and tell his amazing stories of life on the road with them ...
Contact
his Personal Management:
Derek Berman, 18502 Berry Leaf Court, Houston, Texas, 77084. Tel: 281-579-2761.
Email: derek.berman@sbcglobal.net