|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZTORNADOS, TheUK session group formed '61 by prod. Joe Meek as house band: Roger Lavern (b Roger Jackson, 11 Nov. '38), keyboards; Alan Caddy (b 2 Feb. '40), lead guitar; George Bellamy (b 8 Oct '41), rhythm guitar; Clem Cattini (b 28 Aug. '39), drums; Heinz Burt (b July '42) on bass, second keyboardist Norman Hale. Caddy and Cattini were ex-Pirates (see Johnny Kidd); after backing Billy Fury live, Don Charles and John Leyton on disc, they were unleashed: one single flopped but the second was "Telstar': keyboard-led futuristic instrumental was no. 1 UK/USA '62, first USA no. 1 by a UK group. Hale left; "Globetrotter' was no. 5 UK '63; after a few lesser hits they disappeared in the Mersey flood: there was room for only one Shadows. LP Away From It All '63; split '65. Heinz went solo '63, had no. 5 hit with Eddie Cochran tribute "Just Like Eddie', three more top 40s; reappeared as TV actor '70s, revival shows '80s; Tornado split '65, after changing personnel incl. Heinz's replacement Tab Martin, founder of jazz/pop Peddlers. Cattini became top-class session player, with Lulu, Marmalade, Kinks, Cliff Richard, etc. |