Youngsters once wanted to become engine drivers or films stars, then they wanted to be pop stars, and now they want to be “influencers” or something on YouTube.
There was a time when it seemed there was a pop group in almost every Shropshire street, and youngsters with stars in their eyes created music on whatever instruments they could lay their hands on.
It was a vibrant pop scene, and a great era for live music in pubs, clubs, and halls. Fun times, but also past times, as although there’s still live music about, things are just not quite the same these days.
Let’s roll back the clock with a photographic encore featuring some of Shropshire’s pop bands from yesteryear. Were you in one of these groups, or do you remember seeing them play? Share your memories in the comments or get in touch here, we’d love to hear from you. Yeah, yeah, yeah!
- Did you see the story about the 450-year-old Shropshire pub that vanished in just a few hours? Read it here
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13. The Rhythm Boys landed a TV spot
In 1957 Trevor Lee was one of The Rhythm Boys, a Shrewsbury skiffle group. He told us: "I am playing the banjo; Billy Winn, guitar; Gil Skidmore, washboard; and Keith Rowson, bass." Trevor lived at Montague Place, Belle Vue, Billy in St Michaels Street, Gil in Coniston Road, Harlescott, and Keith in Pool Rise. The group won a talent competition at the Granada theatre in Shrewsbury in the week beginning September 9, 1957. The prize was a place on ATV's Carroll Levis television talent show in Birmingham on November 7, 1957. They were beaten by a girl playing the piano and singing. | Trevor Lee
14. They've got soul
The Soul Party, who were a 1960s Shropshire soul and Motown band who were reformed in 1992. | Submitted
15. In with the outcasts
Lots of bands originated from school days. This is Outcast, in 1997. On the drums is Ben Millington. Ben was a pupil at Wrockwardine Wood School from 1994 to 1999 and a teacher there from 2004 to 2015, when the school closed. | Wrockwardine Wood School
16. Midnighters come out into the light
Wow, a publicity shot in colour. That's classy. These are The Midnighters, and they are by the tea rooms of Hodnet Hall Gardens around the mid-1960s. The Midnighters were a Market Drayton beat group. Left is vocalist Malcolm Davison, who apparently went as Screaming Lord Strongbow. Second left is Ted Orwell, lead guitar, drummer is Roy Bickley, then comes Arthur Preece who was rhythm guitar, and right is John Edwards, who played bass guitar. Missing is vocalist Alan Palmer, who worked for the council and apparently couldn't get time off work for this photoshoot. | Shropshire Star archive