THIS ARTICLE WAS prompted by the DCBs forthcoming appearance on April 14th at the Metropolitan Theatre, which is a major North West venue in Bury. I imagine that the name Down County Boys evokes many fond memories for some readers - maybe a great night's bluegrass entertainment, or their first encounter at a folk concert. It could be you heard them on a Country Style or Country Meets Folk radio broadcast, or their famous Radio Leeds broadcasts in November 1968 and April 1969. So lots of you know who the DCBs are, but how many know how they came into existence, or how long they've been going?

This is the first of a series of articles based on an on an essay by John Meier which appeared in Country Music People, Dec 1973, and the recollections of various people but mainly present fiddle player Peter Parker.

The people on the front cover are all featured in this installment.

IT ALL STARTED early in 1964 in Coventry whenguitarists Ken Harris and Martin Hollis got together as a singing duo, sharing lead and rhythm work. Mostly they did The Blue Sky Boys and The Louvin Bros songs. Then in November 1964 mandolinist Mike Rogers joined after meeting Ken at the London Folk Voice Festival that year. Next banjoist Andy Smith joined in January 1965.

But how did the band's name arise? It was while waiting to go an stage one night that they discussed a name, but the best they could do was The Warwickshire Travellers,three of them being from Coventry. A good local name, but with no Bluegrass ring to it. Country artist Martin Perdine was there and suggested they reversed Ken's birthplace, County Down (Ireland), to become The Down County Boys and so DCB was agreed on.

The Cover Photo
Rear: John Allen, Peter parker
Dick Newton, Brian Curtis, Mike Rodgers

A band needs venues, but that month the Swanswell Tavern's Country Club, which highlighted a host of Midland Country artists and brought visiting American artists to the Midlands, folded. What would they do? The boys looked to the folk clubs for work and had great success in them. Their first folk festival appearance was in October 1965 in London's Cecil Sharp House's Folk Voice Festival, followed by nearly all the Folk Voice Festivals up to 1971. During one of these festivals Saga Record Co. decided to record some of the shows for release on LPs; the DCBs only previous recordings were Hello City Limits and Summertime Is Past And Gone, on SAGA 8092. Lack of recognition by other labels didn't them from playing Bluegrass. Apparently a Scots bass player - 'McKay' - joined late 1965 but disappeared after three months.

Despite gaining a national reputation for quality and musicianship they started to find it hard to get work and disbanded in September 1967. Andy Smith left to join the Ian Campbell Folk Group while Martin Hollis went to the USA to study accountancy. Then in February 1968, at one of their final gigs, the Tree's Folk Club, guests Ken Harris, Martin Hollis and Mike Rodgers got together with the other guest folk group for a jam session in the rehearsal room. The folks had a banjo player - Dick Newton - and a fiddle player - Bob Bruce - both of whom joined DCBs next day. The Folks also had a guitarist - Brian Curtis; he joined DCBs later. With things looking up Martin Hollis gave up the USA and stayed on!

The Down County Boys March 2000 - Guy, Mick, Jim & Peter

The Down County Boys had a new lease of life; things were really going great for them. Arguably, 1968 was their best year; they were the most popular group, having re-created a demand for their kind of music. New C/W clubs were opening all over the Midlands and they were in very heavy demand. In November '68 they recorded the first of their Radio Leeds broadcasts, with a line-up of Martin Hollis (guitar/vocals), Ken Harris (guitar/vocals), Mike Rodgers (mandolin), Bob Bruce (fiddle) and Dick Newton (banjo). In December the lads were joined by stand-up bassist Brian Curtis, who furthered their reputation with his fantastic vocal range and wonderful sense of humour; his joining rounded up a great year.

Early 1969 DCBs were joined by the great classical and bluegrass fiddle player Owen Johns, who came to Bluegrass after hearing The Orange Blossom Special. He was so knocked out with the fiddle work in OBS that he just had to learn it and was sent to see Ken Harris. He spent every night for two weeks in the front room at Ken's home, just learning to play Bluegrass fiddle. When Owen eventually asked to join the group Ken willingly agreed. With Owen the DCBs became the first British Bluegrass group with twin fiddles, which they used at their next Radio Leeds broadcast in April 1969. Sadly Owen Johns left the band only about 3 months later.

