Merthyr's Music Makers

Merthyr Tydfil's Musicians & Bands

The Five of Diamonds

The Five of Diamonds

Graham Williams, Russell Guppy, Danny Foley, Raymond Morgan, John Crimmins.

(Photograph courtesy of Anthony Andrews)

Tomfoolery

Tomfoolery at Tiffany's

(From the Merthyr Express - June 21st 1979)

Music Group at the Log Cabin

Roy Havard on Piano, Billy Coombes on the Kettle Drum and out of shot, Mostyn Watkins on the Tea Chest Base, Harry Jones on the Scrubbing Board & John Jones on the Maracas.

(Photograph Courtesy of John Jones)

L-R: Harry Jones, Billy Coombes, Mostyn Watkins, John Jones, Roy Havard and Tommy ?

(Photograph Courtesy of John Jones)

The Saints

The Saints at the Opportunity Knocks Rehearsals in London in 1965

L-R: Richard (Dick) Powell [Rhythm Guitar], Tony Williams [Aged 15 - Bass Guitar], Terry Carolan [Aged 17 - Drums], Stuart Evans [Aged 17 - Singer] & Frank Janes [Aged 18 - Lead Guitar].

(Photograph Courtesy of Tony Williams)

Hill Billy Skiffle Group

Hill Billy Skiffle Group - 1957

L-R: Howard Jones (Built his own tea-chest bass which had a very good sound. Later moved on to work in another town), Paul Griffiths (Lead Guitar - shy and always in the background, now sadly deceased), Hillary Whitney (Expert wash board player - still living in Dowlais), Randall Harvey (Youngest member, but a good drummer - he emigrated to Australia), Fay Neale (Another expert wash-board player - later Ken's wife and still is!) and Ken James (Rhythm Guitarist and Lead Singer).

(Photographs & Information Courtesy of Ken James)

Cal Ford

Cal Ford - Country Singer known as the 'Welsh Johnny Cash'

(Photograph Courtesy of Robert Calvert)

Perfect Strangers - Late 70's, Early 80's

(Photograph courtesy of Garry Lewis)

(Photograph courtesy of Garry Lewis)

(Photograph courtesy of Garry Lewis)

Society

Ian tells us:

These are a few photographs taken in the nightclub Tiffany's (now Argos) way back in 1981 of my first ever band's first ever gig. The band was called Society and was started by myself and fellow Cyfarthfa High School student Steve Hammett in 1980. They split up around 1983-84. Vocalist Marcus went on to form Foreign Legion with ex-Society drummer Paul Watkins (Paul Black) but not before a brief spell with Dead On Arrival.
 
Dead on Arrival lasted for about 5 or 6 years when guitarist Dai Thomas joined with ex-Presidents drummer Paddy McDermott to form The Original Mind Band. I know that the Presidents were also formed by former Society members but I'll have to get back to you on that.

Marcus (Centre) & Gravell (Left)

(Photographs Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

Marcus (Left), Spud (Centre) & Beattie (Right)

(Photographs Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

Jason Beattie

(Photographs Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

Jason Beattie

(Photographs Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

The Gathering

Ian tells us:

This next set is of my old band The Gathering formed in 1993. Originally a three-piece vocal harmony acoustic band, we soon added a drummer bassist and keyboard player.
Ian Gravell - Vocals & Lead Guitar
Juan Lozano - Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Ian Evans (Evo) - Vocals & Percussion
Andrew Davies (Pandy) - Bass Guitar
Simon Prothero - Keyboards & Piano
Mike Rees - Drums
We did a number of gigs around the valleys and eventually had an offer of a distribution deal from Island Records. Unfortunately the band split up in 1995 before we could record the album they asked for. 

First Promotional Poster - 1993

L-R: Ian Evans (Evo), Juan Lozano & Ian Gravell.

(Photograph Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

The Gathering at the Neuadd - 27th September 1993

L-R: Ian Evans (Evo), Juan Lozano & Ian Gravell.

(Photograph Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

The Gathering at the Neuadd - 27th September 1993

L-R: Ian Evans (Evo), Juan Lozano & Ian Gravell.

(Photograph Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

The Gathering at the Neuadd - 27th September 1993

L-R: Juan Lozano, Ian Gravell & Ian Evans (Evo).

(Photograph Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

The Gathering Rehearsal at the Imperial Hotel

L-R: Ian Gravell, Mike Rees & Juan Lozano.

The Gathering - 1994

L-R: Mike Rees, Ian Evans (Evo), Juan Lozano, Ian Gravell,

Andrew Davies (Pandy) & Simon Prothero.

(Photograph Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

Juan Lozano - 1994

(Photograph Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

Ian Gravell - 1994

(Photograph Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

Ian Evans - 1994

(Photograph Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

Mike Rees - 1994

(Photograph Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

Andrew Davies (Pandy) - 1994

(Photograph Courtesy of Ian Gravell)

Ian tells us what happened to the band members after the group broke up:

Juan Lozano left the band in 94 shortly after we had a distribution offer from Island Records. He moved to London for a few years but returned to MT and started singing around the pubs. He is now working as an Elvis tribute with Paul Black (ex-Society drummer Paul Watkins) and Robert Deveraux (ex-guitarist from another band I used to be in called Majesty) along with Ruth Benson (Ruth Crimmings ex-Malibu), Mark Mee and Darren Parry.
 
Andrew Davies (Pandy) stayed on with me in alphastate (more on them later) until we put it on hold in 95 and now plays bass for Diamond Dogs.
 
Simon Prothero went on to play with caberet band Vegas and is currently Head of Music in Gorseinon Tertiary College. He still plays with a few bands but I'm not sure of the names.

Wild Honey

Wild Honey 1973-74

Front to Back :- Bobby Watkins, Alan Richards, Dougie Neagle, Bobby Hyde

(Photograph courtesy of Antony Andrews)

The Stokers

The Stokers - Saturday 30th March 2013

L-R :- Gavin James (Keyboard), Steve Shipman (Harmonica), Andy Thomas (Bass), G.J.Williams (Saxophone),

Paul Williams (Drums), Allan "Lefty" Jones (Lead Vocal/Lead Guitar), Peter Walker (Guitar)

Alphabet Soop

Scarabus

The Westerners

The Westerners

L-R :- Peter Jones, Dewi Peters, Billy Edwards, Ronnie Jones, ?

(Photograph Courtesy of Clive Morgan)

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