TIN PAN ALLEY

Tin Palley Alley formed in 1969 out of the ashes of that other popular Wollongong band, Reverend Black and The Rockin' Vicars. Dave Rossall (vocals), Dieter Glaser (drums) and Laurie Hellyer (bass) added the Cooper brothers from a band called The Craft. Tin Pan Alley set off north where they took up a residency at a large popular hotel, the Cabbage Patch at Coolangatta on Queensland's Gold Coast. They played songs such as "Aquarius" and "Hair", the 5th Dimension's, "Up Up and Away" and The Beach Boys "I Can Hear Music". This seven-piece lineup cut a single " Just for Tonight". This, and its flipside "Every Now and Then", were recorded at EMI studios in Castlereagh St Sydney and produced by Mike Perjanik. "Just For Tonight", with lead vocal in the verses by Dave and four-part harmonies on the chorus, was a big ballad with lush strings. "Every Now and Then" was all sung in four-part harmony in the style of The Tremeloes or The Bachelors.

Mid year saw them compete in the 1969 Hoadley’s Battle of the Sounds. Going through three heats at Wollongong, Canberra & then the Capitol Theatre in Sydney they went on to represent Country NSW as one of the twelve finalists in the National finals held in Melbourne. This was the year too, they competed in Martin Erdmans "Sounds of '69" band recording contest and were one of the winning 26 bands in this contest, who played live before an 8000 strong crowd in July 1969 at the Sydney Showground where they wowed the crowd with a great version of the song "Hair".

In November 1969 came a major lineup change. Just as the single was about to be released, both the Cooper Brothers left to go back to Wollongong from Queensland, where the band had spent much of it's time. The band had a number of gigs in Wollongong coming up including two really big ones, one supporting Russell Morris at The Wollongong Showground on 28 December 1969, the other supporting The Executives and Ronnie Burns at Capitol Hall on 25 Jan 1970 (formerly Wonderland). To this end they quickly acquired a new, rather attractive, member to replace the Coopers, a very young female vocalist, Angela Jones. The new six piece line-up then was Dave Rossall (vocals), Angela Jones (vocals), Stuart Bedford (lead guitar), Laurie Hellyer (bass), Neil Williamson (keyboards) and Dieter Glaser (drums).

This line-up lasted until May 1970 after a residency in Adelaide, when they returned to Wollongong. Firstly Stuart left to be replaced by Ian Davidson, and then Dieter, who was replaced by Terry Gascoigne. It seems that Stuart did not agree with the musical direction the band was taking or the suggestion by their manager George that they dance on stage like a vaudeville show! The new members were a brief attempt at a resurrection but it was short lived. Angela Jones (sister of jazz musician Vince Jones) ended up with the Bootleg Family Band. Some later members of the short lived version, which included Paul Wyld (organ) (ex-The 69'ers), went on to form a band called Kerri Koon. Terry Gascoigne & Paul Wyld later joined Blackfeather's everchanging line-up and Paul will always be heard for his famous piano solo on that bands classic hit, "Boppin' The Blues".

A revived line-up under the name Tin Pan Alley, made up of Phil & Wayne Cooper (vocals), Nick Kouts (vocals/guitar), Nerida McKean (keyboards), John McKean (bass) and Dieter Glaser (drums) played an 18 month residency at a Wollongong licensed club, Berkeley Sports & Social Club, around 1971. They may have been bashing out standards and covering latest hits, and it may have been smoke filled and crowded, but they probably made more money out of it than on the road! During this time it seems Dave Rossall had returned to live in the UK briefly, on the Isle of Man although not remaining long before he returned to Australia. Dieter Glaser continued to play drums, joining up with The Marksmen's, Bobby Kerr, in the 1980's. Paul Wyld died in 1999. David Rossall passed away from lung cancer on 4 January, 2012. He was 65. Stuart Bedford died in 2022.

Members

Dave Rossall (vocals), Wayne Cooper (vocals), Phil Cooper (vocals), Stuart Bedford, (guitar), Laurie Hellyer (bass), Neil Williamson (keyboards), Dieter Glaser (drums), Angela Jones (vocals), Ian Davidson (guitar), Terry Gascoigne (drums), Paul Wyld (keyboards), Nick Kouts (guitar), Nerida McKean (keyboards), John McKean (bass)

SINGLES

''Just For Tonight / Every Now And Then'' 1969 Columbia

References

http://historical-music-world.blogspot.com/2011/02/australian-band-1966-to-1969.html