The Sundowners

BIRMINGHAM

Revised January, 2021

Mick Adkins lead guitar, vocal
Kenny Bland drums (left in 1962)
Joe Parsons bass guitar
Ron Parsons vocal (left in 1963)
Dennis ?? guitar (left in 1962)
James (Jimmy) Rhodes vocal (left in 1963)
Keith Harrison drums (joined in 1962)
Keith Warrender guitar (joined in 1962)
John Williams vocal (joined in 1963)

The Sundowners were one of the first Birmingham groups to make a successful transition from rock 'n' roll to a blues/R&B-based format and this was at a time when most other groups were copying the new "Mersey Sound". They were originally formed in the late 1950's in the wake of the American rock 'n' roll invasion which saw the formation of many early British groups during the pre-Beatles era.

"As one act finished, you humped all your gear on stage, set up and tuned up all in about five minutes"

The original line-up of the Sundowners changed frequently and by about 1960 consisted of electrician's apprentice Mick Adkins (lead guitar), Dennis ? (rhythm guitar), Joe Parsons (bass guitar), drummer Kenny Bland, and vocalists Jimmy Rhodes and Ron Parsons. Material performed by the group at this time was mostly rock 'n' roll standards along with lots of Everly Brothers covers. Guitarist Dennis was forced to leave the group because of poor health and was replaced by Keith Warrender, while drummer Kenny Bland left and was eventually replaced by Keith Harrison.

Lead guitarist Mick Adkins remembers the early days of the group: "We were starting to get bookings further afield (Coventry, Leicester) about a 50 mile radius around Birmingham. We also had to get stage suits made and invest in new gear. We all went and bought new guitars, amplifiers, and a PA system - all on the knock. Brand new Vox AC30 amplifiers and Fender guitars which in them days were a lot of money. A Fender then was 124 pounds and the amplifiers were about the same price. This was a fortune to us but as we were getting so many bookings we were slowly paying it off."

A regular booking for The Sundowners was at the Atlas Ballroom in Stechford Birmingham as well as the Shirley Annex youth club in Solihull where a lot of well known local groups played including Mike Sheridan and The Nightriders and Denny Laine and The Diplomats amongst others. The Sundowners were also one of the many West Midlands groups to go on the Regan's dance hall circuit and this included spots at the Adelphi in West Bromwich as well as the Ritz in Kings Heath.

Mick Adkins: "At Mrs Regan's venues in them days, you did two half hour spots some nights (one at The Plaza and one at The Adelphi). This meant getting to the gig at 7:30, setting up ready - or waiting outside with all your gear. As one act finished, you humped all your gear on stage, set up and tuned up all in about five minutes, did your half hour spot, dismantled the gear, outside with it into the van, raced across Birmingham to the next venue, and then the same procedure followed all over again. All for 16 pound (for two spots), or 8 pound for one spot."

"Robby Hood"

Towards the end of 1963, lead singer Jimmy Rhodes left after getting married which meant the group were now limited in material they could perform due to the lack of a strong vocalist. Ron Parsons also decided to leave and this situation prompted the Sundowners to try their hand at backing an established vocalist. The group became Robby Hood's "Merry Men", Robbie being local performer Mike West who was one of pop manager Reg Calvert's resident acts. Reg Calvert was a well known pop music manager and booking agent in the 1960's and his stable of acts based at Clifton Hall in Rugby would also include Brummie group The Fortunes amongst many others.

Robby Hood's stage show involved the gimmick of appearing on stage dressed as the famous outlaw "Robin Hood" which included not only a hat but a full costume of Lincoln green consisting of tunic, boots, and tights. Unfortunately for the Sundowners, they also had to dress up in the appropriate costume including the "tights" which did not go down well with the group although they were eventually persuaded by Robby who promised them lots of bookings and a record contract. While the "record contract" did not materialize, Robbie Hood and his Merry Men certainly had plenty of bookings and they played up and down the country for the next six months.

Although Reg Calvert was able to get them booked into some of the larger halls, the former Sundowners often found themselves cringing with embarrassment as they performed rock 'n' roll numbers while dressed in their Merry Men outfits. Things came to a head when the group was booked to headline at a trendy club in London.

The hip London audience was not receptive to the provincial charms of Robbie Hood and his Merry Men and they were literally booed off the stage after being completely upstaged by one of the hot local blues acts. This painful episode prompted the Sundowners to immediately resign their position as Robbie Hood's Merry Men (previous line-ups of Robby Hood's 'Merry Men' had included Brum group The Clifftones - later to become The Fortunes).

"The Chads"

Possibly because of the Robby Hood experience, The Sundowners decided that a change of image was necessary and so they became a "blues" group as this style of music was becoming increasingly popular with the younger audiences and particularly university students. The transition to playing blues music was an easy one for the group, but lack of a good lead vocalist led the Sundowners to hire John Williams as their new front-man.

Along with the new style, a new name was also decided upon so The Sundowners became "The Chads". It was this group that would eventually include a young guitarist by the name of Jeff Lynne (see The Chads).

Thanks to Mick Adkins for assistance in writing this feature. This biography of The Sundowners is dedicated to the memory of Mick Adkins who passed away in 2007.

Back to BRUMBEAT MAIN INDEX