"Started playing guitar in 1958 and turned pro in 1960 when I played guitar on a hit record of that time "Baby Sitting" by Bobby Angelo and the Tuxedos. I even sneaked in an Echolette echo thinking the engineer would not notice, but he must have liked the sound and said nothing. Baby Sitting was released on HMV and recorded in Abbey Road in October 1960 when I was 16. My first time in a studio. (long before the Beatles). I was told it was an audition. Got ripped of and only got a fiver for my part, which was the main part I made up on the spot, as we had nothing rehearsed being naive. Hate it now though as I was just 16 years and 9months and although cocky not that good. I later left with the drummer Mick Avory who went on to form the Kinks, both fed up with getting no money. Mick was not the drummer on the record though. The song was a big hit all over Europe although I never knew that until later. The Tuxedos and myself were from Kingston in South London, and the place where the Rock and Roll movement started in West London. A hive of activity as Eric Clapton said in his book, who moved there himself for the action, as a result of the Tuxedos hit. At that time myself, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Clapton were all kids together, and they all came to Kingston as it was the place to go. Never met Jeff though. Jimmy used to jam with us in the Swan in Kingston, although at that time he was with Neil Christain and the Crusaders (both of us) being 17 year old's then.  The Tuxedo's were also featured on a famous old TV show "Juke Box Jury" at the time. The annoying thing about being ripped off is they are still re-releasing this single many times over. The last time was on a "Rock and Roll Juke box Greatest Hits" 3 CD set on SKY. Now they have done it again on a "Rock and Roll Jukebox" 16 CD set with Elvis , Little Richard, Eddie Cochran etc' all on the same CDs again on Sky, so somebody is still getting my share somewhere. Why the Tuxedos record was on it I don't know, but it must have sold a lot as it was the only English record on it at first. After that knowing everyone, I was in many London Blues bands before being asked to come over to Ireland to join Gene and the Gents to replace Henry McCullough (not an easy man to replace). They were a very popular show band in the mid 60's and making good money. After that finished in 1969 I joined "Gene and the Flames" in Belfast and then formed Sneaky Pete (a rock group) with Davy Quinn (of Leo Sayer and the Mechanics) on Bass and Les Binks (Judas Priest) on drums. After that came "Pat McGuigan and the Skyrockets" and then back to London where Henry got me an audition with Eire Apparent.That never happened in the end as they were making no money and I was asked to join the Cricklewood Club Big band who knew me from playing there with the Gents etc'. They were the resident great big band there who supported all the visiting showbands. A great learning experience for me. I was then asked to come back to Dublin by the visiting Big Jim Farley Band which I did before getting married in 1970 when I got fed up with the touring. After that there was "The Frank Chisum Elvis Spectacular", Gloria , Kathy Durkin, Speedie Hamilton with myself and Arty McGlynn and so many, many more bands I cannot even remember. I was just a "Have guitar. Will travel" pro so I lost count. Now I am a bona fida Pensioner. I still play but only what I like as I got fed up with the usual circus with different ringmasters . Have a studio in the house now and I am more into writing (mainly jazzier stuff with blues and rock thrown in). Thankfully and surprisingly the BBC played it even though it was recorded on a 4 track. Somehow I got a decent sound. I Hope to play on till I drop and I intend to put a band togerther this year to do the Guiness Blues Festivals again.

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