Early sixties Kirkby-in-Ashfield group
Vicky and the Kordettes were a group from Kirkby-in-Ashfield and we pick up their story in early 1964. Vicki was the vocalist and the group consisted of lead, rhythm, bass, drums and two saxophone players. They came second in the Nottingham area finals of the National Beat contest at the Palais-De-Danse, Nottingham. (MB 005 Feb 64).
They played their first date outside the county at the Ocean Room, Blackpool Tower. They made such a good impression that their manager was contacted by half a dozen agents asking if the group could accept bookings in Manchester, Liverpool and Morecambe and surrounding area’s. The Entertainment manager of The Tower also congratulated the group on their fine music and said he wanted first option on their services from February onwards. (MB 006 Mar 64).
Vikki and the Kordettes found more success at the Winter Gardens and along with Mansfield neighbours The Newtones featuring Vic Johnson who were also impressing the agents, Ken Crosby the Mansfield E.C.C. Entertainments director who was in Blackpool to handle business arrangments says he was inundated with requests for Mansfield groups at almost every venue of note in the seaside resort. (MB 008 May 64).
A fairly typical letter in support of the band was printed in the Midland Beat music paper in June 1964.
Vikki and the Kordettes were one of half a dozen groups highlighted at a star show in the summer of ’64 organised by E.C.C. Entertainments agency of Mansfield who represented them all.
It was held in Mansfield’s newly redesigned award winning theatre the Civic Hall. It was compered by Janice Nicholls of “Lucky Stars” TV show fame and presented a cross section of the music coming from Mansfield area and beyond from the saxy sound of The Kordettes to the all out R and B from The Aliens.
To introduce their act The Kordettes blasted out a frantic “Post Horn Stomp” followed by an equally wild “I Can Tell”. Slowing down a little to introduce their feature singer Vicky, the group then played a self composition “Make it Come True”. After “Anyone Who Had a Heart” Vicky received a strong sax backing for “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” to finish her spot. The group concluded with two wild uninhibited numbers, vocally on “Boys” and instrumentally on “Can Can 64”, which had the audience shouting for more. (MB 010 July 64).
Also in the summer they travelled to Northampton to record a demo disc at Studio 36.
As a result of this successful venture they travelled to Leicester in July for an audition for “Ready Steady Win”. (MB 010 July 64).
Vicky and The Kordettes along with Mansfield groups The Ashes and The Teen-Seens are playing the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool during November of ’64. The Kordettes have been here so many times they know their way backwards. (MB 014 Nov 64).
In January of 1965 they were invited to play at the Maple Ballroom in Northampton by the Studio 36 label as part of a “Stars of Studio 36” dance to celebrate groups who have released records on their independent label. Other groups were The Martins from Leicester and The Skyliners from Northampton. (MB 016 Jan 65).
Paul Woodcock had been the musical director of Vicky and The Kordettes as well as being a member of well known early sixties Nottingham group Tony and the Varitones but by Jan 65 he had joined The Zeniths replacing Pete Johnson. (MB 017 Feb 65).
MB = Midland Beat music paper
Notes on songs.
In 1964 the beat music scene was still strong. There were new tougher sounding R and B groups which would become the backbone of the Mod scene and club and show groups were always present as they always had been. Vicki and The Kordettes were a saxophone led club band with a beat music kick. Although The Beatles and many of their contemporaries had done away with the idea of groups supporting a vocal act this old trend remained in the club land circuit.
