The Dennisons were an English

Merseybeat Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a British popular music genre that developed, particularly in and around Liverpool, in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The genre melded influences from American rock and roll, rhythm and blues, skiffle ...

band, that emerged from the

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

scene in the early 1960s. Despite their background, and a couple of minor

hit single A hit song, also known as a hit record, hit single or simply a hit, is a recorded song or instrumental that becomes broadly popular or well-known. Although ''hit song'' means any widely played or big-selling song, the specific term ''hit record' ...

s, they failed to achieve more than a local following and were unable to find a footing on the

British Invasion The British Invasion was a cultural phenomenon of the mid-1960s, when rock and pop music acts from the United Kingdom and other aspects of British culture became popular in the United States and significant to the rising "counterculture" on b ...

. However, in 1963,

Bob Wooler Frederick James "Bob" Wooler (19 January 19268 February 2002) was compère and DJ at The Cavern Club, Liverpool from 1961 until 1967. An important figure in the Merseybeat scene, Wooler was instrumental in introducing The Beatles to their manag ...

stated that "The Dennisons have created the biggest impact in Liverpool since

the Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...

." The band's drummer,

Clive Hornby Clive William Hornby (20 October 1944 – 3 July 2008) was an English actor, best known for his role as Jack Sugden in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. He first appeared in the programme (then named ''Emmerdale Farm'') in 1980, and remained in ...

, later became the actor best known for portraying

Jack Sugden John Jacob "Jack" Sugden is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. The character was originally played by Andrew Burt from 1972 to 1973 with a brief return in 1976, when the actor left for Italy to write a book. ...

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

soap opera ''

Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, '' ...

''.

Career

The Dennisons were formed in July 1961, at Liverpool Collegiate, and took their name from a Liverpool street. They were inspired by another early Merseybeat band The Ravens, who later became

Faron's Flamingos Faron's Flamingos were an English band. In spite of having a lack of success due to poor decision making, they remain an important part of the Merseybeat history. They also have the distinction of being the first major example of the Mersey Mot ...

. The Dennisons advanced from learning the Ravens' chord patterns, to building a local reputation at the BICC

club Club may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Club'' (magazine) * Club, a ''Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character * Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards * Club music * "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea'' Brands and enterprises ...

in Melling, Liverpool. They signed with Kennedy Street Enterprises in 1963, which ensured that they appeared at

The Cavern Club The Cavern Club is a nightclub on Mathew Street, Liverpool, England. The Cavern Club opened in 1957 as a jazz club, later becoming a centre of the rock and roll scene in Liverpool in the late 50s and early 1960s. The club became closely assoc ...

, sharing bills with other aspiring acts such as

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...

. Their original bass guitarist, Alan Willis, was then replaced in December 1962 by Terry Carson (1946–1991). Their debut single was "Be My Girl" (1963), written by group members Steve McLaren and Eddie Parry. "Be My Girl", released by

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

reached number 46 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

in August 1963. Offered the opportunity to record

Lennon–McCartney Lennon–McCartney was the songwriting partnership between English musicians John Lennon (1940–1980) and Paul McCartney (born 1942) of the Beatles. It is the best-known and most successful musical collaboration ever by records sold, with the ...

's "

All My Loving "All My Loving" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, from their second UK album ''With the Beatles'' (1963). It was written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon–McCartney), and produced by George Martin. Though not officially rele ...

", they declined and lost the potential momentum to make a bigger impact on the burgeoning Merseybeat scene. Their next release was a

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

Rufus Thomas Rufus C. Thomas, Jr. (March 26, 1917 – December 15, 2001) was an American rhythm-and-blues, funk, soul and blues singer, songwriter, dancer, DJ and comic entertainer from Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded for several labels, including Chess Rec ...

' "

Walking the Dog "Walking the Dog" (or "Walkin' the Dog") is a song written and performed by Rufus Thomas. It was released on his 1963 album ''Walking the Dog''. It was his signature hit and also his biggest, reaching number 10 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in ...

", with the

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

"You Don't Know What Love Is", written by

Ben E. King Benjamin Earl King (né Nelson; September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015) was an American soul and R&B singer and record producer. He is best known as the singer and co-composer of " Stand by Me"—a US Top 10 hit, both in 1961 and later i ...

. It was released in May 1964, and peaked at number 36 in the UK chart. The Dennisons final single release was "Nobody Like Me Baby", in November 1964. Other tracks they recorded included "

Little Latin Lupe Lu "Little Latin Lupe Lu" was written by Bill Medley in 1962, and became the song that launched The Righteous Brothers' career. Though it peaked on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 at number 49 on June 8, 1963, Medley and his partner, Bob ...

", " Devoted to You", " You Better Move On", "Lucy (You Sure Did It This Time)", " My Girl" and "

Tutti Frutti Tutti frutti (from Italian ''tutti i frutti'', "all fruits"; also hyphenated tutti-frutti) is a colorful confectionery containing various chopped and usually candied fruits, or an artificial or natural flavouring simulating the combined flavour ...

". Their lead singer, Eddie Parry (1946–1995), left the group in March 1965. The Dennisons continued as a four piece before disbanding in 1967. 1n 1991, they reunited to perform at a memorial concert for Terry Carson. Former drummer

recorded a solo album, ''This Is Your Life'' in 1997, which included musical contributions from fellow former Dennisons, Steve McLaren (1946–2007) and Ray Scragg (born Raymond Arthur Scragg, 4 August 1946, Walton, Liverpool,

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

died 7 February 2001). Scragg's death from lung cancer in February 2001 ended all final attempts to relive former days.

Members

– drums (1961–1967; died 2008) *Steve McLaren – lead guitar, backing vocals (1961–1967; died 2007) *Ray Scragg – rhythm guitar, lead vocals (1961–1967; died 2001) *Eddie Parry – lead vocals (1961–1965; died 1995) *Alan Willis – bass (1961–1962) *Terry "Tex" Carson – bass (1962–1967; died 1991)

Discography

Singles

References

External links