Cecil Kettyles / Skyrockets
Story
(1952 - 1969)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
The story of the Skyrockets is one of the older
ones on the showband
scene. They were formed in Enniskillen in 1958 and were part of the
scene with the Clipper Carlton and Dave Glover Showband. The band
was put together by Cecil Kettyles. Interestingly, there was also a
band called "Nat Coleman and his (Northern) Skyrockets Showband" from Newry
around the same time. There was also a Skyrockets Orchestra based in
Claremorris in the mid 1950's.
Cecil had his own band/orchestra in the
early 50's which we think hit the road in 1952. We have found
listings for Cecil "and his Band," as well as "his
Melotones." In the summer of 1954, the Melotones were the resident
band in the
Astoria Ballroom in Bundoran. Upon his return to Enniskillen
adverts called the band Cecil "and his Orchestra." In 1955, he ran
adverts in the Irish Independent using the name "Cecil
Kettyles Band Show" (the often-used precursor to the term "showband.")
He would once again play the summer season in Bundoran in 1955 as
well. By this time, Cecil and his band were playing all across the
Northwest and building their reputation.
In May, 1956, a small advert in
the Independent referred to the band as the ''Cecil Kettyles
Showband" for the first time. At this
point, the band was traveling even further afield (as far away as
the Arundel Ballroom in Waterford) and they had joined the ranks of
"big bands" of the time. Up until this
point (based on advertising) we are pretty sure Cecil was also
managing the band, but sometime in 1956 Phil Raymond, from Dublin,
took over booking the band.
In November, 1956, another small
advert in the Independent announced the arrival of
"Cecil Kettyles and his dynamic new rock'
n' roll group." Considering his previous line-up was not suited to
rock n' roll (three trumpets, three saxes, piano and drums), we have
to assume this was the start of the Skyrockets.
The last advertisement for the
Cecil Kettyles Orchestra was in December, 1956. With the previous
announcement about his "rock n' roll" band, we were sure 1957 would
be the first mention of the Skyrockets, however it was the
previously mentioned Nat Coleman band that we found. The first
adverts for Cecil's Skyrockets would not appear until August, 1958.
At this point, Cecil had traded in playing the piano for an
"electric organ." He was also back managing the band. Shortly after forming, the lineup
expanded to become a fully fledged showband and
included: Cecil Kettyles (keyboards), Frankie Fox (bass), Brian McGandy (sax),
Dermot Doherty (trombone), Peter
Watson (Drums),
Leo McGandy (trumpet) and Paddy McDermott (sax).
In September, the band started
backing superstar vocalist Bridie Gallagher and she toured the Irish
ballroom circuit. Based on our research, we think they backed Bridie
almost exclusively from September through the end of November, 1958.
Touring with one of the country's leading singers help establish the
new band across the country. In fact, by early 1959 they were billed
as "the band that made Bridie Gallagher." The band's early successes
also included tours of Britain and Scotland with Bridie and in a 1968 interview in
Spotlight, founder Cecil suggested the band,
"were probably the first Irish Showband in Britain." They
also have laid claim to being the first Irish showband to play
Albert Hall. All of this was achieved from their relationship with
Bridie and at one point, we came across an advert listing them, as
"Bridie Gallagher's Band." (see Ad Below)
By the end of
1959, the band had finished touring with Bridie and began the
process of building their own reputation, often promoting their past
relationship with Bridie in the process. They also had another
problem which was the existence of the previously mentioned Nat
Coleman band of the same name. The names would often appear in the
same papers. An early advert for the band
listed them as: "The Skyrockets Sensational Show Band, featuring ace
vocalist Frankie Fox, with Cecil Kettyles at the electric organ and
the Skynotes vocal trio. Open for first class engagements, anywhere,
anytime." By 1960, they had to take out ads to announce to the
public that they were not associated with the other "Northern
Skyrockets." This would go on for some time with adverts billing
them as the "genuine Skyrockets." Interestingly the other band was
on the road in mid-1957, a year before Cecil's band.
On August 20th, 1960, the band placed an advert in the Irish
Independent "Dance Band" section
looking for a "young, first class, guitarist." What they got was
19-year-old Henry McCullough would join the band to handle country
and "rock" vocals. He also had a great affection "for the Shadows."
