The Mountain Kings

Members

Maurice Clawley - lead vocal
Robert 'Miffa' Smith - bass guitar
Terry Rowley - lead guitar
Howard 'H' Smith - tenor saxophone, melodica
Mel Downing - drums

Formed in Walsall in 1963.
Several members of this group came from the recently disbanded Scotti Wood Combo.

Clipping from Midland Beat (December 1963)



By early 1964, The Mountain Kings were managed by Mary 'Ma' Regan.

Maurice Clawley had previously fronted Maurice Lee and The Starliners and also performed in a group called The Nightriders, but not the Mike Sheridan backing group Nightriders.
Mel Downing, like Clawley, had also been in the Nightriders. He had also played drums for The Midnites.
Terry Rowley had previosly played with The Scotti Wood Combo and also the Vikings, but not the Vikings from Birmingham.
Howard 'H' Smith was previously in The Scotti Wood Combo.
Terry Rowley left the group in 1966 and joined the Wolverhampton group The Montanas and was later a founding member of Trapeze.
A short while after Terry Rowley left, The Mountain Kings disbanded.
Robert Smith played with a number of other local bands over the next few years.
Howard Smith and Mel Downing joined The KopiKats, from Walsall, who later became The Townsmen.

Recording History

The Moutain Kings didn't release any singles of their own, but were featured on the compilation album 'Brum Beat' released by Decca in 1964. They recorded four original tracks. These were: 'You Left Me Alone', 'Don't You Know', 'There'll Be Times', and 'Can't You See'.