Frank Allen (born Francis Renaud McNeice; 14 December 1943, in

Hayes, Middlesex Hayes is a town in west London, historically situated within the county of Middlesex, and now part of the London Borough of Hillingdon. The town's population, including its localities Hayes End, Harlington and Yeading, was recorded as 83,564 i ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

) is an English

bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...

ist who was a long-time member of

The Searchers ''The Searchers'' is a 1956 American Technicolor VistaVision epic Western film directed by John Ford and written by Frank S. Nugent, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May. It is set during the Texas-Native American wars, and stars John Wa ...

Career

Frank Allen played bass guitar with

Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers are a 1960s British rhythm and blues, soul and beat group who had two Top 10 hits with " One Way Love" (No. 9 UK, 1964) and "Got to Get You into My Life" (No. 6 UK, 1966). Well-known members include Bennett ...

and

(since 1964 when he replaced original bass guitarist Tony Jackson), and remained with them until they played their final gig in 2019. Allen joined Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers as rhythm guitarist in 1961, and changed over to bass guitar in early 1962, following the departure of Ben Jordan. When Tony Jackson left the Searchers in August 1964 after a string of hits (including "

Sweets for My Sweet "Sweets for My Sweet" is a song written by the songwriting team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, originally recorded by American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group the Drifters. The Drifters version The group's first single featuring Charlie Thoma ...

", " Sugar and Spice" and " Needles and Pins"), Allen was asked to join the group. They then recorded "

When You Walk in the Room "When You Walk in the Room" is a song written and recorded by Jackie DeShannon. It was initially released as a single on November 23, 1963, as the B-side to "Till You Say You'll Be Mine". It was re-released as an A-side in September 1964, and lat ...

", with Mike Pender and Frank Allen singing a dual lead line. Allen wrote a book of touring recollections called ''Travelling Man'' in 1999. His definitive and detailed biography of the Searchers entitled ''The Searchers And Me - A History of the Legendary Sixties Hitmakers'' was published in April 2009. The Searchers retired the band in March 2019.

Discography

Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (Singles)

* July 1961: "You've Got What I Like" / "I'm in Love With You" * October 1961: "That's What I Said" / "When I Get Paid" * March 1962: "Poor Joe" / "Hurtin' Inside" * July 1963: "Everybody Loves A Lover" / "My Old Stand By" * November 1963: "You Really Got A Hold on Me" / "Alright" * March 1964: "Got My Mojo Working" / "Beautiful Dreamer"

Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (EPs)

* 1964 'She said Yeah'/ 'Doctor Feelgood' / 'You Make Me Happy' / 'Stupidity'

The Searchers (Albums)

* 1965 – '' Sounds Like Searchers'' * 1965 – ''

Take Me for What I'm Worth ''Take Me for What I'm Worth'' is the fifth studio album by the English rock band The Searchers and the group's first LP which missed the official Record Retailer Top 20 album chart in the United Kingdom. Released in the end of 1965 it was the l ...

'' * 1972 – '' Second Take'' * 1979 – '' Searchers'' * 1981 – ''

Play for Today ''Play for Today'' is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage ...

'' * 1988 – '' Hungry Hearts''

References

External links

Searchers website

The Searchers Records
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Frank 1943 births English autobiographers English bass guitarists English male guitarists Male bass guitarists People from Hayes, Hillingdon Living people Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers members The Searchers (band) members