The Southlanders was a Jamaican and British vocal group formed in 1950 by Edric Connor and Vernon Nesbeth. Nesbeth had received singing lessons from Connor, and when Connor decided to record an album of Jamaican songs, he asked Nesbeth to assemble a group to provide its vocal backing. Members of the group were Vernon Nesbeth, Frank Mannah, and brothers Harold (Harry) and Allan Wilmot. ''Songs from Jamaica'' (Argo RG33) was released in 1954 with the group credited as "The Caribbeans". Connor then persuaded the group to appear with him in cabaret in London's Celebrity Restaurant to promote the album.Notes, "(1954) Edric Connor and the Caribbeans – Songs from Jamaica"
Folkcatalogue.wordpress.com During the following year, the group was briefly known as "The South Londoners" and "The Southerners", but by the time of the group's second recording, again providing harmony vocals to Connor on ''Songs from Trinidad'' (1955, Argo RG57), it had settled on The Southlanders as its name, and recorded a third album with him.Notes, "(1955) Edric Connor and the Southlanders – Songs from Trinidad"
Folkcatalogue.wordpress.com The group's biggest commercial hit, and its only appearance 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 ...

, was their 1957 cover version of " Alone", which sold more than one million copies. "Alone", 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 ...

, entered the Chart on 22 November 1957 and spent a total of 10 weeks in the chart, peaking at number 17 on 28 November. The group's final single, "Imitation of Love", was released in 1961. The song the group is most identified with is "I am a Mole and I Live in a Hole" (also known as "Mole", "The Mole" and "The Mole in a Hole"). The title line from the song was spoken by the group's bass voice Harry Wilmot, father of

Gary Wilmot Harold Owen "Gary" Wilmot, MBE (born 8 May 1954) is a British singer, actor, comedian, presenter, writer and director who rose to fame as a contestant on ''New Faces''. As a television presenter, he is best known as the host of '' You and Me'', ...

. Harry Wilmot died in 1961, when his son was six years old. The song failed to make the

in 1958, but has been performed at every Southlanders' event since its release. Group founder Vernon Nesbeth said that the group tried to take the song out of their set but that club managers and audiences insisted upon hearing it. "It's become protected. Untouchable. We've even sung it in Japanese," said Nesbeth. When its profile began to wane, the group performed in cabaret on cruise ships and in hotels until it disbanded. Nesbeth semi-retired in January 2004 to reside in Spain; he died on 6 March 2017 in

Torrevieja Torrevieja (; ca-valencia, Torrevella ) is a seaside city and municipality located on the Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante, in the southern part of the Valencian Community, on the southeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain. Torrevieja l ...

. Allan Wilmot retired and resided in South London. He died on 20 October 2021, at the age of 96.

References

External links

"Windrush Pioneers: Allan Wilmot"
The Windrush Foundation. * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Southlanders, The 1950 establishments in the United Kingdom 1961 disestablishments in the United Kingdom British vocal groups Musical groups established in 1950 Musical groups disestablished in 1961 Black British musical groups