Gerry
It’s not only the local beat stars who entertain these days, it seems – their mothers are in it too!

Take the case of Gerry Marsden’s mum – Mrs Mary Marsden.

Together with half a dozen other mums from St. Finbar’s RC parish in the Dingle, Mrs. Marsden is a member of a black-faced minstrel troupe which gives local charity shows.

There’s no talk of demo-discs or TV appearances for the ladies. But they get a lot of fun – and so do their audiences.

Billboard
There’s no less than 11 British discs in the U.S. Top 100.

That’s the great news I got from my copy of Billboard this week.

I only learnt recently that you can buy it in Liverpool – and it tells me that eight of the 11 numbers are by Liverpool groups.

The Beatles (of course) have three in the first four with three more numbers lower down the lists.

But for the first time the Searchers have broken into the chart with ‘Needles and Pins’ – and the Swinging Bluejeans have also made it with ‘Hippy Hippy Shake.’

The Swinging Bluejeans, incidentally, are also in the charts in Eire and South Africa – and are top in Norway.

The remaining three British discs to make it in America are Dusty Springfield’s ‘I Only Want To Be with you’, Dave Clark’s ‘Glad All Over’ and, for the first time, Danny Williams’ ‘White on White.’

Mojos – U.S.A. Disc Invasion
Big news this week from Spencer Mason, who handles that way-out group the Mojos.

Spencer tells me that no less than EIGHT of the boys’ numbers are to be released in the U.S.A. on the Atlantic label.

“The London agent for Atlantic Records was so knocked out when he heard the Mojos’ latest disc that he immediately took the eight sides,” declared Spencer.

Their latest disc, incidentally, is ‘Everything’s all Right,’ on Decca, with ‘Give Your Loving to Me’ on the flip and they’re both penned by the boys.

In case you’re unsure of the Mojos line-up it’s Bob Conrad, 19; Stu James, 18; Nick Crouch, 21; Keith Carlson, 19; and Terry O’Toole, 22.

Demo-Disc
Another local group followed the ‘golden road’ to London – and a demo-disc – last week.

This time it was the Pathfinders, whose headquarters are in Upton, Wirral, and who are one of the better groups among so much mediocrity.

Titles of the Pathfinders’ hopefuls are ‘It’s Time’ and ‘I Can’t Wait.’

Charity
Remarkable how few groups or individuals will do anything for charity.

I heard this week about one big-name ‘star’ who kept an organization waiting weeks before finally refusing to appear.

Maybe it was the fault – the policy it’s called – of the manager. But whatever the reason it’s far better to say, “No, I can’t” or ‘”No, I don’t do charity acts” rather than keep others on tenterhooks – and cause them to ask and accept an inferior artist at very short notice.

Which brings me to the Masterminds.

Although these boys are waiting to hear the result of their audition for Lionel Bart’s ‘Maggie May’, they’ve agreed to take part in a charity show on Friday, April 10.

It’s in aid of Cancer Research and it’s at the Philharmonic Hall.

Among those invited are the Lord Mayor and the new Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool.

Guitars
There’s at least one very wise father in Huyton – to say nothing of a headmaster with lots of sense.

The father is Mr. Joe Edwards, of 31 Jacqueline Drive. Huyton, and the headmaster is Mr. J. L. Smart of St. Augustine’s Secondary School.

Mr Edwards’ schoolboy son, Dave, wanted to form a ‘beat’ group – and he wanted the equipment, too.

But rather than pay the hundreds of pounds necessary for guitars, amplifiers and microphones, Mr. Edwards said he’d make the equipment – and he did.

Now young Dave and his friends, who call themselves the Chelseas, have everything they need – including imitations of £150 guitars – and it all costs under £20!

Mr. Smart, the headmaster, not only allowed the boys to practice at school – he encouraged them to make their instruments as part of their school woodwork course.

There’s a lesson here for all the groups who pay fancy prices on the ‘never-never’, can’t afford to keep up – and never get anywhere anyway.

And for those teachers who see nothing but bad in the present scene.

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