THE CRAWDADDIES
One of the earliest photographs of The Crawdaddies which was taken about 1962/3 with John McCoy, Ottie McLoughlin, Mike Ferris, Kevin Fox, Jack Edgar and Alan Fearnley.
The Crawdaddies - or John McCoy and The Crawdaddies - were active on the Teesside and national music scene in the mid-60s. When the band signed a management deal with Rik Gunnell (the manager of Georgie Fame) he said they had to change their name because another band with a similar name - Tony Colton and The Crawdaddies - were operating in London. So, in 1966, The Crawdaddies became The Real McCoy.
The Crawdaddies taken about 1963 at the Red Lion in Redcar with Alan Fearnley, Kevin Fox, John McCoy and Mike Ferris.
It is obvious to see, from the majority of these photographs, that The Crawdaddies had a residency at the Red Lion in Redcar. This one, too, dates to about 1963 with John McCoy, Mike Ferris, Ottie McLoughlin and Kevin Fox.
More live action - with Alan Fearnley and Mike Ferris on stage at the Red Lion in Redcar. As well as their many appearances at the Red Lion, The Crawdaddies also made several at the Room at the Top in Stokesley, which was at the Bay Horse public house. That's where it all started for the band!
Another photograph from the Red Lion in Redcar with Kevin Fox, Alan Fearnley, John McCoy, Ottie behind John, Mike Ferris and Jack Edgar.
Alan Fearnley on guitar with John McCoy on vocals at the Red Lion in Redcar.
John and Alan at the Red Lion.
The Red Lion again with Ottie McLoughlin, Ray Dales, Alan and Mike. On the lower left is the head of Julie Ford - now Julie Fearnley - and Mick Farley dancing with an unknown girl.
A series of live action at the Red Lion with Ray Dales, Alan Fearnley, John McCoy, Mike Ferris and Ken Thwaites.
More from the Red Lion in Redcar with Mike Ferris, John McCoy, Alan Fearnley and Ken Thwaites.
John McCoy in action and in a Darlington recording studio with Mike Ferris standing and Alan Fearnley seated.
The band on tour - possibly in Stoke-on-Trent about 1965 with Terry Sidgwick, Tony Ayres, Ottie McLoughlin and Ken Thwaites.
The Crawdaddies on stage at Saltburn Spa on July 24th, 1965. It shows Ray Dales, Tony Ayres, John McCoy, Mike Ferris, Alan Fearnley, Ken Thwaites with Ottie McLoughlin at the back.
Live action from Saltburn Spa with Ray Dales, Tony Ayres, John McCoy, Alan Fearnley, Ottie McLoughlin, Mike Ferris and Ken Thwaites.
More from the Saltburn Spa with Ray, Tony, John, Alan, Ottie, Mike and Ken. However, we can't help wondering how that sign appeared on the side of the keyboard which reads: "Borough of Margate - Marine Drive Lavatory Ladies' WC - 1d" - you can see a slightly larger image in the right hand column!
Another 'live' show from 1965 which shows the band at the original Mr McCoy's Club which was in Bottomley Street, Middlesbrough. Left to right are Ray Dales and Tony Ayres on saxophones, John McCoy on lead vocals, Ottie McLoughlin drums with Alan Fearnley on lead guitar and Terry Sidgwick on bass.
It's photograph time - with Ray Dales taking the picture of Ottie and Ken - who are standing at the back - with Alan, John, Terry and Tony seated.
Outside the Marquee Club, in Wardour Street, London. The Crawdaddies had a residency here for a while. The happy crowd shows Terry Sidgwick, Tony Ayres, John McCoy, Ken Thwaites, Ray Dales, Alan Fearnley and Ottie McLoughlin.
John McCoy, Alan Fearnley, Mike Ferris, Jack Edgar, Ken Thwaites and Ottie McLoughlin.
The Crawdaddies at the fourth annual Redcar Jazz Festival at Redcar Racecourse on June 26th, 1964. This photograph show Ottie McLoughlin, Kevin Fox, John McCoy and Alan Fearnley.
Another at the Redcar Jazz Festival with Jack Edgar, Ottie McLoughlin, Kevin Fox, John McCoy, Mike Ferris and Alan Fearnley.
Also from the Redcar Jazz Festival with Jack Edgar, Kevin Fox, John McCoy, Mike Ferris and Alan Fearnley. Drummer Ottie McLoughlin is hidden at the back. Photograph copyright © Dennis Weller.
The fourth photograph from the Redcar Jazz Festival with Alan Fearnley, Kevin Fox, John McCoy, Mike Ferris and Ottie McLoughlin. Photograph copyright © Dennis Weller.
A potted history of The Crawdaddies by Alan Fearnley:
When did The Crawdaddies form? That is open to much debate. But where? There is no doubt. Circa 1963, John McCoy on vocals and harmonica, Alan Fearnley on guitar & Ottie McLoughlin on bongos, started to sit in with singer/guitarist Jim Wright at the Bay Horse in Stokesley. If you went down the alley, and up some outside stairs, this was the "Room at the Top". Jim played a mixture of folk, jazz and blues and everyone jammed together.
The time came when Jim wanted to stay with his folk and jazz roots but the others were more interested in playing blues. So The Crawdaddies were born - with the addition of Kevin Fox on guitar and Mike Ferris on bass, with Ottie now on drums. The "Room at the Top" was always packed and when a Saturday night residency at the Red Lion, in Redcar was offered, there was no doubt about the answer. Saturday nights at the Red Lion proved to be just as successful with a packed crowd every night with Jack Edgar joining the band for a short period on keyboard. They were now playing blues and rhythm and blues songs that are, nowadays, regarded as classics but at that time were fresh and new.
