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I was now 19 and allowed to go into a public house and so it came about that I visited the Maypole pub one Friday night and playing there was this bloke with an electric guitar. I was totally fascinated, it was a Hofner Club 60 and it looked fabulous. I remember him playing 'Guitar Boogie Shuffle' and I sat there with my mouth in my pint. I'd searched the papers to see if there were any groups playing and got to see a few even though there weren't many around in those days as skiffle had been 'the thing'. I also saw 'The Grasshoppers' at the Ritz Ballroom in Kings Heath with Brenda Bosworth and Mickey Bakewell singing, with Dave Carter on lead guitar. Mickey Bakewell was an excellent singer and the girls would gather round him and scream! He was my first rock and roll hero and influenced me greatly. The Ritz would book several groups to play their circuit and it was nothing to see 2 or 3 groups in one evening. Soon there were groups springing up daily.
I had a mate who had a piano and he taught me how to play the 3 major chords needed to play rock and roll in every key. I learnt how to boogie a bit and so started playing piano at the Maypole pub on a Saturday night. The guy with the Hofner guitar used to come and join in and to me it was heaven. Then when I'd finished somebody would pass the hat round and I would head off home with my trousers hanging 'round me arse' from the weight of all the pennies.
One night I was playing when this Teddy Boy came up to me and said that he was entering a competition to find the 'Elvis of the Midlands' and would I back him on the piano. To which I said "Yes please". He got to the final round which was held at a pub in School Road Warstock. We had learnt the song 'I go Ape', which included another chord that I had to learn! The night arrived and the place was packed with all his mates. There were lots of other acts on and we were due to appear last. So I sat through the night in anticipation, but my 'Elvis' never showed up. I reckon he must have either got the shakes or pulled a bird and decided not to come. The organiser asked me if I wanted to carry on and all his mates were cheering me to go on. So I got up and sang and yes, thanks to the lads, ended up winning. So there I was - a singing pianist - I'd got the bug!
I was working a regular Friday night, playing piano and collecting pennies, when in walked a bloke by the name of Cyril Viles who asked me if I was interested in joining a group. Of course I said "when do I start". I first met the group at the Arial Motorcycle Works in Selly Oak as Cyril worked there. There was Graham Bull (Drums), Max Griffiths (Lead Guitar), Horace Hunt (Rhythm Guitar) and Brian Cope (Double Bass) and yours truly on Piano and vocals. But only able to play the piano if the venue had one! Otherwise vocals only and sex machine (or so I thought back then). The name of this group was 'The Chequers'.

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