Portsmouth Music Scene


The Portsmouth Music Scene

The Mick Glover Story


1957 June 6th The Down-beat Jazz Club opens at the Conservative Hall, Fratton Road, with McGlover Skiffle Group(Mick Glover?) and Lews Verril Jazzmen.
1957 July 8th The Glover Skiffle Group play at the Savoy Ballroom.
1957 August 14th With Benny Freedman at the Savoy Ballroom are Irene White's Can Can Girl's, and the Mike Glover Skiffle Group.
1957 October 28th Carroll Levis search for stars at the Kings Theatre. The three winners from this hear were, Joyce French, The Scott Brothers(Scutt Brothers?) and Mike Glover and his Rock'n'rollers.
1958 January 20th Mike Glover and his Music play at the Savoy Ballroom.
1958 February 4th 350 young people dance to the music of the Mike Glover Skiffle Group and Vic Trois and his Boys, at St Marks Church Hall. North End.
1958 March 7th Rock'n'roll to the Mick Glover Group at Caesars Dance Club, 134 London Road (rear of Wains). In later years known as the Oasis Club
1958 March 17th Farewell appearance of Mike Glover and his Skiffle Group at the Savoy Ballroom.
1958 June 7th Live Five/Mick Glover and his Rock'n'rollers play at Caesars Club, North End every Saturday and and Monday.
1959 January 9th Mick Glover and his Rock'n'rollers play at Caesars Club North End.
1959 January 16th Ray Ellington and his Quartet play at the Savoy Ballroom. Mike Glover and his Rockets plus Colin Hart and his Rock Group play at Caesars club.
1959 March 30th Mike Glover and his Group play at the Savoy Ballroom.
1959 May 16th Mike Glover's Group play at the Africano Club 234 Fratton Road.
1959 May 30th Mike Glover's Group play at the Africano Club 234 Fratton Road.
1959 June 19th Mike Glover's Group play at the Africano Club 234 Fratton Road.
1959 August 15th Mike Glover's Group play at the Africano Club 234, Fratton Road.
1959 September 12th Mick Glover and his 'Fabulous Rockets' play at the Africano Club 234 Fratton Road.
1959 November 14th Mike Glover and his Rockets play at Caesars Club.
1960 Mick Glover’s new Combo, including two Southern Grammar schoolboys secured a residency on Hayling Island."
The Savoy’s “Festival of Bands” on 23 December included the Jazzbeats, Danny Raven & the Renegades and the Mike Glover Quartet.
1961 The Savoy broke with dance and jazz bands on Fridays to offer a “Teenage Beat Night” with the return of the Flee-rekkers, the Overlanders and Mick Glover Quartet and then Tony Holland and the Pack-a-Beats.

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Pic taken in a photo studio November 1958, same studio that took the original band photo.
Left to right Alan Songhurst Drums Mick Glover Steve Stevenson guitar and Tony Seale String bass,
but he didn't bring bass(left shortly afterwards) his place taken by Mick Beacon.

My First group a trio, had Mike Orton washboard, Dave Barber box Bass, and myself on Guitar we were booked to play at the Southampton Guildhall supporting Mitchell Torok who had a top 20 hit "When Mexico Gave up the rumba to do the Rock n Roll" followed by "Down in the Caribbean ".
I had hired a Pa amp and speaker to play my guitar through. I ?tted the pickup to the guitar neck while travelling in the car to Southampton. The lead was only 5 ft long so l couldn't stray far. Toroks is now a leading light in the LA music scene and he's still gigging. Terry Wiseman, Mike (Flash) Orton and myself met at Copnor Road Secondary modern school where we were all in the school orchestra (pic enclosed).
My first real group consisted of Barry Barron who l met in Bennett’s music shop in New Road, when l returned the PA amp, and myself on guitars, Dave Barber box bass and Mike Orton on washboard. We played for an ox roast at Southsea Castle, Flash played so hard his ?ngers bled. We sang through the Tannoy mic using army metal speakers. It was the only PA they had. Over 200 were crammed into the WW2 army hut. Terry agreed to join us and Flash bought a Double bass on HP. As he had played violin for four years, the bass came naturally to him. He was also a great showman and did all the tricks he'd seen Bill Haley’s bassist perform. Barry’s Dad bought a Selmer guitar amp in Bennett’s New Road which Barry and I both played through I was apprenticed to the Chef at Kimballs in Osborne Road at the time, and Terry Wiseman used to appear at the end of the kitchen on Saturday mornings and take lessons from Roy Richards band’s drummer on reading drum parts, tapping it out on a wooden bench.

