FLAMINGOES DANCE BAND, THE

Piano: ?? Barns aka Barnsy

Guitar: John Williams

Guitar: Brian Laws added member

Clarinet: Colin Bateman added member

Trumpet: Dave Taylor

Drums: ?? (2)Tony Russell

[The Flamingos Quartet] A function band seen around the Norwich area in April 1954, when they were listed as entrants in The Melody Maker Dance Band Contest at The Samson & Hercules BR, Nch. We believe the band had a few lineups, with this probably being a later version. The picture above was taken at the Lewis Buckenham Club, Nch, in February 1960.

Russell recalls, “I had just started playing and heard that a band a few streets away were looking for a drummer, and I joined them. It was good fun but not very inspiring for a young drummer with all the new styles about. We did do up-tempo numbers but a lot of old-time as well. We also had different people come in and guest.” After they disbanded, Laws did a spell with the King’s Lynn Retrievers, and Russell became a founder member of The Contours.

<> (Laws - The Retrievers)(Russell - The Gremlins)