Nottingham Beat group and later, club act, 1966 – 1973.

1966 Line up:
Dave Windmill: Guitar
Pete Bell: Bass
Johnny Oates: Rhythm Guitar
Doug Powdrill: Drums
Carl Abrams: Vocals

Post 1969 Line up:
Pete Bell: Bass
Johnny Oates: Rhythm Guitar
Doug Powdrill: Drums
Carl Abrams: Vocals

Carl’s Fables was formed in 1966. Carl Abrams (vocals) joined from a band called Chipps. Dave Windmill left the band in 1969.

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Carl Abrams was born in 1942. He was from Wallasey on the Wirral, Merseyside, and had been in the army since 1960. He had taken part in plays in Liverpool and in 1964 he was vocalist in a band called ‘The Four Futures’, an army group playing in Germany where he was based.

By 1966 Carl had moved to the Nottingham maybe Ilkeston/Stapleford area and joined a band called ‘The Chipps‘. From them he was poached by a newly formed group and they took the name Carl’s Fables. The Chipps must have carried on with a different vocalist for a while because a newspaper cutting in November 1966 shows both on the bill together.

1967

1968

Much more later…….

Much more later…….

‘Les Goodman managed and booked the Carlton Hotel, a great venue and had groups on most nights‘.

From about 1974 Carl would front KARL AND THE HEIDELBERGERS.

Obituary:
Carl, Charismatic singer and entertainer, well known on the local music scene for nearly 50 years, very sadly died aged 72 with his adoring son by his side. In the 1960’s and early 1970’s Carl was locally renowned as the energetic frontman of CARL’S FABLES. From 1974 he had a 10 year residency at the Nottingham Bier Keller leading KARL AND THE HEIDELBERGERS, taking this on the road until 2000. In later life he found his most enjoyment collaborating with songwriting couple Shipley & Shipley as part of ABRAMS. He had the career most people could only ever dream of; he never did get a ‘proper job’ and influenced many. His life is being celebrated at Bramcote Crematorium Serenity Chapel on Wednesday 16th September 2015.