Mark Raymond and The Crowd

BIRMINGHAM

Updated September 2004

This Birmingham group (formerly known as the Cyclones), self-composed a catchy pop song issued on the Columbia Records label as a single in 1964.

Their story begins during the late 1950s when Cadburys employee and football fanatic Ken Hoban who lived in Dawlish Road, Selly Oak, formed a rock 'n' roll band called "The Wildcats" along with guitarist Grant Harvey. By the early 1960s, Ken was the lead vocalist of another another group called "The Rayvons". This band consisted of drummer Colin Fortnam, guitarists Bob Bradley and Malcolm Gamble, plus Malcolm Hamilton on bass guitar.

Ken Hoban changed his name to "Mark Raymond" as to fit better with the Rayvons name and the group was soon playing regularly throughout the Birmingham area. A chance meeting with influential booking agent Bob Wooler, who had gone to see the Rayvons perform at the Majestic Ballroom in Birmingham, resulted in the group being booked to appear at Liverpool's famous Cavern Club. The Rayvons were well received at the Cavern where they played many times.

In 1963, Mark Raymond left The Rayvons and replaced the singer of another band called "The Cyclones" who had formed in Birmingham during the early 1960s. The Cyclones included lead guitarist "Chalky" Marsh who was born in Dover and lived in King's Heath; drummer Pete Dawson was from Stirchley, and rhythm guitarist Bernard Robinson and bass guitarist Phil Riches both lived in Warstock.

The group's booking agent was Terry Blood who lived in Stoke-on-Trent. Despite playing regular bookings in Birmingham and the surrounding area, the band remained semi-professional and they all continued to work at day jobs which by now comprised of bricklayer (Mark), and the others - joiner, lab technician, clerk, and auditor.

Mark Raymond and The Cyclones missed out on Norrie Paramor's famous "Brum Beat" auditions at The Moathouse Club in June of 1963 but made up for it when they were auditioned the following year at The Crown in Birmingham by Bob Barratt of Columbia Records and were offered a contract. The Cyclones went down to London and recorded several tracks at the famous Abbey Road Studios (they went in right after Cliff Richard and The Shadows had been recording 'On The Beach') and one song that was composed by the band was selected as the A-side of their first single.

The song was called 'Girls' and Mark Raymond came up with the words - supposedly while at church on a Sunday morning - and guitarist Roger Marsh put the music to it. The result was a brilliant and catchy piece of songwriting that also featured Norrie Paramor playing piano on the track. For the B-side of the single, a Bob Barratt song called 'Remember Me To Julie' was selected.

The band spent a total of three days recording in London, but a problem arose when it was pointed out that there was already an American recording group called The Cyclones. Another name was came up with and the single was issued under the new group name of "Mark Raymond and The Crowd". Despite the commercial appeal of the disc, Girls somehow missed out on a chart placing and unfortunately would turn out to be the only record release from Mark Raymond and The Crowd.

Despite a lack of chart success, there was still plenty of regular work for the group around Birmingham and they would continue to maintain their day-jobs and semi-professional status. Mark Raymond still lives in Birmingham and can be found performing occasionally to this day. He can be contacted via his brother Keith Hoban at keith.hoban@btinternet.com

For more information about this band go to www.btinternet.com/~keith.hoban/bobcat2s/bobcats.htm - The Bobcats Birmingham Band 1960s website maintained by Keith Hoban.

Mark Raymond and The Crowd 1960s Record Releases

Singles:

Girls/Remember Me To Julie (Columbia DB 7308) 1964

Back to BRUMBEAT MAIN INDEX

	Web www.brumbeat.net