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Memorabilia

The first of the CIU Club ‘Oscar’s’ awarded to the Country Gentlemen on the 10th November 1969 after being voted one of the top 12 acts on the Clubs circuit.

 

This award, voted on by the various club committees, reflect what they considered to be the best acts that had been performing in their clubs in 1969. When you consider how thriving the clubs were at that time, and the 000’s of artists around, this was quite an honour, especially for a Country music band.

Some of the many newspaper cuttings about the band.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hartlepool Memories and Bands

To read more about The Country Gentlemen and other bands from the Hartlepool area in the 1960-70’s, visit -

www.stanlaundon.com

Pictured right, the second club ‘Oscar’ awarded to the Country Gentlemen in 1988. However, not satisfied with that though, the band went on to win it again in 1991. Incredible!!

 

These awards hold their own special place for all entertainers because they come from the votes of the men who have the job of trying to make sure that club concert rooms stay full.

 

This award was handed over, along with another six on this occasion, by Federation Brewery Chairman Jim Ramshaw at a glittering night at the Federation Brewery’s Lancastrian Suite, Dunston, Gateshead, in November 1988.

Hartlepool Mail, 1965

 

They did of course find one, many years later!!

Adverts are for appearances during the time 1966 to around 1968.
Text Box: ..”The new year is getting off to a good start for North East band The Country Gentlemen, they have been picked to be supporting band for American star Ed Bruce on his British tour in April, the lads really deserve this honour as they, in my mind, are among the top groups in the area, if not the country and I couldn’t be more pleased, congratulations to them.”... Text Box: Our own local band the Country Gentlemen with four band members all have full-time jobs. Therefore, without being involved on a full-time basis with an agent, manager, booker, publicist and major record label, making an album or even a single record can be very expensive. The Country Gentlemen who play as resident band every Monday night at the Golden Calf, Hesleden, have to rely on their own finance to make any kind of recording. Recently, with the help of the Golden Calf public house - and their own cash - they recorded a cassette of songs which have been heavily requested during their various shows around the area. Without the financial backing of a record company behind them, they obviously cannot have their product selling in the High Street record shops—so they have to depend solely on selling their product on personal appearances and, of course, at their resident gig each Monday night. The Country Gentlemen include Joe Powell from Billingham on drums, Bill Hully from Peterlee on guitar and vocals, Mick Gallagher from Horden on pedal steel guitar and, on bass, Ken Nicholson from Wingate. The band is due to pick up the Northern Federation Award as Best Country Band in the North East in Newcastle on November 10.”...

Above, the programme for the First “Go Country Club” Festival of Country Music, Barnard Castle, that the band appeared in, on 21st June 1987. The foreword was written by Stan Laundon who presented his ‘Country Time’ show on BBC Radio Cleveland.