Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers

Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers were a British instrumental beat group in the early 1960s. Their biggest hit, "Can Can 62" reached the British singles chart in 1962. The group toured with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones before disbanding in 1966.

Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers
OriginNorfolk, England
GenresRock and roll, beat music
Years active1960–1966
LabelsDecca, Piccadilly
Past membersPeter Jay
Pete "Buzz" Miller
Tony Webster
Mac McIntyre
Lloyd Baker
Geoff Moss
Johnny Larke
Terry Reid

Origins and career

The group was formed around 1960 by Peter Jay (b. 29 January 1944, Southgate, North London, England), the son of Jack Jay who owned and managed the Windmill Theatre together with several cinemas and nightclubs in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. Peter Jay formed the group while studying at Norwich College.[1] He played drums; other band members were Pete "Buzz" Miller, Tony Webster (rhythm guitar), Mac McIntyre (tenor sax and flute), Lloyd Baker (piano and baritone sax), Geoff Moss (bass guitar) and Johnny Larke (bass guitar).[2] The band never contained the unusual set-up of an acoustic and electric bass, just two electric basses. From about 1962, the group were also noted for their use of coordinated Vox Phantom guitars on stage.

Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers signed a recording deal with Decca Records in 1962. Their first record, a rocked-up version of the can-can music from Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, produced by Joe Meek at Decca's studios in Hampstead and entitled "Can Can 62", rose to #31 after entering the UK chart in November 1962.[3] The group released several further singles on Decca in 1963 and 1964, but none became hits.[4][5] The group were a popular live act and were chosen as a support act to the Beatles on their UK tour in November and December 1963. They also appeared on national TV shows including Ready Steady Go! and Thank Your Lucky Stars.[6]

The group moved to Piccadilly Records in 1964 and released several further singles, with little commercial success.[5] Miller left in 1965, and was replaced by guitarist Terry Reid. After further personnel changes, and billed as "Peter Jay and the New Jaywalkers",[7] the group continued to appear on bills with leading bands of the time, and were included on a 1966 package tour of the UK with the Rolling Stones, Ike and Tina Turner and the Yardbirds starting at the Royal Albert Hall in September 1966.[8] Following the tour, the group split up.[6]

Later activities

In the late 1970s, Peter Jay, together with his father, purchased the Hippodrome in Great Yarmouth, and gradually restored it as a theatre and circus venue with a circular performing area which could be lowered to reveal a swimming pool. He also took over the lease of the Tower Circus in Blackpool in 1983. Since his father's death in 1985, he has continued to own and manage the Yarmouth Hippodrome. He has also published an autobiography, Jaywalking.[1][9]

Pete Miller became a solo artist, releasing the single "Baby I Got News for You" (credited as "Miller") in 1965, with backing by Peter Frampton and other members of The Herd. He then concentrated on songwriting and worked as a session musician, before re-emerging as "Big Boy Pete" in early 1968 with the single "Cold Turkey", a track which was later anthologised as an example of freakbeat and covered by The Damned.[10] Miller moved to San Francisco in the mid-1970s, and has since recorded with his band, the Wildcats, as well as collaborating with other musicians in ventures such as "Shig & Buzz".[6][11] Terry Reid continued his solo career, becoming a singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2011-05-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2017-05-27.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 395. ISBN 0-00-717931-6.
  4. "Peter Jay And The Jaywalkers Discography - UK". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  5. "The JOE MEEK Page | CD Discography - Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers: Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers". Joemeekpage.info. 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  6. "Big Boy Pete". Big Boy Pete. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  7. "Photographic image : Cover of New Musical Express". Bradfordtimeline.co.uk. August 1966. Archived from the original (JPG) on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  8. "The Led Zeppelin Home Page - Jimmy Page". Web.stargate.net. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  9. Douglas McPherson (2008-12-06). "Great Yarmouth Hippodrome: on with the show". Telegraph. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  10. "Big Boy Pete | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  11. Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine
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