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Country Gentlemen

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The Country Gentlemen playing at the old Ponderosa country music club which was held in the Palace Hotel, in Mainsforth Terrace, in Hartlepool, with Ken Nicholson on Hofner bass, Cliffy Brookes on drums, Mike Watson on vocals playing a Burns Short Scale Jazz, Alan Plant on vocals with a Burns Split Sonic.

The Country Gentlemen from the UK - not to be confused with other bands of the same name - started life in 1965 after Alan Plant and Mike Watson had left a group they had previously played with called The Corantos who were based in Hesleden, near Hartlepool. Alan and Mike also played as a country duo simply called Alan and Mike from February, 1965. They were then joined by Ken Nicholson (who had also played in the same group earlier) which was when the name The Country Gentlemen came into existence later in 1965 and played as a trio for a while. Mike Watson recalls: "Cliffy Brookes joined us on drums after playing with him on a long residency at the Burtree Social Club, in Seaton Carew (among other venues) and that line-up stayed the same until around 1969 when Cliffy went back into residency in the clubs and Joe Powell joined on drums."

Mike Watson then left the band in the early 1970's - maybe 1971 or 1972 - but the band went on with few changes in the line-up. Ken, Joe and Alan remained throughout until Alan left in 1987 although the Country Gentlemen only finally disbanded in 1999.

Two more photographs from the Ponderosa in Hartlepool with Ken Nicholson, Mike Watson, Stan Laundon and Alan Plant. The photograph on the right shows the Country Gentlemen and guests - Cliffy Brookes, Stan Laundon, Mike Watson, Alan Plant and Billy Crallan. We are not sure who the singer is at the front.

The Country Gentlemen winning a CIU (Clubs Institute Union) Club land Oscar Award in November 1969 having been voted by club committees as one of the top 12 UK acts during that year. No mean feat when you think of the thriving club scene in those days. The presentation took pace at the Ayresome Quoit and Rifle Club, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough. The club had opened in 1966 and the Sunday afternoon concerts featured amongst others, Peters and Lee, Johnny Hammond and Bobby Thompson. The club chairman, Mr Bill Morley, is on the extreme right holding the microphone.

Alan Plant with Michael Gallagher on pedal steel guitar

Sadly, pedal steel guitarist, Michael Gallagher died suddenly in September, 2007 aged 53. His daughter Joanne is trying to track down a video of the group that was filmed by the BBC at a country music festival - perhaps Morecambe. The video was sold at certain venues the band played at but the family do not have a copy. Can you help at all? If you can please send email to the webmaster and details will be forwarded.

This page is dedicated to the memory of Cliffy Brookes, Michael Gallagher and Ken Nicholson.

My thanks to Mike Watson, Colin Burns & Joanne Parry for their contributions to this page and sharing their collection of photographs

Stan Laundon Sharing Memories

COUNTRY GENTLEMEN