Beat Boys' final bow (From Leigh Journal)

Beat Boys' final bow

11:26am Wednesday 23rd September 2009

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LEIGH’S best known band, The Beat Boys, have taken their final bow after 50 years of rocking.

They played their last ever concert at the launch of a fund raising DVD cataloguing the history of the group at Leigh Miners’ Club.

And the jiving fans were as happy as always as they took to the dance floor.

The fabulous five hit the stage with their evergreen opener “Lucille” and closed a lifetime of memories with Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say”.

Bass guitarist and leader Ronnie Carr, who is responsible for the comprehensive biographical DVD, Keith Wright (lead guitarist) , Gordon Urmston (drums), Alan Parkinson (vocals and harmonica) and Bernard Southern (lead guitar) packed away their instruments for the last time together.

Ronnie said: “We have always been a happy band. It was a real laugh. One of the amps went off and the electrics went a bit wobbly but I just kicked things and it was right.

“It was great doing that show on Friday when for the first time we stood there and realised that’s it.”

The show ended the unveiling of the DVD The Life and Times, which opens the group’s scrapbook to their many fans.

The 50th anniversary film, devised and researched by Ronnie and directed by Chris Miller contains live footage of the group, interviews and photographs and memories from 1956-2010.

It also features the live music of If, Goliath, The Les Humphries Singers, Screamin’ Jay Jawkins, Georgie Fame, The Animals, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, The Magic Lanters and more.

Copies of the DVD can be ordered from Ronnie at £6 ( including post and package) on 01942 747663 - or from the Leigh Journal Office for £5.

Proceeds will go to Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

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