John
Meeting John Morgan the new manager of the Locarno, was a refreshing experience.

"I'm one of the boys," said John, "and I want all the people who come to the ballroom and all my friends to get as much fun out of life as I do myself."

Fair enough, John - and you're setting about it the right way.

For John tells me that when Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black and Billy J. Kramer are at the Locarno in the near future taking part in their film sequences there's not going to be any increases in prices.

"I've already cut prices," explained John Morgan, "and I mean to keep them as they are - no matter who is appearing."

As a matter of interest John Morgan is a former ABA champion - and he went to the same school as Cilla.

"But that was a few years ago," he admits wryly.

Tucker
There seemed a bit of romance in the air when I met Cy Tucker the other evening - but Cy denied it flat.

"Nobody loves me," he moaned with a twinkle in his eye, "the girls don't seem to have any taste any more - they've all forsaken us."

Cy says that he's really enjoying life these days and that since forming his own group away from the TTs, it's been even better.

"I see Earl Preston of course and we are big mates," he said, "but we both like it best on our own."

Charles
What a week it is going to be - with the Beatles back, Gerry and the Pacemakers filming and Ray Charles with his Orchestra and the Raelets at the Odeon.

I'm glad to see that 'the genius' is at last coming to Merseyside to make his first visit - but I wonder what the show is costing.

The old firm of Roberts and Ireland who have done so much over the years to bring the best of beat, jazz, what you will to Liverpool tried to get Ray Charles, I know, this year and last year.

This time Jim Ireland made a particularly determined effort to get him - but it was no use.

"We just could not afford it," Jim told me some time back. "Charles wanted £4,000 for a one-night-stand, and we can't afford that kind of money.

"It would have meant charging at least £2 per ticket to ensure getting our money back - and no one's going to pay that."

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