Beryl Marsden

From Wikipedia:

Beryl Marsden (born 10 June 1947) is a British R&B and pop singer, who first came to notice on the Liverpool club scene of the early 1960s. She recorded a number of “powerful and soulful”, but unsuccessful, records, and has been described as “undeservedly neglected”.

Life and career

She was born Beryl Hogg in the Toxteth area of Liverpool, Lancashire, England, one of a family of 10 children. She began singing as a child, and at the age of 14 won a local talent competition. She was invited to join local band the Undertakers, but was too young to travel with them to club dates in Hamburg. Instead, she started singing with local group Howie Casey and the Crew, often performing at the Cavern Club. Although she took the stage name Beryl Marsden, she was not related to musician Gerry Marsden.

In 1963 she started appearing at the Star Club in Hamburg, and on her return to Britain moved to London, where she was managed by Tony Stratton Smith and was signed as a solo singer by Decca Records. She recorded two singles for them, a cover of Barbara George’s “I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More)”, followed by a version of the Supremes’ “When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes”. However, neither was successful.

She supported the Beatles on their last UK tour in 1965 and in that same year was signed to the Columbia label. There, she released two singles that year, “Who You Gonna Hurt?”, and “Music Talk”. The B-side of the latter was a version of the Irma Thomas song “Breakaway” (later a hit for Tracey Ullman), arranged and produced by Ivor Raymonde. Her final solo single, “What’s She Got”, was issued in April 1966.

In May 1966 she joined a new group, Shotgun Express, whose members also included Rod Stewart, Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Peter Green. After that group split up in early 1967, she joined all-female band The She Trinity before linking up with Liverpool musician Paddy Chambers to form the band Sinbad. In the 1970s, she also performed as a member of a group called Gambler, before forming the Beryl Marsden Band. She also worked as a session singer, recorded with former Shotgun Express member Phil Sawyer, and in the 1980s performed on stage with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. […]

Beryl Marsden was among the support acts for The Beatles’ 1965 UK Tour, sharing the bill with the Moody Blues, the Paramounts, Steve Aldo, the Koobas, and the Marionettes.

[The Beatles] were always my favourite group. I was a bit of a tomboy – wearing trouser suits and things like that, and they were like big brothers to me. I would watch them on nights when I didn’t have a gig. I didn’t just see them at the Cavern. There were occasions when I saw them over the water [the Wirral] and wouldn’t have the money for the ferry home and John would say, ‘Get in the van, Marsy.’

Beryl Marsden – From “Beatlemania! The Real Story of the Beatles UK Tours 1963-1965” by Martin Creasy, 2011

The Paramounts, who were backing me and Steve, were a great bunch of guys and very good musicians. The Moodies were a good bunch, too, and even though people were there to see The Beatles, they appreciated all of the other people on the show. There was no ‘We Want The Beatles’ while other people were onstage. […]

I loved their music, but they also made me laugh. They were fun. I don’t think they realised how talented they were. They were always taking the piss – including out of themselves, but when you heard that sound – those great harmonies … They sounded great, even through some naff PA.

Beryl Marsden – From “Beatlemania! The Real Story of the Beatles UK Tours 1963-1965” by Martin Creasy, 2011

beryl marsden

Mention the name “Beryl Marsden” to ninety per cent of people outside show business circles and the probable reaction will be politely raised eyebrows. Drop the same name into any of the show business “pop” cliques however, you’ll get a vastly different result!!

For Beryl Marsden, still only 18, has been on the “scene” for a long time and not without success either. In Liverpool (her hometown) Beryl has been extremely popular for some years.

She scored a hefty triumph with her first disc “I Know” which, although not a chart entrant, sold extremely well — sales in Liverpool being phenomenal.

However, it’s not backward one should go for the exciting parts in Beryl’s life but forward to the future or should we say the very near future. For although Beryl has had many exciting times in places like Germany — where she spent many months “getting the feel of real Soul music” as she puts it — there is no doubt that the future looks even more exciting!! The first single from Beryl under her new six-year recording contract with E.M.I., was “Who You Gonna Hurt”, which was released on October 8th on the Columbia label.

Recording manager Bob Barratt is “ecstatic” over it, and small wonder! Just about every prominent name in show business has been completely unanimous — “HIT!”

Her exciting stage act is supported by the swinging Crewcats, featuring solo male voice Steve Aldo and also the voice of bass-player Archie Legget. Crewcats line-up: Howie Casey (tenor sax), Archie Legget (bass), Tommy Murray (lead guitar), Eddie Sparrow (drums).

From the Beatles’ 1965 UK Tour Programme

Beryl… the girl who fetched the Beatles out

THE girl who used to pay a shilling to see the struggling Beatles in their early days has reversed the order. Last week they came to see her…

She’s a dark-haired little thing (4ft. 11in.) in jeans or trouser suit — a welder’s daughter from Liverpool named Beryl Marsden, now all of eighteen.

“Back home, when I was 14 and still at school,” she said, “I used to pay a shilling in the front row at the Cavern to see the boys.”

Beryl, now pop singing herself, was the only girl solo singer in the Beatles British tour which finished at Cardiff this week.

And the Beatles left the guarded security of their dressing rooms to see her.

“Paul McCartney and George Harrison used to watch me from the wings,” she said. “I think George was the biggest fan. But there was nothing romantic about it,” she insisted. “Nothing like that.”

“But I couldn’t get over it,” she said. “You couldn’t get near them in their dressing rooms. If they wanted to, they would visit you.”

Miss Marsden, whose favourite clothes are “anything but dresses,” is a real beat dolly, giving out with rock and soul. You can sample her brand of pop on her new Columbia single: “Music Talk.”

From Daily Mirror – December 16, 1965

Tours Beryl Marsden supported