Tony Sheridan
By Peter Steward
EVERYONE has heard of the Beatles, but how many people know that the lead singer on their breakthrough single came from Norwich? For while most people will be familiar with the names of George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr, few people will be aware of Tony Sheridan. Sheridan was born Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity in Norwich on 21st May, 1940, at 38, Glenmore Gardens, Norwich, to Alphonsus McGinnity and Audrey Mann. Alphonsus’ mother’s maiden name was Sheridan, the name he was later to adopt.
Sheridan was educated at Bignold Infants and Primary School and then at the City of Norwich School (CNS). Tony SHERIDAN became intensely interested in music, having formed his first band in 1956. On moving to London, he appeared regularly at the legendary Two Is club. He also had the distinction of being the first artist to play an electric guitar on the TV rock show “Oh Boy.”
Sheridan soon carved out a career for himself as a top-notch guitarist, backing top artists such as Conway Twitty and Gene Vincent. Unfortunately he got a reputation for being unreliable and this was partly the reason for his moving to Hamburg in Germany, where fate took a hand and saw him as a seasoned professional guitarist come across five fresh-faced young men with the names of Harrison, Lennon, McCartney, Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe (this was in pre-Ringo days). Harrison in particular would practice for hours with Sheridan who was given the nickname The Teacher. SHERIDAN often backed the Beatles and the Beatles in return backed him. Various sessions saw a number of tracks being recorded and these are now available on CD.
One of these was a rock version of the old standard “My Bonnie.” “My Bonnie” came out under the name of Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers as it was thought the word Beatles was too indigestible for German audiences. Later the name of the group was changed back to Tony Sheridan and the Beatles. The Beatles returned to Liverpool where “My Bonnie” had become a cult single. As far as they were concerned the rest, as they say, was history.
Tony Sheridan continued to work as a musician for the remainder of his life and died in Germany in 2013.
By Peter Steward
EVERYONE has heard of the Beatles, but how many people know that the lead singer on their breakthrough single came from Norwich? For while most people will be familiar with the names of George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr, few people will be aware of Tony Sheridan. Sheridan was born Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity in Norwich on 21st May, 1940, at 38, Glenmore Gardens, Norwich, to Alphonsus McGinnity and Audrey Mann. Alphonsus’ mother’s maiden name was Sheridan, the name he was later to adopt.
Sheridan was educated at Bignold Infants and Primary School and then at the City of Norwich School (CNS). Tony SHERIDAN became intensely interested in music, having formed his first band in 1956. On moving to London, he appeared regularly at the legendary Two Is club. He also had the distinction of being the first artist to play an electric guitar on the TV rock show “Oh Boy.”
Sheridan soon carved out a career for himself as a top-notch guitarist, backing top artists such as Conway Twitty and Gene Vincent. Unfortunately he got a reputation for being unreliable and this was partly the reason for his moving to Hamburg in Germany, where fate took a hand and saw him as a seasoned professional guitarist come across five fresh-faced young men with the names of Harrison, Lennon, McCartney, Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe (this was in pre-Ringo days). Harrison in particular would practice for hours with Sheridan who was given the nickname The Teacher. SHERIDAN often backed the Beatles and the Beatles in return backed him. Various sessions saw a number of tracks being recorded and these are now available on CD.
One of these was a rock version of the old standard “My Bonnie.” “My Bonnie” came out under the name of Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers as it was thought the word Beatles was too indigestible for German audiences. Later the name of the group was changed back to Tony Sheridan and the Beatles. The Beatles returned to Liverpool where “My Bonnie” had become a cult single. As far as they were concerned the rest, as they say, was history.
Tony Sheridan continued to work as a musician for the remainder of his life and died in Germany in 2013.