| Biography | Go Man Go were the house band of the radio show of the same name.
At a minimum the band would perform on the show with three trumpets, one trombone, five saxes, piano, bass, guitar and drums plus one male and one female vocalist. In the shows heyday in 1962 and 1963 a typical line up would include Ian Hamer, Tony Mabbett and Derek Healey on trumpet; Charlie Messenger on trombone; Cecil Pressling, David Ede, Gene Cotterill, Johnny Evans, Bill Suett, and Rocking Rex Morris on saxes; Arthur Greenslade on piano; Laurie Steele on guitar; Andy White on drums; and Ron Prentice on bass. Female vocals were provided at various times by Lorie Mann, Barbara Kay, Marion Williams, and Kay Garner. Male vocalists included Ray Pilgrim (who was on the show for more than three years), Colin Day, Johnny Towers and Bobby Sansom. Johnny Towers originally appeared on the show under the name of Johnny Sherman but adopted the stage name Towers to avoid confusion with American rock singer Bobby Sherman.
Most of the musicians were session men. Trombonist Charlie Messenger also managed to maintain a parallel career as a member of the band of H.M. Life Guards performing on horseback at ceremonial occasions. But apart from inevitable deputizing when a musician had a gig elsewhere, the bands line up on Go Man Go was the same as that at its nightly performances at the Wimbledon Palais and later at the Orchid Ballroom in Purley in south London, and remained relatively static from week to week.
When the style of music demanded, the band would split into smaller groups: Arthur Greenslade (on piano) and the G-Men; Laurie Steele (guitar) and the Steele Men; the Rabin Stompers (for Dixieland jazz). Backing vocals came from within the band, particularly David Ede and saxophonist Johnny Evans, performing as The Travellers, a pun on the shows title. Baritone saxophonist Bill Suett took on the comedy and novelty pieces.
Produced by the BBCs Terry Henebery, the show ran for well over four years. Its 200th performance aired on 4 January 1963 and was the first edition compered by Alan Freeman (who took over from the long-running Diz Disley). |