The Blue Saints – Notts Music Archive

Six piece group from North Notts/South Yorkshire 1964-1967 described as a “Beat” group but also as a “Jazz” group.

Line up:
Bill Turner (Alto & Soprana Saxophone, Clarinet & Vocals)
Roger Turner (Bass & Lead guitar)
Mike Fletcher (Piano, occasional Guitar)
Andy Burns (Drums)
Tony Beech (Trumpet, Baritone Saxophone)
Steve Morton (Baritone & Tenor Saxophone, Euphonium)

The Blue Saints played numbers like William Tell Overture, Brontosaurus Stomp, Spanish Harlem in a similar way to the group “Sounds Incorporated”.

Photos from Mike Fletcher.

**L-R Steve Morton sax, Bill Turner clarinet, alto sax & soprano sax, lead vocals**

**L-R Roger Turner lead guitar, Andy Burns drums**

**L-R Steve Morton tenor sax, Tony Beech trumpet**

**L-R Bill Turner clarinet, Steve Morton baritone or tenor sax, Tony Beech alto sax**

Bill and Roger Turner’s younger brother Keith Turner started his music career in Retford group The Vibratones. He gives an outline of his brothers career.

“My Father (Coal Miner at Bevercotes) played trumpet and saxophone and by the time I was 7 or 8 years old I was learning saxophone and reading music. My two late brothers Bill and Roger also had the same learning process, an hour a night before going out to play football etc. Bill was eleven years older than me and Roger three years; both have now passed away. Bill played saxophone and clarinet. Roger played saxophone, bass & lead guitars. I played saxophone, clarinet, and rhythm guitar. We all tried to sing! Roger and I did things like playing at kids Christmas parties etc at a very early age 9 and 10 years and winning the Butlin’s talent contest a couple of times whilst on holiday. I first played in a working mans club about 12 years old singing and playing guitar. Bill and Roger played in a six-piece band called The Blue Saints who were very successful around the clubs in South Yorkshire around 1964/1967 and I was starting with the Vybratones.

The Blue Saints broke-up and Bill and Roger started a duo The Turner Bros. I joined in 1969 and made a trio for about a year. Roger and I wanted to form a band, so Bill retired. We tried to form a band but a couple of the guy’s preferred to argue than play so we packed up after a very short period. In 1971 Roger and I started “Franklyn and Kennedy” Clublands most versatile vocal instrumental duo. We were managed by J.A.V.A (Jean Allen Varity Agency) amongst other agents and entertained around Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, and East Riding”.

NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS

1965

1966