The Echoes

 

 

Members

 

Dave Burns - lead guitar
Tony Oakman - rhythm guitar
George Staff - rhythm guitar
Peter Oakman - bass
Bert Crome - drums

Laurie Jay - drums
Tony Collins - guitar
Les Smith - piano
Douggie Reece - bass guitar
Big Jim Sullivan - lead guitar

 

 

Formed in late 1959 in London as a necessity for a tour of the UK.
Tony Oakman, George Staff, Peter Oakman, Bert Crome were originally in The Spacemen Skiffle Group, with Joe Brown, and were only backing Chris Wayne whilst Brown was contracted to appear on television in 'Boy Meets Girls'. They later rejoined Joe Brown as his backing group The Bruvvers.
Dave Burns would briefly work with Wee Willie Harris in Italy before returning to rejoin The Echoes.
A second tour of the UK, this time supporting Gene Vincent, would require a new version of The Echoes. The Echoes would also be needed to back Gene Vincent on stage. Laurie Jay was available to play drums and the other members were drafted in from a band called The Dynamos who had previously backed Sonny Stewart.
During the tour Tony Collins had a car accident and was replaced by Big Jim Sullivan.
The Echoes regularly played live and backed other musicians on stage. They would later record for the Fontana and Philips labels and appeared on sessions for many solo artists. The lineup of the group changed many times over the years.
The Echoes disbanded in 1971.
Laurie Jay later went into artist management, becoming the manager for Billy Ocean and Shirley Bassey.

Peter Oakman would later play bass for Lonnie Donegan until Donegan's death in 2002. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Known Gigs

 

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The Dusty Springfield and Brian Poole Tour

 

14 Nov 1964 London, Granada, Edmonton. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

15 Nov 1964 Liverpool, Empire. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

16 Nov 1964 Southampton, Gaumont. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

17 Nov 1964 Portsmouth, Guild Hall. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

18 Nov 1964 Exeter, Odeon. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

20 Nov 1964 Cheltenham, Odeon. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

21 Nov 1964 London, Granada, Kingston. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

22 Nov 1964 London, Granada, Harrow. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

24 Nov 1964 Birmingham, Odeon. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

25 Nov 1964 Leeds, Odeon. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

26 Nov 1964 Glasgow, Odeon. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

27 Nov 1964 Stockton-on-Tees, Odeon. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

28 Nov 1964 Sheffield, City Hall. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

29 Nov 1964 Coventry, Coventry Theatre (formerly The Hippodrome). Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, Dave Berry, and The Primitives. Compere: Johnny Ball.

30 Nov 1964 Mansfield, Granada. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

1 Dec 1964 Doncaster, Gaumont. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

2 Dec 1964 Ipswich, Gaumont. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

4 Dec 1964 Southend, Odeon. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

5 Dec 1964 London, Granada, East Ham. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

6 Dec 1964 Stoke-On-Trent, Gaumont, Hanley. Backing Dusty Springfield. With Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Herman's Hermits, Dave Berry, The Primitives, and The Gobbledegooks. Compere: Johnny Ball.

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