JAMIE, JON and JERRY

1967-1968

 

BAND MEMBERS

 

JON DEREK (Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar)

JAMIE GUNN (Bass Guitar/Vocals)

JERRY HOGAN (Lead & Pedal Steel Guitar)

JED KELLY (Drums)

 

*Albert Lee (Lead Guitar) Occasional member at gigs

 

 

Under the guidance of new manager Don Arden, who was keen to turn the band into another 'Bachelors', he felt several changes needed to be made, including their current name 'The Flintlocks', which in his opinion, did not appeal. Several names came to mind, but after careful thought, he realised it lay within their first names - Jamie Gunn, Jon Derek and Gerry Hogan (changing the letter G to a J).

 

(From left to right) JON DEREK, JAMIE GUNN and JERRY HOGAN

 

Jamie, Jon and Jerry topped the bill on a show called 'The New Sound In Country Music' which was staged at the famous 'Grafton Ballroom' in Liverpool (January 1967). They played for an hour to a capacity audience of 1,200 who loved them. Reflecting on the show, Jon was quoted to have said, "The country music scene in Liverpool is marvellous - the people up there really go for our kind of music. We had a great reception and a terrific night and we'd like to go back very soon."

 

Jon with his new Gibson J-200 guitar

Jon Derek purchased his iconic 'Gibson J200' guitar in the early part of 1967.

In addition to its huge size and massive tone, the J-200 is distinguished by its array of high-end cosmetic details including pineapple-style inlays and a moustache bridge. Jerry wrote in the band's fan club magazine, "Jon has bought himself a Gibson J-200 Jumbo. It is really a beautiful guitar but one wouldn't expect firewood for £315!"  In today's money, that would equate to roughly £5000. 

 

Manager Don Arden secured a new deal for the band with Decca Records and their first single was released March 4, 1967 (I'd Be) A Legend In My Time, produced by Tony Clarke (The Moody Blues' producer). 

 

The same month, prominent Canadian actor and BBC Radio disc jockey Murray Kash became Honarary President of Jamie, Jon and Jerry's fan club 'What Goes On'. Membership went on to top 400 by the summer of that year.

 

Jamie, Jon and Jerry appeared on The Hank Locklin Show at the 'Clarendon Ranch House' in Hammersmith, London (June 1967). Also on the bill was a special guest Clodagh Rodgers. Jamie, Jon and Jerry went on to tour with Hank Locklin supporting and backing both the star of the show and Miss Rodgers.

 

The band's second and, most successful single was released July 28, 1967 - You've Still Got A Place In My Heart produced by Dick Rowe (the man who turned down The Beatles but made up for it by signing The Rolling Stones and Tom Jones). Don Arden spent roughly £1,000 on promoting the record and in an interview Jon said, "This is the best we have done and it is commercially good. We spent three hours on a Sunday morning in a studio with a 30-piece orchestra to get this sound." The single made No.5 on the Record Mirror Country Singles Chart wedged between 'Just Between You And Me' by Charley Pride (No.4) and 'Tonight Carmen, by Marty Robbins (No.6). 

Albert Lee (far left) with Jamie, Jon and Jerry
Chas & Dave - All About Us

Friends, Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock (Chas and Dave), who would often turn up at Jamie, Jon and Jerry's London gigs, introduced Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds' guitarist, Albert Lee to them. Albert was really keen to play country music, so they let him sit in with them on some London gigs. Chas Hodges mentioned this in his memoirs published in 2013 'Chas & Dave - All About Us'. He wrote; "We introduced Albert to a good Country & Western band we knew who played on the Hammersmith circuit (the Red Cow, the Clarendon and the Red Lion). They were called Jamie, Jon and Jerry. 'Come down and see 'em, Albert.' Albert did and became a regular sitter-inner with the band." Dave Peacock was quoted to have said years later when reminiscing about those days; "Albert was very shy - we kept telling him to turn his guitar up because he'd never play loud enough!" Chas Hodges left a tribute to Jon Derek in 2011 referring to him as 'A great country singer'.

 

Jamie, Jon and Jerry supported pop star, Lulu on a show called 'Base Fair Summer of 1967' - staged at RAF Upper Heyford. Jon was quoted to have said after the show, “We were asked, which one of you was it that got Lulu drunk? They were trying to sober her up at the time, before she went on! Honestly, which member of our team would do that? Seriously though, she did a great show and we all really enjoyed working with her.”

 

Jamie, Jon and Jerry secured a regular spot on a brand new weekly BBC Radio show called, Country Meets Folk presented by Wally Whyton. Recorded before a live audience at the 'Playhouse Theatre' in Charing Cross, London - the show went out on the 'Light Programme' which would later become BBC Radio 2. Appearing in their own right - they would also be tasked with backing other artists such as Clodagh Rodgers (below).

Jamie, Jon and Jerry with Gordon Huntley (Pedal Steel Guitar) rehearsing with Clodagh Rodgers prior to the BBC Radio show 'Country Meets Folk'. (1967)

 

Jamie, Jon and Jerry's third single was released in October 27, 1967 - a cover of the Buck Owens hit Together Again. The production was disappointing and failed to capture that Nashville sound. It became a poor relation to that of it's predecessor, the well produced ballad, 'You've Still Got A Place In My Heart'. 'Together Again' would become the band's last release. 

 

In the early part of 1968, Jamie announced that he wanted to take a break from full-time musicianship. Sadly, that meant the end of Jamie, Jon and Jerry. 

Radio show featuring Cloda and The Jon Derek Group

The remaining members of the band - Jon, Jerry and drummer, Jed Kelly evolved into The Jon Derek Group with the addition of Albert Lee on lead guitar and Dave Sholl on bass. This was a skeleton band primarily put together so as to honour any outstanding bookings and, to act as 'backing band' to Irish singer, Clodagh Rodgers (spelt Cloda Rodgers prior to 1969) on all her forthcoming TV and Radio appearances. 

 

Clodagh Rodgers backed by The Jon Derek Group in 1968 - Jon Derek is stood behind Clodagh and Dave Sholl on the right.