TONY SHERIDAN
The following article was written for and appeared in Norfolk Ancestor - the official magazine of the Norfolk Family History Society
EVERYONE has heard of the Beatles, but how many people know that the lead singer on their breakthrough single came from Norwich? For while most people will be familiar with the names of George HARRISON, Paul McCARTNEY, John LENNON and Ringo STARR, few people will be aware of Tony SHERIDAN. A few years ago I had the pleasure of editing a book written by a friend, Alan MANN. Alan is incidentally the son of renowned Norfolk artist John MANN.
Alan’s book entitled “The Teacher The TonySheridan Story“ is loosely a biography of Tony SHERIDAN who was born Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGINNITY in Norwich on 21st May, 1940. The book took the form of a question and answer session between Alan and his personal friend and schoolmate, McGINNITY.
SHERIDAN/McGINNITY was born at 38, Glenmore Gardens, Norwich to Alphonsus McGINNITY and Audrey MANN. Alphonsus’ mother’s maiden name was SHERIDAN, the name he was later to adopt. SHERIDAN was educated at Bignold Infants and Primary School and then at the City of Norwich School (CNS). Alan’s book goes into considerable detail about their shared schoolboy experiences. To cut a long story short, Tony SHERIDAN became intensely interested in music, having formed his first band in 1956. On moving to London, he appeared regularly at the legendary Two Is club. He also has the distinction of being the first artist to play an electric guitar on the TV rock show “Oh Boy.”
SHERIDAN soon carved out a career for himself as a top notch guitarist, backing top artists such as Conway TWITTY and Gene VINCENT. Unfortunately he got a reputation for being unreliable and this was partly the reason for his moving to Hamburg in Germany, where fate took a hand and saw him as a seasoned professional guitarist come across five fresh faced young men with the names of HARRISON, LENNON, McCARTNEY, Pete BEST and Stu SUTCLIFFE (this was in pre Ringo days). HARRISON in particular would practice for hours with SHERIDAN who was given the nickname The Master (hence the title of Alan MANN’S book).
SHERIDAN often backed the Beatles and the Beatles in return backed him. Various sessions saw a number of tracks being recorded and these are now available on CD. One of these was a rock version of the old standard “My Bonnie.” “My Bonnie” came out under the name of Tony SHERIDAN and the Beat Brothers as it was thought the word Beatles was too indigestible for German audiences. Later the name of the group was changed back to Tony SHERIDAN and the Beatles. The Beatles returned to Liverpool where “My Bonnie” had become a cult single. As far as they were concerned the rest, as they say, was history.
Tony SHERIDAN continued to work as a musician for the remainder of his life and died in Germany in 2013.
"The Tony Sheridan Story” is available from City Books of Norwich or direct from Alan Mann, at 11 Gibbs Close, Little Melton, priced at £10 including postage and package.
The following article was written for and appeared in Norfolk Ancestor - the official magazine of the Norfolk Family History Society
EVERYONE has heard of the Beatles, but how many people know that the lead singer on their breakthrough single came from Norwich? For while most people will be familiar with the names of George HARRISON, Paul McCARTNEY, John LENNON and Ringo STARR, few people will be aware of Tony SHERIDAN. A few years ago I had the pleasure of editing a book written by a friend, Alan MANN. Alan is incidentally the son of renowned Norfolk artist John MANN.
Alan’s book entitled “The Teacher The TonySheridan Story“ is loosely a biography of Tony SHERIDAN who was born Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGINNITY in Norwich on 21st May, 1940. The book took the form of a question and answer session between Alan and his personal friend and schoolmate, McGINNITY.
SHERIDAN/McGINNITY was born at 38, Glenmore Gardens, Norwich to Alphonsus McGINNITY and Audrey MANN. Alphonsus’ mother’s maiden name was SHERIDAN, the name he was later to adopt. SHERIDAN was educated at Bignold Infants and Primary School and then at the City of Norwich School (CNS). Alan’s book goes into considerable detail about their shared schoolboy experiences. To cut a long story short, Tony SHERIDAN became intensely interested in music, having formed his first band in 1956. On moving to London, he appeared regularly at the legendary Two Is club. He also has the distinction of being the first artist to play an electric guitar on the TV rock show “Oh Boy.”
SHERIDAN soon carved out a career for himself as a top notch guitarist, backing top artists such as Conway TWITTY and Gene VINCENT. Unfortunately he got a reputation for being unreliable and this was partly the reason for his moving to Hamburg in Germany, where fate took a hand and saw him as a seasoned professional guitarist come across five fresh faced young men with the names of HARRISON, LENNON, McCARTNEY, Pete BEST and Stu SUTCLIFFE (this was in pre Ringo days). HARRISON in particular would practice for hours with SHERIDAN who was given the nickname The Master (hence the title of Alan MANN’S book).
SHERIDAN often backed the Beatles and the Beatles in return backed him. Various sessions saw a number of tracks being recorded and these are now available on CD. One of these was a rock version of the old standard “My Bonnie.” “My Bonnie” came out under the name of Tony SHERIDAN and the Beat Brothers as it was thought the word Beatles was too indigestible for German audiences. Later the name of the group was changed back to Tony SHERIDAN and the Beatles. The Beatles returned to Liverpool where “My Bonnie” had become a cult single. As far as they were concerned the rest, as they say, was history.
Tony SHERIDAN continued to work as a musician for the remainder of his life and died in Germany in 2013.
"The Tony Sheridan Story” is available from City Books of Norwich or direct from Alan Mann, at 11 Gibbs Close, Little Melton, priced at £10 including postage and package.