Mersey Beat - Gerry de Ville & The City Kings

'The City Kings' were originally a skiffle group also playing popular music of the time in the late 1950s until Gerry Bach, lead singer with 'Gerry Bach & The Beathovens', joined them in 1962 when he was studying economics at Liverpool University, and they became known as 'Gerry de Ville & The City Kings'.

The line up at that time was Gerry on vocals, Dave Passey on lead guitar, Ritchie Mitchell on bass guitar, Jimmy Carter on rhythm guitar and Pete Rogers on drums. The group played at all the usual venues at the time including The Tower Ballroom, The Royal Iris, Litherland Town Hall and The Cavern. Work was plentiful as it was for any band from Liverpool at the time because it guaranteed a full house for the clubs.

Their Cavern Wall brick ( top right )

 

Gerry Hale, who was born in 1944, grew up in Old Swan and as an 11-year old won a scholarship for St Edward's College, in West Derby, where he excelled at rugby, athletics, cricket and tennis.. He was a keen sportsman and excelled at rugby, athletics, cricket and tennis. A bright lad, he studied economics at Liverpool University and later lectured at Liverpool Community College, as well as running his own hairdressing business at the Childwall Fiveways.

By 1962 the group were regularly playing at The Cavern, gaining a cult following whilst playing alongside 'The Beatles' and other Liverpool groups between 1962 - 1963 and they also played at the Iron Door. During 1963 they recorded a number of songs with the now famous Joe Meek. Unfortunately, before the scheduled release date, Joe Meek committed suicide. On February the 8th 1964 Merseybeat advertised, 'the Belle Vale Beat Club has 'Gerry DeVille & The City Kings', 'Rory Storm & The Hurricanes' and 'Ray Malcolm & The Sunsets', and on the 26th of March 1966 it advertised, 'Gerry De Ville & The City Kings' play at the Mirabel (Beachcomber) Club'. It was around that time that they signed to the small record label Virginia and enjoyed some success with the release of 'Alone In The Night' c/w 'You Never Tell Me' and toured with the 1960s artistes Dave Berry, Long John Baldry and Carl Perkins.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2016/08/mersey-beat-richmond-group.html