We not only played at all the venues in the area, we also opened our own Monday night rock club in the RAF hall in Cosham where we also provided refreshments in the shape of Coco Cola. A large lorry would deliver large quantities to my parents house in Algiers Road and collect the empties, my Mother had to endure crates piled up in the hall and front room all week. We had regular spots at the LDB on Saturday mornings, Bonnies Club in Addlestone, the Two Eyes Greek Street, and the Mapleton Hotel Leicester Square, Rickys Club Fratton and the Pomme dO'r Southsea. The band played at every venue in Portsmouth including the Embassy Ballroom at the top of Stubbington Avenue where Tesco now is. We won the Southern television award for 1957/58, Pic of me and Trophy. About this time we did a talent show at the Kings theatre, those on the bill were Michael Holiday, the King brothers, etc. We won and appeared on the Carroll Levis discoveries show (fore runner to the Hughie Green Opportunity knocks show) on ATV Christmas 1957. We appeared on it again in February 1958.

We won another show on Bognor pier for which the prize was a series of Sunday night shows on the pier. We also had a regular gig at the Beach Club Hayling, plus of course the Saturday mornings at the LDB Landport. There were other venues which have since disappeared, the dance hall in the Odeon Cosham , Tinas night Club on western parade. And another night club in Southsea, Clarendon road? The Court school of Dancing, who wanted to try live music, asked us to play which resulted in a regular Sunday night spot. They even took us by coach to play at another Court School in Leicestershire. We played the Commodore Theatre l.O.W where we opened the show, others on the bill were Craig Douglas, the Most Brothers (Micky Most went on to become a Millionaire record producer.
He borrowed a plectrum from me and I never got it back) Ronnie Carroll, Terry Dene, Chas McDevitt and Nancy Whiskey. (It was Tommy Steels house warming that night and Micky Most asked us along) we didn't take up the invite. Our last gig was in the Savoy Ballroom on Monday March 17th1958.

I was called up and l reported to the RAF on March 20th 1958. After training l was posted to RAF Alness in the Scottish Highlands. In early September 1958 l managed to get a posting to RAF Colerne in Wiltshire which enabled me to get home every weekend. I formed the Combo in mid September. This consisted of myself, two 16year old guys from the Southern Grammar school, Steve Stevenson guitar, and Alan Songhurst on drums. Tony Seale played bass. (studio pic) Our ?rst Gig at Caesers Club North end, later known as the Oasis Club.
We regained the Saturday mornings gig at the LDB. Tony and Gill Hutchins came to see us there. Tony Seale left to get married and a school boy named Mike Beacon joined us on bass. We did a show at the Troxy with The Mudlarks where we also won the Daily Mirror talent show The prize which never materialised was an ITV Saturday night TV show. It was about this time we had regular resident nights at the Beach Club Hayling Island. Various clubs in Portsmouth, Civil Service Club in Copnor Road, Dockyard club, British Legions etc.
This continued for a few months when we were invited to become resident band at the Top Hat Littlehampton. (Pic) This was where l met my wife Gill who was singing and playing guitar with the Crestas. The band started to break up, Alan Songhurst (Satch) left to do his A levels and was replaced by Pete St Clair. (pic) Steve also packed up a few months later to continue his studies. Pete, Mike Beacon and I then formed a trio backing a girl singer whose name escapes me "Patsy. . . . . ? “ The trio lasted until April 1962 when l secured a job as a personal Chef to an American millionaire While in Paris I saw Digger Hart playing bass for Michael Holliday, on one of the ?rst ?lm Juke Boxes. This ended my musical career until 1969 when l became a catering manager in Amesbury.

One evening a trio comprising, Hammond organ, drums, and a guitar vocalist, were playing and suddenly a ?ght broke out between the organist and guitarist. The guitarist dropped his guitar, told the organist to "get stuffed" and walked out, leaving behind a dented but otherwise playable guitar. I approached the "duo" and told them to continue to play as the audience were complaining.
The organist who was also the singers father said, “l can't play without a front man" (he also couldn’t play without large quantities of beer.) I picked up the cracked guitar, tuned it and said "do you know Lazy River?" back in the business I was approached by a well known Salisbury Dance Band "The Debonairness" to play guitar and sing.
It was very successful, we played opposite the Victor Sylvester Orchestra at the West of England Ballroom Championship. We also secured regular gigs at various public schools. Among the audiences at other gigs we were watched by members of some of the best 70s band, including Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch and The Troggs.

I was transferred to Preston in 1976 and we stayed a year before settling down in Alton. I received an urgent call in early 1977 by the Premiers, a well known band in Salisbury asking if I could take over the Band as the lead singer had electrocuted himself when the band were rehearsing.
The PA amp earth touched the live wire, the mic stand was live and he died instantly when he touched it. Back in it again. My son David joined the band playing bass when he was just 13, the band which now numbered 5 and we became the Debonaires again.
He still plays the odd gig with me, but usually I just do solo gigs, and these are either for the diminishing club circuit, or private parties etc. We had bookings till New Years Eve2012 when l celebrated my 75th, I said I’ll retire then, but it depends, I don't use agents, but if someone asks me to play then . . . . . .
Best regards, Mick Glover.

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Mick married Diane McKay, aka Gill Hutchins sister of Tony Hutchins guitarist with the 1960 group The Crestas.
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They had one son called David Glover who plays bass in several bands but mainly Rock'n'Roll Haze and Starburst

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