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These Vintage 78s are ldest recorded music we
have from the Crystal Palace itself. 1926 was the first year of electrical
recordings with an ambitious attempt to record the Choir of 2,620 voices at the
Nonconformist Choir Festival 1926. The Crystal Palace Festival Orchestra and
Grand Organ conducted by Frank Idle F.R.A.M. The result is a bit dodgy but the
audience clearly enjoyed it. The 1934 recording 'Lift up your Heads' from
Handel's Messiah shows how technology quickly progressed. The Massed Bands of
the annual Crystal Palace Brass Band Festival were conducted by J.Henry Iles on
September 29th. Just two years later the magnificent Palace was destroyed by
fire.
Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster were
members of Sedghill School orchestra before forming The Scorpions in 1962.
Changing their name to The Spectres they made three unsuccessful
singles. Rossi & Lancaster went on to form The Status Quo in 1967.
Status Quo, as it became in 1970, has gone on and on to have the longest
list of 60 chart hits in history. And still going!
Full story
«here»
Bill Wyman the greatest bass guitarist of the
world's greatest rock 'n' roll band was born was a Bell Green lad. Bill was
born William George Perks on 24 October 1936 in Lewisham Hospital. His parents
lived in Miall Road (now demolished and replaced with Miall Walk). He was
evacuated to Nottingham for most of the WW2 but returned to live both in
Sydenham and at his Aunt's in Blenheim Road, Penge (just round the corner from
Sid Vicious in Maple Road. Bill married, got a flat in Penge while
working as a clerk in Streatham by day and being a Stone by night in case the
early success didn't last. Then to Beckenham before hitting the high time in
Keston. Bill now lives in Suffolk.
Full story
«here»
Rolf Harris was also a Sydenham bloke for many
years. He had two houses in Border Road - one for him and one for his mother
plus a studio at the bottom of the garden. He was very helpful with local
charities and does return occasionally. He`was spotted creating a picture in
the condensation of Blue Mountain Cafê in early 2008.
Full story
«here»
Forest Hill Billies allegedly the finest
example of post punk ska and rockabilly to emerge from the 1980s UK roots
scene, their unforgettable live set sent audiences into an uncontrolled
frenzy.
Graham Jones of Haircut 100 wrote to admit he
was guitarist of this pop rock-influenced band, formed in 1980 by Nick Heyward.
Graham went to Forest Hill School and before that, Adamsrill.
Connie Fisher was briefly a member of
Sydenham's Welsh community at the time of the BBC 'How Do You Solve A Problem
Like Maria? contest for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sound Of Music production in
2006. Success saw her trade in her Sydenham flat for a house north of the
river.
Full story
«here»
The nearest the Rolling Stones got to playing Sydenham
was Forest Hill. They also shared a gig in Forest Hill with Status Quo
another sixties chart topper that continues to play on into pensionerhood.
Forest Hill's more recent pop world has included StereoLab's &
Marrs`record producers. |
