Thank you for your interest in Billy Fury.  The most up-to-date pages on the world's biggest site devoted to the pioneering British rock and roller and his contemporaries are at

http://www.billyfury.org

See you there!

(The page below is out of date, but is maintained on the internet because search engines are still finding it.  Please click the link above to the site's up-to-date, permanent home.)

 

Billy's brother, Albie Wycherley, starred in the Billy Fury Show at the Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens, Blackpool, on Friday August 10, 2001.

Supporting artists were Tommy Bruce and Colin Paul and the Persuaders and 14-year-old Laura, who was making her professional debut.

The event launched a new Billy/Albie CD, Billy Fury Sings A Buddy Holly Song.

Albie has produced a four-track CD, I Never Met Colette, of which the title song is a tribute.

It can be bought by mail order from Ozit Morpheus Records, PO Box 116, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 5UG for £6.99 including post and packing to UK addresses.

Frankie Connor, who wrote the songs on the CD and holds the copyright, has given me permission to make the title track available in RealAudio. To hear it, click here.

If you want to sing along, read the official lyrics by clicking here.

The last track is I Know I've Got A Heart. As soon as the piano strikes up in the intro, I think: In Thoughts Of You. And it doesn't disappoint - this is one big number.

Frankie is a very talented songwriter, Albie is a heck of a performer, and this is a CD that every Fury fan should have in their collection. Write that cheque and put it in the post. Read Shaun Mather's review.

For a report of Albie's appearance at the tribute weekend in Blackpool in November 2000, click here.

Albie appeared at the Olympia Theatre, Liverpool, on October 20, 2000 supported by Mike Berry and the Outlaws, Colin Paul and the Persuaders, Tommy Bruce, Terry Dene, Wee Willie Harris, and more great acts. For a copy of the poster, click here.

He also appeared at Worcester Park Club, Malden Terrace, Worcester Park, Surrey, on August 4, 2000. For Ann Clark's pictures and review of the show, click here.

In the mid-60s, Albie adopted the stage name Al Trent and fronted a group called The Centremen, composed of John Kirk (lead guitar), Terry Barrett (rhythm guitar), Charlie Richmond (bass guitar) and Billy Conroy (drums).

At the age of 22 in 1965, he signed with Joe Meek (pictured left).

Joe changed his stage name to Jason (because he thought that Albie looked Greek) Eddie (from Albie's middle name, Edward).

Their first record, Whatcha Gonna Do Baby, backed by Come On, was released on Parlophone in December, 1965.

During early 1966, they made the follow-up, Singing The Blues, backed by True To You, which was also released on Parlophone and reached number 44 in the Disc chart. A near-mint copy of this record will set you back about £100. Much to the displeasure of Albie and the band, Meek added a distracting, furiously-paced guitar track before the record's release. (The copy on the left is the American release.)

Albie made a final single as Jason Eddie, Heart And Soul, which was released on Tangerine in 1969. I don't have a sound file of this record, so if anyone can help me to preserve it for posterity, please email me.

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