Remembering the man who brought the Beatles and the Bee Gees to the Borders by Loudon Temple A SCOT who brought some of the biggest names in pop and rock north of the Border, is to be honoured as “Scotland’s first impresario,” over fifty years after he died. The MacArts Centre in Galashiels has already been set up in the memory of Duncan Mackinnon – a legendary character who dedicated his life to keeping teenagers happy in the rock n roll era and Swinging Sixties. He had served with the 5th Btn KOSB, surviving some of the most intensive action that took place in World War II, and was determined to make a success of his life.
Alun Owen, Lionel Bart and Brian Epstein at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in January 1964. Photograph: Sayle/Mirrorpix
The story of rock’n’roll in the 60s has been told countless times by the stars who sang the songs, spun the solos or thrashed the drums. In the UK at the time, that most often meant straight white men, as it did in the US. But the people who shaped and advised those artists – the ones who managed the stars of the classic rock age – were, by an outsized margin, gay men.
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Elvis said: He (Billy) seemed like a very nice boy. We didn t have a chance to talk much because I had to work. But from my impression he s just great. I understand he s going great over there (in the UK). Before I met him I d heard that he was the tops in Britain. I tell you, I d sure like to meet him again.
But Elvis also confessed to journalist Chris Hutchins, who later became a friend when he PR d Tom Jones, that he was mystified by Billy s behaviour when it was just the two of them together.
Billy Fury met Elvis and gave him two Silver Discs (Image: GETTY)
Following a short illness, Peter Wynne died on January 19 at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. During a very successful music career, the 81-year-old went on to tour the world and sold thousands of records. Mr Wynne had supported the likes of Billy Fury, Marty Wilde and Joe Brown and was also meant to have been travelling in the car that crashed and killed 21 year-old Eddie Cochran in 1960. He released his first record, Chapel of Dreams in 1959 and performed hit songs throughout the 60’s including ‘Ask Anyone in Love’ and ‘I’m a Fool to Want You’. PIC: Karen Hazelwood.
PIC: Karen Hazelwood.
Robert B. Parnes (1931-2020) | Daily Bulldog dailybulldog.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailybulldog.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.