In 1964 successful Sydney band The Nocturnes were left without a frontman when vocalist Bobbie Thomas decided to quit. The band had already released a couple of singles on the Leedon label and wanted to move in the direction of the booming 'beat' style of The Beatles. The band recruited Ray Brown a clerk in the Customs Department who had a passion for singing. The initial lineup was Ray Brown (vocals), Lawrie Barclay (rhythm guitar), Bobbie Richardson (lead guitar), John Manners (bass) and Pat Jeffery (drums).
The band would soon rank alongside the Easybeats, Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs and Normie Rowe as one of the most popular acts of the period. In 1964, the band played at the Bowl, a Sydney nightclub, doing covers of popular songs such as "Shakin All Over". The group performed regularly in front of thousands of excitable teenagers at places like Surf City and The Beach House who danced wildly to the sounds and energy provided by these new pop heroes. It was inevitable that the clean-cut and personable Brown would stand as the equal of Normie and Stevie Wright as a pin-up sensation. In the same year Al Jackson would replace Bobbie Richardson to become the classic Ray Brown and The Whispers lineup.
Over a frantic period of two years, Brown and the Whispers issued four excellent albums, seven hits singles and eight EPs. The band had a run of four Top Five hits in a row with "Pride", "Fool, Fool, Fool", ''In The Midnight Hour'' and ''Tennessee Waltz''. Other highlights include the gritty garage rockers "(Ain't It) Strange" and "That's Evil", the moody "Too Late to Come Home" (with the Bee Gees on backing vocals), the chiming "Go to Him", laden with electric 12-sting guitar, and tremendous covers of soul staples like "Respect". When Brown parted company from the group at the end of 1966, he continued the hit run as a solo artist with covers of the Four Tops' "The Same Old Song" and the Who's mod classic "Ivor the Engine Driver". Ray Brown died in 1996. John Manners died in 2018.
Members
Ray Brown (vocals), Lawrie Barclay (guitar), Bobbie Richardson (guitar), Al Jackson (guitar), John Manners (bass), Pat Jeffrey (drums)
''Pride (#3) / Say It Again'' 1965 Leedon
''Fool, Fool, Fool (#3) / Go To Him'' 1965 Leedon
''In The Midnight Hour (#4) / Now Is The Time'' 1965 Leedon
''Tennessee Waltz Song (Tennessee Waltz) (#4) / I Am What I Am'' 1966 Leedon
''(Ain't It) Strange (#38) / I Can't Get Enough'' 1966 Festival
''Too Late To Come Home (#55) / Respect'' 1966 Festival
Over a frantic period of two years, Brown and the Whispers issued four excellent albums, seven hits singles and eight EPs. The band had a run of four Top Five hits in a row with "Pride", "Fool, Fool, Fool", ''In The Midnight Hour'' and ''Tennessee Waltz''. Other highlights include the gritty garage rockers "(Ain't It) Strange" and "That's Evil", the moody "Too Late to Come Home" (with the Bee Gees on backing vocals), the chiming "Go to Him", laden with electric 12-sting guitar, and tremendous covers of soul staples like "Respect". When Brown parted company from the group at the end of 1966, he continued the hit run as a solo artist with covers of the Four Tops' "The Same Old Song" and the Who's mod classic "Ivor the Engine Driver". Ray Brown died in 1996. John Manners died in 2018.
Members
Ray Brown (vocals), Lawrie Barclay (guitar), Bobbie Richardson (guitar), Al Jackson (guitar), John Manners (bass), Pat Jeffrey (drums)
SINGLES
''20 Miles (#11) / Devoted To You'' 1965 Leedon''Pride (#3) / Say It Again'' 1965 Leedon
''Fool, Fool, Fool (#3) / Go To Him'' 1965 Leedon
''In The Midnight Hour (#4) / Now Is The Time'' 1965 Leedon
''Tennessee Waltz Song (Tennessee Waltz) (#4) / I Am What I Am'' 1966 Leedon
''(Ain't It) Strange (#38) / I Can't Get Enough'' 1966 Festival
''Too Late To Come Home (#55) / Respect'' 1966 Festival
EPs
'20 Miles' 1965 Leedon'Devoted To You' 1965 Leedon
'Fool, Fool, Fool' 1965 Leedon
'In The Midnight Hour' 1966 Leedon
'Tennessee Waltz Song' 1966 Leedon
'Now Is The Time' 1966 Leedon
'Pride' 1966 Leedon
'Ain't It Strange?' 1967 Festival
'Now Is The Time' 1966 Leedon
'Pride' 1966 Leedon
'Ain't It Strange?' 1967 Festival
ALBUMS
'Ray Brown And The Whispers' (#4) 1965 Leedon
'Dance! Dance! Dance!' 1966 Leedon'Hits And Brass' 1966 Leedon
'Headin' For The Top' (#4) 1966 Leedon
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Brown_%26_the_Whispers
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Brown_%26_the_Whispers
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
In the 70’s I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Richardson and his brother. They were in a band playing Johnny Cash covers and doing a mighty fine job of it. I recall that we were at Coogee at a club.
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