Bill, Lance & Tony

Michael Grade of the famous Bernard Delfont Organization, came to Doncaster to hear them and they were booked at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, last February. Yesterday Bill signed a two year contract (with option) with the organization and an important theatre tour, recording session in a fortnight's time, and TV work, are in the offing. The group will be allowed to fulfill all their existing bookings. The Staggerlees began six or seven years ago and played mainly at 'Hops' in Devon and Cornwall. Tony, who hails from Cornwall, was an original member, working by day as a cost clerk. Lance, a Liverpool lad, sang solo in those days and did a tour with the Everley Brothers. 'I gave up singing for a while and was involved in running a club in Plymouth,,, he recalled. 'That was where I met The Staggerlees. They were often booked at the club.' When Lance started singing again he was offered a trip to Hamburg, and he took The Staggerlees with him. When their bass player left, he became part and parcel of the group. The third member, drummer-vocalist Bill Covington(19) came on to the scene, somewhat unexpectedly, about a year ago. Bill, a Brian Epstein prodigy, played with various groups, including The Rustiks. The group have appeared on Western TV and two years ago they recorded a single which sold fairly well.' Another Sheffield newspaper reported 'THEY MADE NAME IN LOCAL CLUBS - A singing group who have 'captured the hearts' of many people in the Barnsley area have now captured the eyes of the Bernard Delfont Organization. The three - man group - The Staggerlees- who have made a name for themselves by appearing in most of the working men's clubs in the Barnsley area during the past 18 months, have been signed by Mr Delfont to appear in one of his spectacular summer shows. They are also to 'cut' a disc. The members of the group, Lance, Bill and Anthony, all hail from Cornwall, and now live in Sheffield. A spokesman for the Delfont Organisation said he had heard the group and had been very impressed. He thinks they have a great future ahead of them. During the past week or so, the group has been appearing at London's Prince of Wales Theatre.' This article comes from a Doncaster newspaper that stated 'A big future has opened out for The Staggerlees who have been steadily gaining popularity in the 18 months they have been touring South Yorkshire clubland. This is the confident prediction of Michael Grade, of the famous Bernard Delfont Organisation, who came to Doncaster especially to hear them. As a result they have now been signed on by Mr. Delfont. Shortly they will be cutting a disc, and will go into one of the Delfont spectacular summer shows. The group, Lance, Bill and Anthony, hail from Cornwall, and now live in Sheffield. They are managed by Bill Turner, of Artiste Management, Thorne road, Doncaster. Of the group, Mr. Grade says: ''I heard these boys had great potential and I was very, very impressed. I think they have a great future.'' He added that they made a most original sound in their vocal harmonies. Now they needed stage experience, having so far sung only in clubs. During the past week or so, however, the group has been gaining stage experience - by appearing at London's Prince of Wales Theatre.'' The New Musical Express gave The Staggerlees gave us the following write - up 'STAGGERLEES JOIN LONDON SHOW -The Sheffield - based group the Staggerlees have received their first big break in the show biz-pop world with a five-month season at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London. Their engagement begins at the theatre on July 24th and they will as a supporting act on the Frankie Howerd Show. The Staggerlees seem to have set their foot firmly on the ladder of success for they have also signed a two-year contract with Bernard Delfont Organisation. The group line-up is: Tony Grigg, aged 23, lead guitar; Lance Fortune, aged 24,bass guitar; Bill Covington, aged 19, drums. All three sing. During the week July 3 to 7 the group appeared at Southsea with chart-toave been together for four years, and during that tpper Engelbert Humperdinck. The Staggerlees time they have done spots in working men's clubs and night clubs up and down the country, so the Prince of Wales show is their first big performance. '(New Musical Express November 4 1967).

The Staggerlees were a west country group who had acquired quite a following on the Northern club circuit. The lineup was Tony Grigg, guitar and vocals, Lance Fortune, guitar and vocals and Bill Covington, Drums and vocals. I was 19 when I joined the group in August 1966. I had left The Rustiks and was searching around for a full time role with a professional band when a pal of mine, Dave Cawse, suggested that I should join them. Join them I did and left home to travel the road with The Staggerlees. In June 1967 a newspaper in Sheffield gave the following story about The Staggerlees, 'Postbag breaks into world of entertainment with news of.....3 West Boys on Success Trail. I have, I feel, some exciting news regarding the Staggerlees group. Originally they came from Redruth and built up a huge following in the Cornwall and Plymouth area, but came to Sheffield to try their luck on the Northern Club scene. This has resulted in them being signed for a five month season at The Prince of Wales Theatre, London, in a show which stars Frankie Howerd and Cilla Black. The boys-Tony Grigg, Lance Fortune and Bill Covington-are at present on tour with Englebert Humperdinck and Joan Regan. I feel this news will be of interest to hundreds of people in your area who have been unable to see much of the group over the last two or three years.' (Westerner - Sheffield). Lance Fortune had previous chart success as a solo act in his own right. In 1960, Lance had released two singles, 'Be Mine, '(PYE 7N.15240), and 'This Love I Have For You,' (PYE 7N.15260). Both singles achieved chart success. The Sheffield Evening Post in June 1967 contained a bigger piece about the success The Staggerlees were having. The piece was entitled 'On Stage: The Staggerlees.' 'They were very broke, three years ago, when they climbed into their van and drove up from Cornwall with object of breaking into the South Yorkshire Clubland scene. Eventually The Staggerlees 'cracked' the clubland curtain in the Sheffield area, and since meeting their present manager Bill Turner about 18 months ago, they have become firm favourites in the Doncaster area clubs too.

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