Johnny Taylor 5

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JOHNNY TAYLOR 5

The Johnny Taylor 5

Henry Fawcett played rhythm guitar, Gary Phillips on vocals, Johnny Taylor on drums, Eric Shoosmith on lead guitar with Gordon Valentine on bass.

Eric Shoosmith, who was lead guitarist with the band between 1963 and 1965, was kind enough to send us the photographs on this page. He tells us that the Johnny Taylor 5 was formed in Billingham and played all the usual clubs but, for whatever reason, rarely in Hartlepool. Gordon and Eric were in the same year at Henry Smith's School on the Headland (a school they both loathed) and it was during 1957/58 that they took up the guitars. Eric played with The Intruders in a residency at the Queen every Saturday until Gordon headhunted him for the JT5 in early 1963.

These two photographs were taken at Wompras Studios in Middlesbrough with the band facing a white screen. The Transporter Bridge was an added feature. The photograph on the left shows Brian (stage name Johnny) Henry, Gordon, Gary (real name Lou Flett) and Eric. On the right is Gordon, Gary, Eric, Brian and Henry.

These two photographs were taken at the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool sometime in 1964 following a competition win by the band. On the left is Eric, Henry and Gordon and, on the right, Henry, Eric and Gordon with Brian partly hidden by the drums.

Memories of The Johnny Taylor 5 as told by Eric Shoosmith

The band started life in Billingham in early 1960 initially by Brian and Henry. Alan Raine was lead guitarist with Al Morgan on vocals (formerly of The Echoes.) Gordon joined later in that year on bass and the following year saw Alan Raine depart to be replaced by Ray Douglas. Al Morgan was then replaced by Gary, a singer with Stockton Stage Society, so quite a culture change for him. Early in 1963 Gordon asked me to join from The Intruders and from then on we were really busy - usually 4 or 5 bookings a week dependant on personal commitments (I was doing 3 nights at night school.) We played with lots of big name bands such as the Rolling Stones at New Brighton Pier compered by Jimmy Savile no less; Mindbenders, Merseybeats, Nashville Teens, Searchers, Marmalade and even The Beatles at the Astoria in Middlesbrough (yours truly had an important examination that night so the guitarist from the Tempests filled in - just my luck! I eventually left in 1963 and the band took a slightly different turn by bringing in Terry Owens on organ to develop into more of a showband. Gary and Brian soon also left to be replaced by the late Vic Creed on drums and Jenny Peters (ex-Denvers.) Gordon became a front man and Trevor Davis took over bass playing duties. In this format they played all the Bailey nightclubs and similar venues before finally disbanding in 1967. Gordon and Henry played on as a trio with John Lowes (ex-Panthers) on drums. Brian retired to run a guest house in Grasmere, Gary lives not far away in Lancashire, whilst Gordon and Trevor both retired to France. Gordon's son Jamie is a very talented musician having completed a jazz degree, and is currently General Manager of Rose Morris Music in Denmark Street. Jenny emigrated to Canada and Terry set up a very successful business start up company called InBiz from which he has recently retired, but he still has various other businesses including a large property portfolio. Henry carried on the family transport business which he still runs with one of his sons working mainly in the North East. I was a partner in a medium sized architectural practice in Middlesbrough until retirement in March 2007 and still live locally.

Stan Laundon Sharing Memories

JOHNNY TAYLOR 5