PAUL VERNON CHESTER

Manouche Maestro

Dickie Bishop - Guitarist

Lonnie Donegan's last recordings with the Chris Barber Band, before he left to pursue a solo career capitalising on the success of Rock Island Line, were made on 4 April 1956. He was replaced on banjo by Dick Bishop, who also soldiered on with the skiffle group (known both as Chris Barber's Skiffle Group and Dick Bishop's Skiffle Group).  Dickie Bishop likewise left Chris Barber & Lonnie Donegan and formed his own group, 'Dick Bishop & his Sidekicks' They played on Saturday morning radio.

Monty Sunshine decided to strike out on his own, forming Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band, which included trumpeter Rod Mason, ex-Barber banjoist  vocalist and guitarist Dickie Bishop.  In 1995, Barber rejoined Lonnie Donegan and Dickie Bishop for a reunion UK tour, and he also did several reunion tours of the Chris Barber band with Monty Sunshine and Lonnie Donegan.

Dickie Bishop with Chris Barbers Skiffle Group

Interesting that bands then all; had matching 'Band Suits' which was a tidy marketing thing and even extended to the Beatles albeit with Chanel Collars.

Dickie Bishop, the banjo player in Chris Barber’s band in 1956, remembers: “We had recorded Petite Fleur in a studio and thought it would be a good idea to play this title live on the very same evening in a jazz club. But when the fans saw me come in with my guitar case, I was booed so violently that we changed our minds and cancelled our plan to play that title. Nobody could imagine that this title was to become a million seller.”

I recently found a photo of my uncle Dickie Bishop onstage with Big Bill Broonzy and Lonnie Donegan at St Andrew's Hall Glasgow in the 1950's.  I've attached it here for you as I saw you have some photos of Dickie Bishop on your site.  Dickie was actually one of my Dad's best friends in the 50's and 60's but was always known to me, my brother and sister as Uncle Dickie.  There were always so many friends and relatives visiting us, all of whom my parent's insisted on us calling "Uncle" or "Auntie" that I was never quite sure who were blood relatives and who were just  friends!  The last time I saw uncle Dickie was in the early 70's, I think he went to live in Germany.  I hope you enjoy the attached photo. - Dr Martin Taylor MBE
www.martintaylor.com
Dr. Martin Taylor MBE embodies that elusive, yet authentic connection to the music of a bygone era. Born into the auspices of the great Django Reinhardt, Taylor’s life and his music have been influenced by musical legends of the first order. The warmth of his textured, layered playing is, at once, tastefully measured yet masterfully virtuosic.

Dickie Bishop migrated to Germany at the turn of the Millenium.  Dickie is still alive, but he did his last musical performances in December 2004 during the Skiffle concerts in Gelsenkirchen & Essen (Germany)

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Last modified: 13/09/2011