Sydney band The Impacts was formed in the early 60s with Bobbie Thomas as vocalist, John Leslie and Bob Pierse on guitars, John Manners on bass and Alan Roberts on drums. During 1962 the band changed their name to The Nocturnes and were mainly seen as an instrumental group playing at surf music scene venues around the southern seaside suburbs of Sydney. They financed their first record at a cost of £100 at Harmony House at Circular Quay. The songs were a vocal called "Catch Me" and an instrumental called "September In The Rain" and they sold 500 copies. They auditioned for Festival Records with a vocal track with Bobbie Thomas and an instrumental. This first audition led to nothing and a second audition with Festival Records was arranged in 1963 and led to a contract for The Nocturnes as an instrumental group - Bobbie Thomas was not included at the time.
They recorded two instrumental records for the Leedon label at Festival's Harris St studio in Sydney, ''Riptide / Prairie'' (Leedon LK 482) in 1963 and ''Sitting Pretty / Storm Warning'' (Leedon LK 580) in 1964. Their line-up continued to evolve over the next two years, and included on guitars John Leslie, Bob Pierse, Lawrie Barclay, Terry Vincenzini and Bobby Richardson, along with John Manners on bass and Pat Jeffrey on drums. The group appeared on The Johnny O'Keefe Show and with Bobbie Thomas back on vocals organised their own dances at venues in the Kogarah-Ramsgate area. However Bobbie wanted a change and left The Nocturnes. In the wake of the Beatles visit, they recruited local vocalist Ray Brown. Ray grew up in Hurstville and left school at the age of fifteen to become a clerk in the Customs Department, but he had a passion for singing. Eager to move into the booming 'beat' style, they would eventually morph into Ray Brown and The Whispers. The rest is history. John Manners died in 2018.
They recorded two instrumental records for the Leedon label at Festival's Harris St studio in Sydney, ''Riptide / Prairie'' (Leedon LK 482) in 1963 and ''Sitting Pretty / Storm Warning'' (Leedon LK 580) in 1964. Their line-up continued to evolve over the next two years, and included on guitars John Leslie, Bob Pierse, Lawrie Barclay, Terry Vincenzini and Bobby Richardson, along with John Manners on bass and Pat Jeffrey on drums. The group appeared on The Johnny O'Keefe Show and with Bobbie Thomas back on vocals organised their own dances at venues in the Kogarah-Ramsgate area. However Bobbie wanted a change and left The Nocturnes. In the wake of the Beatles visit, they recruited local vocalist Ray Brown. Ray grew up in Hurstville and left school at the age of fifteen to become a clerk in the Customs Department, but he had a passion for singing. Eager to move into the booming 'beat' style, they would eventually morph into Ray Brown and The Whispers. The rest is history. John Manners died in 2018.
Members
SINGLES
''September In The Rain / Catch Me'' 1963 Harmony''Riptide / Prairie'' 1963 Leedon
''Sitting Pretty / Storm Warning'' 1964 Leedon
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