Colin William Manley (16 April 1942 – 9 April 1999) was an English rock guitarist and singer. He was the lead singer for The Remo Four and later a guitarist for The Swinging Blue Jeans from 1977 until his death in 1999.
Colin Manley | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Colin William Manley |
| Born | 16 April 1942 Old Swan, Liverpool, England, UK |
| Died | 9 April 1999 (aged 56) Liverpool, England, UK |
| Genres | rock |
| Instrument(s) | guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1958-1999 |
| Formerly of | |
Early life edit
Colin William Manley was born in Old Swan, Liverpool. He and Don Andrew were in the same class as Paul McCartney at the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys.[1] Manley and Andrew were educated at the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys from 1953 to 1959.
Career edit
The Remo Four edit
With Don Andrew, Keith Stokes, and Harry Pryterch, the Remo Quartet was formed in 1958. With a later change in personnel with Phil Rogers and Roy Dyke replacing Stokes and Pryterch, the "Remo Four" toured in Hamburg on a regular basis.[2][3] The Remo Four are known for serving as the backing band for a few successful pop singers and for being the House band for clubs in Germany.[2] At one point, Johnny Sandon fronted the band.[2]
Starting in 1963, the band acted as the backing band for Tommy Quickly. They played backing instruments on his big hit "Tip of My Tongue".[2] When Quickly retired from music and became a Recluse, they adopted the moniker of "The New Dakotas" when Billy J. Kramer fronted them for a while.
Manley and Andrew were heavily influenced by Italian guitarist Marino Marini, who they had both seen on Tonight at the London Palladium show.[4] In 1967, the band were hired to back George Harrison, who was making the soundtrack to the film Wonderwall.[5]
Later work edit
When the Remo Four disbanded in 1970, Manley spent a year playing in the London Palladium Orchestra.[4] He would later accompanied Engelbert Humperdinck for a while, was a member of The Dakotas and Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, and also worked with Clodagh Rodgers and in 1975, and was noticed by Freddie Starr and was hired by him.[6] In 1977, Manley joined The Swinging Blue Jeans.[4] He left the band in early 1999 when his health started deteriorating from cancer.[6]
In 1988, Paul McCartney said of Manley:
Colin Manley was brilliant, he was the finest guitarist around Liverpool in the early 1960s and he could do all that Chet Atkins stuff with two fingers. A lot of the lads tried to play like that, but only Colin could do it really well.[6]
In the 1990s, Manley reunited with Don Andrew to join Gerry Marsden on the British Soap opera series Brookside.
Personal life and death edit
Colin was diagnosed with cancer in the mid-1990s. Manley died of the illness in Liverpool on 9 April 1999, at age 56.[6] He was survived by a wife, and two children (John and Julia). His daughter Julia is also a singer based in Liverpool.[6]
A memorial concert was held at the Philharmonic Hall on 1 June 1999. At the service, the surviving members of the Remo Four did a few songs, with a lineup consisting of Andrew, Dave Williams, Harry Prytherch, Mike Bryne (Don Andrew's son), and Manley's son John.[4] Musicians who were in attendance included Vince Earl & the Attractions, Jimmy Cricket, Herman's Hermits, Marmalade, Dave Dee, Chip Hawkes, The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Merseybeats, Peter Sarstedt and The Searchers.[4]
References edit
- ^ Spencer Leigh, BBC presenter, in sleeve notes to SEECD349
- ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 371. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X
- ^ Family, Bear. "Remo Four". Bear Family Records. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ^ a b c d e "Colin Manley - Bill Harry - Mersey Beat". triumphpc.com. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 371. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
- ^ a b c d e "Obituary: Colin Manley". The Independent. 1999-04-13. Retrieved 2024-03-10.