Henry would become one of the era's most famous musicians (like
fellow showband members Rory Gallagher and Van Morrison) and he went
on to play with Joe Cocker's Grease Band and Paul McCartney's Wings.
During this period the band was very popular around
the entire country and was managed by sax player Brian McGandy,
although all correspondence was addressed to Cecil Kettyles' address
in Enniskillen.
Around April or May, 1964, the band experienced a major upheaval when
four of their members
left to start a new band, Gene and the Gents. The
departing members were Paddy
McDermott
(sax), Dermot Doherty (trombone), Peter Watson (drums)
and Henry McCullough (lead guitar). They would be joined by Tony
Gallagher (rhythm guitar), Barry Scully (bass guitar) and Dushie
Chetty from South Africa who took the name "Gene" for the stage.
Meanwhile,
the Skyrockets had to replace half their band and added new members:
Ivan Mc Bride (sax),
Gary McGowan (drums), Des McKeown (guitar/vocals), and Adrian "Dick"
Barton (guitar). Gary had been the
original drummer with Cecil's 1950's band. At Easter in 1964,
Brian felt the stress of performing with the band and managing were
becoming too much and their management was handed over to Johnny
Hynes. The move proved to be significant as they were soon traveling
far beyond their normal circuit to Cork to Portrush and Dublin to
Achill. A report in a local paper also reported they had purchased
"a luxury coach which set them back £2,800."
In 1965, we think Leo McGandy (one
half of the very popular McGandy Twins), left the band, and was
replaced by Brendan O"Brien who sang and played rhythm guitar. The
following year, major changes were in order as Des McKeown and
drummer Gary McGowan departed. We can't be sure if they all left at
the same time, but we do know that by April, 1966 there was a new
lineup in place. They added a female vocalist, who went by the stage
name Penny Trent, when she was with Dublin showband The
Millionaires. When she joined the Skyrockets, she changed
her name to Penny Starr.
At that point the Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
girl, whose real name was Bridget McAnerney, was nineteen and had
been singing professional for four years. Immediately, the band
released a single, Noreen Bawn along with a song written by
Dave Glover's guitarist Jim Gunner called After the Dance.
Although it did not sell well, it helped further establish the band
south of the border.
In a
Spotlight "Band of the Week" feature from June, 15, 1968, Cecil
told how they tried twice to sign singer Pat McGeegan, first just
before Pat went to the United States with his band The Big Four, and then
when he returned, but at that point he signed with the Victors. Finally, in
late 1966, the
band was successful in getting Pat to join and the rest is history.
Although we can not find exact dates, we also know that Penny left
the band around this time.
Pat was originally a member of the
Dave Dixon Group before forming the Big Four and then moving on to
the Victors for a short while. Pat was Ireland's entry
in Eurovision in 1968 singing Chance Of A Lifetime and after
the contest, the Skyrockets took full advantage of Pat's new found
fame. The records reached number one in the Irish charts (the band's
only chart success) and they were playing six to seven nights a week across the entire country. They released several
singles during Pat's time with the band, although in those days
usually (but not always) singles were credited to the lead singer
vs. the band as record companies preferred to have contracts with
singers, rather than bands.
By 1968, only Cecil and
Brian McGandy (one of the famous McGandy twins) were the only
members of the original 1958 lineup. In 1968, the lineup was Cecil
(keyboards), and Brian (sax), Ivan McBride
(sax), Adrian "Dick" Barton (guitar), Brendan O'Brien (guitar), and
Gerry Connelly (from Thurles
who joined the band in April, 1968).
In 1968, Cecil was involved in a
major car accident and was in hospital for a long time, including
eight weeks in
the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, as well as a lengthy stay in
the local Erne Hospital. By June of 1969,
Cecil was ready to go back to music in cabaret, but had no plans to
rejoin the Skyrockets.
An article in September, 1969
announced that Pat McGeegan had departed the Skyrockets and with
Cecil Kettyles not really interested in rejoining the band. manager
Johnny Hynes decided it was time to disband the outfit after a
decade on the road. Around this time, a band called the Outlanders
(from Blacklion, Co. Cavan) came to the attention of Johnny and
Cecil and they decided to join forces. Frank O'Neill, Ivan McBride
and Cecil joined with the young band, Johnny took over their
management, Pat McGeegan rejoined his sixties group the Big Four
and the Skyrockets were no more.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
