Our guest entertainer at the monthly meeting on 24th September was Chris Stratman. It proved to be a very enjoyable afternoon with Chris providing us with his intimate knowledge of the history of The Shadows. In addition to his narratives, which were both informative and humorous, he performed many of their best known hits on his Fender guitar.
Key statistics quoted about The Shadows were five number one singles, and 69 chart entries over five decades. This data surely demonstrates the longevity of their appeal.
The Shadows were formed in 1958 and were originally known as the Drifters until 1959, when they were faced with legal action by the American vocal group also called “The Drifters.” "The Shadows" name was thought up by bass guitarist Jet Harris, and was formally adopted by the group in July 1959.
Initially, The Shadows was a backing band for Cliff Richard, but began producing hits in their own right when their single "Apache" reached No. 1 in the UK Charts in 1960. The number-one hits of The Shadows include: "Apache"; "Kon-Tiki"; "Wonderful Land"; "Foot Tapper"; and "Dance On.”
We thank Chris for an excellent presentation which was clearly enjoyed by the audience.
