From: "Dik de Heer" Date: Sun Feb 9, 2003 7:07 am Subject: Born To Be With You : Brian Bennett BRIAN BENNETT (By Kevin Carey) Born 9 February 1940, London, England Drummer, musical director, composer, conductor. Brian Bennett started his career in the legendary 2 I's coffee bar - "A pound a night, playing from 6 'til midnight playing for whoever came down", as the resident drummer which included stints and touring with Wee Willie Harris. 1958 saw Bennett's first recording sessions - and what sessions history would show them to be - appearing on Vince Taylor's Right Behind You Baby/I Like Love/Brand New Cadillac/Pledging My Love. Bennett's stint as one of Vince Taylor's Playboys was short-lived and along with 'Big' Jim Sullivan and Brian 'Liquorice' Locking he was drafted in to Marty Wilde's Wildcats in 1958, where he backed Marty as well as many others appearing on Jack Good's Oh! Boy, and later, Boy Meets Girls TV shows, including Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran. The Wildcats were booked to tour with, and back ("Courtesy of Mr Marty Wilde"), Vincent and Cochran on their UK tour of 1960, which included the EMI Poll Winners Concert at the Albert Hall. In October 1961, Tony Meehan decided to leave The Shadows and Cliff Richard was quick to poach Brian Bennett. Ironically, it was while touring in Scotland in 1958 that Bennett had lost his 'resident drummer' status at The 2 I's to the 15 year old Meehan. Bennett helped in the composition of some Cliff Richard hits (Summer Holiday and Finder's Keepers), as well as appearing in the movies, and having his first solo release, 'Change Of Direction', in 1967, but as the 60's drew on and the advent of The Beatles, saw the popularity of Cliff and The Shadows wane, until their eventual split in 1968. Fortunately for Bennett, his session playing and composing would come to the fore and see him backing such diverse artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Ken Dodd, and Tom Jones! The last 20 years has seen Bennett concentrate on his composing and has dozens of TV and film credits to his name, including the themes for The Ruth Rendell Mysteries and London' Burning. Recommended listening: Take your pick! Bennett joined in October 1961, so any compositions after this date feature him. Recommended web sites: http://www.brianbennettmusic.co.uk/shadows.htm http://www.cliffandshads.co.uk/