Mersey Beat - Alby and the Sorrals

Alby and the Sorrals at The Cavern in 1963

 

They originally started out in 1960 as 'The Cadillacs' with Alby Ellis on vocals, Keith Draper on lead guitar, Brian Cox on rhythm guitar, Dave Foley on bass guitar and Trevor Morais on drums. In 1961 they took up residency at St. Barnabas Church Hall in Penny Lane where the promoters set up a theme of Alby and the Sorrals  'Guest Nights'.

Alby Ellis was the vocalist and Maurice Daniels, who looked after the bookings, had taken over as drummer. In early 1962 Pete Dobson, from 'Benny & The Black Cats', joined their line-up on tenor sax, the only other group to feature a saxophone were 'The Undertakers' who were their guests on a number of occasions.
On Wednesday the 20th June, 1962 they performed with 'The Beatles' at The Cavern and on the 6th of November that year with 'Freddie & The Dreamers' and 'The Undertakers'.

St. Barnabus Church, Penny Lane

St Barnabas Church Hall was one of the most popular suburban Saturday Night places to go to in Liverpool and at its height was regularly sold out. All the best known groups of the time from Merseyside, and many from Manchester were their guests with the exception of 'The Beatles'. The two promoters refused to pay more than £15 for a band (they were paid £6) and 'The Beatles' wanted £25. As Maurice knew the guys well, he obtained an agreement for them to play for an hour for £20, to link up with another booking, but the promoters still refused to pay. This would be around the Christmas of 1961, so when 'The Beatles' became more popular later in 1962, Maurice was asked to see if I could get them for £25. No Chance !!

The 'Dovey'

 

St. Barnabas Church Hall has an interesting history being once the home of a rich ship owner as well as an orphanage, a Russian Embassy and as various pubs.

Originally known as Grove House owned by Andrew Kurtz, who also owned the Sutton Alkali Works in St. Helens, his son of the same name also lived there for many years with his cousin Julia Turner and also at Dovedale Towers. Grove House was later purchased from the trustees of the 'Home for Incurable Children' as a new parochial Hall for St Barnabas Church and Sunday School.
John Lennon with 'The Quarrymen' played there on several ocassions in 1957 and it was also where Freddie Mercury lodged for a time when he played with the Liverpool band 'Ibex'. It is now a pub called Dovedale Towers, known locally as 'The Dovey'.

In 1963 Keith, Brian and Dave left and Maurice recruited replacements. Rod Long on lead guitar, Frank Dudley on bass, Brian Johnson on rhythm, but soon after Pete also left after getting married. They continued as a 5 piece until mid 1964, when Alby decided he'd call it a day, though he did resume singing some years later.

P.S. Paul McCartney sang in the choir of St Barnabas Church and around the corner from “The Dovey” is Dovedale School where John Lennon and George Harrison attended albeit there was a two-and-a-half year age gap.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2016/10/mersey-beat-sonny-kaye-reds.html