Wembley Country Music Festivals

[bob adams]

Who was there! Let's hear about it guys!

Pinched this from another site

My Dad went to a few of the Wembley concerts in the late 70s and he said they were great. I've seen video footage of some of the shows with Hoyt Axton, Bellamy Brothers, Billie Jo Spears, Marty Robbins, Charlie Rich, all the big stars at the time. Really amazing stuff

[bob adams]

and another does this mean anything to anybody here!! ???

Yes these festivals were great, I met Marty Robbin's and the Bellamy Bros, Boxcar Willie ,The Gatlin Bros oh and so may more. You could go to the record stands and get their autographs, the year Boxcar appeared for the first time my sister-in-law and I spent about 1hr talking to him he was lovely

[Basil Henriques]

Had a great time, played there a few times:-
with T.R Dallas one year, Philomena Begley, earlier year, Ray Lynam before that and Patsy Powell first. Can anyone tell me the years ? PLEASE for the sake of posterity and "Bragging Rights"
Organised by Mervyn Conn (By name and nature I do believe)

Who remembers Jessie Kent the PA to Mervyn ?


1979 with Ray Lynam, my Emmons D-10 was stolen before the gig (From outside the B&B)
So I was kindly supplied with a Springfield by none other than James Kerr.


Also there in 1979 was :-

[bob adams]

Patsy Powell was ‘71
T.R Dallas was ‘83
Philomena Begley ........eight times '74-'91

[Uncle Roy]

I attended many of the early festivals. In those days I ran a country music magazine named B.A.C.M.E (British & American Country Music Entertainer) It was like a dream come true, Country entertainers you thought you would never meet they were at Wembley. We mixed with all the musicians from steelplayers, fiddleplayers, keyboard bass and of course the vocalist. Great time and lots of memories.
Picture of a young me and the promoter Mervin Conn. (Corfu Frankie no comments please.)

[bob adams]

Wow!! Like the suit Uncle! Stunning or wot!!

[Tony Smart]

Quite a coincidence this post as I've just heard Mervyn Conn has got a book out. - Mr. Music Man. It's on Amazon £8-99.
Should be interesting.....

[ZBSD-10]

With regard to our Uncle Roy's photo, diplomatically correct training ( 27 years in the Prison Service ) I
look on with a negative face........On the other hand , He, He, He, He !
All the best
Frank. Corfu

[Ken Byng]

I have to speak as I find. I approached Mervyn Conn at the London Palladium I think in 1972/3 (he was in the foyer counting the number of people coming in ). I said that I was a UK steel player and would love to meet John Hughey and Sonny Garrish who were back up musicians on the show. He took a piece of paper out of his pocket, scribbled a note on it and said "Go backstage after the performance and present it to security and you can see whoever you want to see!"

Well I ended up talking to a lot of musicians and singers from that show, courtesy of Mr Conn so I have only positive things to say about him. At that time I was desperate to glean any information from established steel players that I could. This was way before the internet, so any info on tunings, guitars, technique etc was gratefully received by me.

Basil - I remember Jessie Kent. In her CV, she also managed a band that we used to call Fiasco 2, but their stage name was Frisco 2. The original Frisco band included Slim Pickens, Frank McCarthy and Bob Newman. None of them will speak very highly of Ms Kent.

[Dave Nutt]

Like you Ken I speak as I find.
Mervyn had a hell of a reputation, not sure if it was justified. I did quite a bit for him and his organisation, I usually worked through Jessie or John Daines, I can honestly say I never had a prob with any arrangements,the organisation or importantly- getting paid.

I met Mervyn quite a bit, he would always mimic and take the p*** out of my brummie accent, but never in a nasty way, he had quite a good sense of humour and liked a laugh.

Jessie? Bit of a girl in her day, I owe her a pint, she got me a job in a decent pro band at a time when I needed one.
Is she still around?

Mervyn Conn and his Wembley Country Music Festivals ? they gave a lot of UK artists and musicians the opportunity to experience the big stage.