The mid 1950s were when it all started to happen with regard to popular music. Acts such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly set standards which from my point of view, have never really been exceeded. The 1960s brought a continuation of this quality of music. Back then, the only thing that mattered was the music. Information did not fly around the world like it does today and acts signed to recording labels on the basis of talent rather than image. Of course the image always followed later but the quality of the music was there from the start.

Nowadays, bands and acts seem to be signed on the basis of image. If the talent is not there, modern technology is used to make it appear as though it is. The resulting sound may be technically perfect, however, in my opinion, it usually sounds fake. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, there was no such technology to hide behind and the sound was honest and raw. As they say, each to their own but for me, the 1950s and 1960s is where all the great music came from.

When my poster appears in a pub or club, most people are surprised when a 28 year old turns up to perform songs from the 1950s and 1960s! Despite being born 22 years after Buddy Holly’s tragic death and 11 years after the 1960s ended, people often tell me that I manage to capture the feel of that era. It’s not necessarily me, it’s the great music that was written before I was born that captures the feel. Nevertheless I’m always flattered when people tell me that I’ve managed to take them back to the days when they were my age.