PAUL
VERNON CHESTER
Manouche Maestro
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Manouche Maestro |
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Judd Proctor Guitarist 1933 -
Originally played plectrum banjo but switched to acoustic guitar at 14, played gigs with local bands and won a regional Melody Maker contest with The Zetland Players. Did National Service with the RAF and while stationed at Maidstone played in Les Evans rehearsal band and took lessons from Ike Isaacs. After demobilisation he did his first professional work with Peter Fielding at Nottingham Palais. Played summer seasons with various bands then then moved to London to join Norman Burns from February until July 55. Member of Ray Ellington's Quartet for 6 years from July 55. Many radio dates included the Goon Show broadcasts.. Left Ray Ellington to concentrate on session work , playing for television radio, recordings etc. Took time out to tour Japan with Stanley Black 1965 and to work with Benny Goodman on record and on various concerts in England 1971. Often in Don Lusher's big band during the late 70's and 80's but mainly occupied with session work in the 1990's. Early sponsor of the Hofner President guitar. National Dance band Championship
Picture 1949 from Michael Wiper - the Bassist Phil Wiper's Grandson - also a
Bassist - who wishes to receive more info on Judd Proctor and any surviving
original Zetland Players. (new) -
Zetland Players name inspired by Zetland Road, Doncaster. Date: March 13, 1977 The Session Men Judd Proctor Started as a British session guitarist in the 50s. Played with Ray Ellington Quartet. Early Hofner President sponsor. The older guys were Eric Ford, Brian Dayley, Ernie Sheer, Judd Proctor, Jack Llewelyn, Ike Isacks, Roland Shaw, Dave Goldberg, and to many more to name. All of the older guys had their Gibson L5's or Epiphone Emperor's, De Angelico's, Guild's, and other exotic guitars. All of them full bodied with a separate pickup attached to the instrument. Vick Flick had a Fender Stratocaster, possibly the first solid body guitar on the session scene.
Victor Harold Flick (born 14 May 1937 in Hill Crescent, Worcester Park, Surrey) is a guitarist most famous for playing the riff in the "James Bond Theme". Before that, he also played the guitar riff in the theme tune of the popular early 1960s TV show Juke Box Jury. As a member of The John Barry Seven, he appeared on every episode of BBC TV's Drumbeat during 1959. Apart from his early 1960s work as the distinctive lead guitarist in the The John Barry Seven, Flick was a much in demand session player and featured on many early sixties UK pop records. Ernie Sheer
- For Move It he played a beautiful blond Hofner guitar with a DeArmond
pick-up near the bridge. It has been suggested that he used a Fender amp
although I doubt that; it seems too early. The British government were still
busy rebuilding the post-war economy, and import restrictions were still firmly
in place. Ernie would have had to travel to the United States or import it
himself. It's more likely that he would have used a Selmer or some such. "Ernie played an absolutely
wonderful introduction," confirms Malcolm Addey. "He was one of those guys who
would play whatever was required without getting uptight, and so he just turned
up his EQ and let it rip. It came out really great, and that's what got
everybody's attention. For his part, Cliff liked to play while he was singing,
so Norrie allowed him to hold onto his guitar, and after a false start we
completed the song in a couple of takes. There were no edits whatsoever — we did
very few edits in the pop field, and those were usually only on an LP, which
might be a little more complex. In November 1996 Ernie was still working mainly sessions and some concerts, working with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Ron Goodwin. Then he was still working with the Jack Emblow Quartet on Sing Something Simple (36 years!). Also a Robert Farnon concert for BBC radio. (Source Guitarist November 1996) more info if needed.
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Judd
Proctor, 
Eric
was a mentor to Big Jim Sullivan from the start. Every time he was on a
session with Eric he would help him with either reading or how to behave.
We both played in a group with pianist Reg Guest. It was called the 'Nashville
5'. We were on a radio program called 'Cool Spot' every week and we did a lot of
instrumentals. Jim played a lot of Chet Atkins arrangements. Reg did the
backings for these pieces. Eric played Gibson 335 on these sessions but later he
bought a 6 string bass guitar. It was the time of the clicky bass lines and Eric
would enhance the main bass laid down by Alan Weighle who was possibly the first
electric bassist in England. The Nashville 5 were:- Reg Guest on Piano, Andy
White (of Beatles fame) on Drums, Alan Weighle on Bass, Eric Ford on Lead-Rhythm
Guitar and me on Lead-Rhythm guitar. This rhythm section played on a lot of
recordings in the early 60's.
