CYGNETS SKIFFLE GROUP, THE

Lead Vocals, Guitar: Mick Holmes

Guest Vocals, Guitar: Tony Sheridan

Banjo: Jeff Dawson

Bass: Barry Littleboy

Drums: Stan Brown             

[The Cygnets with Jeff Dawson] Drayman Dawson pushed this group into the limelight back in early 1957. All being members of the Norwich Lads Club gymnastics team, they would often meet in The White Swan PH, Nch just across from the club after a training session; Dawson would knock out a tune on the banjo or piano and the rest of the boys would join in.

Swan publicans Jack and Doris Pye were so impressed by the boys they retained their services, becoming resident skiffle band The Four Cygnets. As well as The Swan, the band would play at The Cottage PH, Thorpe, Nch supporting  Joe Eden & His Band, with Eden joining them occasionally as guest vocalist.

In June 1957 the group enter The Industrial Club Skiffle Contest “We came joint second with the Dereham, Vampires, the winners were Tony Sheridan’s Saints,” said Littleboy. “Tony would often sing with us in the early days. We did win a talent contest at The Gaumont in Ipswich that year though.” One night after the competition, the Swan audience contained Geoff Fisher, owner of the Industrial Club, who had come to check out the band’s popularity; impressed he offered the boys a weekly slot at his club. Littleboy laughs, “Jack was a little annoyed that he was losing his boys but Geoff had offered us £5 a night and we were only playing for free beer at the time.”

We asked Littleboy why was the group so successful. “Mick had a gift, he was a true front man. Everyone would stop and listen to him; he could write catchy little tunes as well.”

The group finished in May 1958. Littleboy and Brown stopped playing altogether, with Brown becoming a policeman, and Littleboy settling down to married life with Judy Pye, daughter of Jack and Doris. Holmes joined new skiffle group Jack O Diamonds while Dawson occasionally performed solo.

Mediography:

Skiffle thrives In town & country EEN28/02/57 (P)

Residencies:

The White Swan PH, Nch 1957

The Cottage PH, Thorpe, Nch Feb-Jun57

The Industrial Club, Nch Jun-Jul57

Ailwyn Hall Rock ‘n’ Roll Club, Nch Aug57-Apr58

NB: We could not confirm the band won a competition in Ipswich in 1957 or that they take part in East Anglian Amateur Skiffle Comp in Ipswich in 1958. MIR