Martin Hollis left in June 1970 after finally deciding to study accountancy. They almost disbanded, but they had some notable achievements.February's BMG mag carried a story on them and their photo on the cover. Next came their first BBC Country Meets Folk appearance in April. The DCBs were so successful that they were asked back in the July. With the write up, radio appearances and the Saga LP with their tracks on it, how could work stop coming in? But stop it did. All Dick, Brian and Bruce could do was folk clubs, as the Troupadors. Ken did some work with Fatsy Powell And The Honky Tonk Playboys ('The Playboys') which he'd helped to form.

Except for the odd big occasion the DCBs had no work coming in, so at an October of 1970 meeting, leader Ken announced he was leaving to work with 'The Playboys'. A short time after this Bob Bruce, after dropping hints for some time, alsodecided to leave the band and go back into the folk world.

The Down County Boys after the 1999 BBMA Concert

It was now up to Curtis to show his resources and put the Down County Boys back on the map. With Brian as the new front man and lead vocalist they went to new heights, setting a singing standard that was even greater than before and working wonders for the harmonising. The best example of Brian's vocal changes were seen in the Jim & Jesse classic Are You Missing Me. In the old days Ken would sing lead on this and Brian would come forward to sing the tenor harmony, but now Brian had to singthe lead as well as change his voice for the harmony parts.

Brian and the band started by securing fiddle player Pete Parker. They went into heavy practise sessions but kept in touch with local Bluegrass fans by playing at the Coventry area clubs. Then in February '71 the lads were joined by bassist John Allen, allowing Brian to concentrate on lead guitar. Now the line-up was Brian (lead guitar/lead vocals), Dick Newton (banjo/harmony vocals), Mike Rodgers (mandolin/harmony vocals), Pete Parker (fiddle) and John Allen (bass) and it was great to see the work roll in again. In August 1971 they were offered two residences: the New Inn, Long Lawford and the Bull's Head, Brinklow.

Soon they were offered appearances on Country Style in May 1971 by the BBC, which really did well for the lads and Bluegrass music that year, and offered the DCBs two more guest appearances on Country Meets Folk in August and December 1971. Bluegrass fans knew the Down County Boys had hit an all-time high standard in their presentation. It was marvellous to see and hear Dick and Mike on vocals. Things seemed too good to be true and, in April 1972, all the rumours that the lads were breaking up became reality. Ken said he was looking forward to Brian Curtis and Dick Newton joining The Playboys. They all went their separate ways; Mike Rodgers' job took him to Northern Ireland and Peter took some exams. It was the end of the Down County Boys for the time being.

Ken thought it a good idea to present an electrified Bluegrass set with his Country act, so offered Dick and Brian jobs. They stayed with The Playboys for three months, playing this form of Bluegrass, but couldn't take it. Many of their fans up and down the country asked "When are you going to form another BlueGrass group?" and various Country Music publications commented how sad it was to see them disband. So they discussed with Ken their feelings about reforming a new Bluegrass band.

Three months later in July they left The Playboys and formed a professional trio with Thadeus Kaye. They tried to call themselves Down County but nobody would hear of it. The fans knew best, so they changed back to the Down County Boys. They regained their residences at Lawford and Thadeus left afterwards.

The group was now Brian, Dick and Peter Parker (when available) and soon the clubs started to book them. The BBC got in touch with an offer for them to appear on Country Meets Folk, followed by a live recording, guesting on Country Style in Birmingham in October. The DCBs really knocked them out on that show! What a line up: Dick (banjo), Brian (lead guitar/lead vocals), Mike (mandolin), John Allen (bass) and Peter Parker (fiddle). Pat Campbell said it for the BBC and for all Bluegrass music lovers when he introduced the lads back to the audience of Country Style with "Here they are folks, the fabulous Down County Boys!" And that was the start of another fabulous era, another story...

Continued in the May/June 2000 edition

1st March 2000