The next change was when Ken Thwaites, on Hammond organ, took over from Jack Edgar and Ray Dales joined on Tenor Sax. The band was now moving more towards a soul/rhythm and blues style. After a while, Tuesdays at Stokesley were getting too busy, with crowds spilling out onto the street. The police were not happy with the situation so Tuesdays were then moved to larger premises at Kirklevington Country Club - always later known as The Kirk - which at that time was a dinner/dance venue, but only at weekends. This also was a huge success and when Duncan Forest, who ran the Red Lion, moved to the Runswick Bay Hotel, the band started playing Saturdays as well as Tuesdays at The Kirk, datewise about 1964/5.
The next personnel changes were when Terry Sidgwick replaced Mike Ferris on bass and Tony Ayers joined on baritone sax. As well as The Kirk residencies, for a few years The Crawdaddies travelled all over the country, playing many times in prestigious London clubs such as the Marquee, Cromwellian, Bag o' Nails etc. At about this time, the management asked the band to think of another name as they already had a band on their books called Tony Colton's Crawdaddies. So in 1966 The Real McCoy was born.
This page is dedicated to the memory of Ron Aspery, Tony Ayres and Kevin Fox.
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The Crawdaddies
This programme dates to the World Cup Final Day in 1966 when England beat Germany. The Crawdaddies had their minds on other things this day. Initially, they were scheduled to appear in the Marquee on the Saturday evening but, as some act didn't turn up, they were asked to appear on an afternoon show on the main stage - which they did. Their set was inbetween The Move and The Who. At this particular venue it was also Cream's first ever gig!
At the National Jazz & Blues Festival. The day in question was World Cup Final Day in 1966. The band on stage are not known.
John relaxing.
Ottie McLoughlin in a Darlington recording studio.
At the Red Lion in Redcar with Jack Edgar, John McCoy, Mike Ferris behind John, and Kevin Fox and, on the lower photograph, Kevin and John - also at the Red Lion.
John McCoy, Alan Fearnley and Ken Thwaites at the Red Lion, Redcar.
John, Ottie and Alan at the Red Lion, Redcar.
Ray Dales, John McCoy, Alan Fearnley, Ken Thwaites and Mike Ferris - also at the Red Lion.
Another 'live' gig at the Red Lion with John, Alan, Ken with Mike at the back.
The quality is not brilliant on some of these photographs but very rare. This is John, Alan and Mike.
On stage at the Red Lion with two members of the Dusty Springfield Band who sat in for a session before they were due on stage - probably at the Club Fiesta later that night.
Ottie on stage at the Red Lion.
Another photograph taken at the Red Lion in Redcar with John, Alan and Ken.
These two photographs have certainly seen better days. They date to about 1964 and, the band think, may have been taken at Eston Fire Station and show (at the top) Ken Thwaites, Terry Sidgwick, Ottie McLoughlin, Ray Dales and Alan Fearnley. The lower photograph has the band in a slightly different order with Ken Thwaites, Terry Sidgwick, Alan Fearnley, John McCoy and Ray Dales.
The Tees Sound hits London - a press cutting from the Evening Gazette. Date unknown.
The Crawdaddies played at the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit in 1966.
The Other Part Club was at the Hardwick Hall Hotel near Sedgefield. The Crawdaddies appeared here in 1965.
Rhythm and Blues at Chelsea College.
John McCoy's Crawdaddies appeared at the famous Marquee Club in London in 1966. In the useless information department Stan Laundon appeared at this venue a few days later with The Gants Hillbillies!
John McCoy's Crawdaddies business card.
The opening of Mister McCoy's Club, Middlesbrough in December, 1965 with The Crawdaddies supporting Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames on the first night.
Middlesbrough Ballads 'N' Blues Association - this was later known as The Room at the Top in Stokesley where The Crawdaddies started.
The Borough of Margate proudly presents the Marine Drive Lavatory Ladies' WC. The admission was at the grand old price of 1d!!
The show that never was. The Rolling Stones together with The Crawdaddies were scheduled to appear at The Scene on Thursday, May 7th 1964 - admission 8/-. However, according to an advertisement in The Gazette, it was cancelled owing to prior commitments.
On the night in question The Stones played at the Savoy Ballroom in Southsea. Alan Fearnley recalls: "The Scene was on Albert Road in Middlesbrough - opposite the park next to the Town Hall. "It was the old Gas Board showroom in a previous life. It had wet red paint on the walls on the opening night so you can imagine what happened. It was one of John McCoy's many projects. "I remember the Animals, The Kinks and John Mayall with Eric Clapton playing there but, sadly, not the Stones."
I do appreciate that a football team has nothing at all to do with The Crawdaddies but John Gibson, a former member of The Plainsmen, sent us this photograph of Eston Grammar School under 15's football team 1958/59. John is second from the left on the bottom row and next to him, on the extreme left, is former Crawdaddies member Ken Thwaites.
Acknowledgments:
My sincere thanks to Alan Fearnley, John McCoy, Ottie McLoughlin and Dennis Weller for sharing their photographs and memories for this page and all photographs are copyright © Alan Fearnley, Fearnley Studios, John McCoy, Ottie McLoughlin, Dennis Weller or The Crawdaddies unless otherwise stated and must not be used, or copied, in any way without prior written permission.
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