BILLY
RAYMOND
At the age of 20 Billy was auditioned in London for a part in a revue in the West End’s Irving Theatre, and this led to his first appearance in BBC TV’s “The Night and the Music” on 19 May 1958, in which He sang a song called “The Kid’s Last Fight”. He appeared again on the show on 2 June 1958. These appearances ultimately led to a 4-year recording contract with HMV and his first three records, all 78s, were “Makin’Love” (HMV POP 503), followed by “One In Particular” (HMV POP 526), then “Charlie Is Their Darling” (HMV POP 614). He also topped the bill in a “Cool for Cats” stage show, followed by an appearance in August on “The Six-Five Special” TV show.
Billy says: When I worked at the Irving Theatre in Leicester Square, London (now gone, sadly), I met and made good friends and acquaintances. Every night after the shows had finished, Sean Connery would come round to escort his lady, Katie Cashfield, home to Swiss Cottage after he’d finished his performance as one of the sailors singing “Nothin’ Like A Dame”. Sean was a lovely man who knew where he was heading - and he certainly got there!! In the show (there were 3 guys), and my colleagues were very talented. Victor Spinetti was a comedy genius who was in a lot of movies with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Victor was a mate of Richard and he also played leading roles in the Beatles movies. Barry Martin, a good mate, went into the lead in “Fiddler on the Roof”, taking over from Alfie Bass, and yours truly went ahead in TV shows like “Night and the Music”. There was a late night bar downstairs at the Irving and he pros came there after their shows and people such as Judi Dench and John Neville were regulars and totally charming to me - the wee Scotsman who was performing upstiars in a Strip Show! It was while at the Irvine that I was “discovered” by Sabrina’s then manager, after only three/four months at the Leicester Square venue and three months after signing with my new manager (who wil remain nameless as he robbed me). I made my debut on BBC TV with “The Night and the Music” and two weeks after that started recording with EMI - His Master’s Voice records - so, working with 13 strippers brought luck!!!
Billy says: I was “knocked out” one Christmas when, during the Clark & Murray/Ken & Alan Haynes Show - Danny Regan choreographed a Scottish routine and one of the numbers - closing I think - was my version of “Charlie is My Darling” (my 78 r.p.m. Record) - me singing and “rocking along”!!!
Billy says: When I worked at the Irving Theatre in Leicester Square, London (now gone, sadly), I met and made good friends and acquaintances. Every night after the shows had finished, Sean Connery would come round to escort his lady, Katie Cashfield, home to Swiss Cottage after he’d finished his performance as one of the sailors singing “Nothin’ Like A Dame”. Sean was a lovely man who knew where he was heading - and he certainly got there!! In the show (there were 3 guys), and my colleagues were very talented. Victor Spinetti was a comedy genius who was in a lot of movies with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Victor was a mate of Richard and he also played leading roles in the Beatles movies. Barry Martin, a good mate, went into the lead in “Fiddler on the Roof”, taking over from Alfie Bass, and yours truly went ahead in TV shows like “Night and the Music”. There was a late night bar downstairs at the Irving and he pros came there after their shows and people such as Judi Dench and John Neville were regulars and totally charming to me - the wee Scotsman who was performing upstiars in a Strip Show! It was while at the Irvine that I was “discovered” by Sabrina’s then manager, after only three/four months at the Leicester Square venue and three months after signing with my new manager (who wil remain nameless as he robbed me). I made my debut on BBC TV with “The Night and the Music” and two weeks after that started recording with EMI - His Master’s Voice records - so, working with 13 strippers brought luck!!!
Billy says: I was “knocked out” one Christmas when, during the Clark & Murray/Ken & Alan Haynes Show - Danny Regan choreographed a Scottish routine and one of the numbers - closing I think - was my version of “Charlie is My Darling” (my 78 r.p.m. Record) - me singing and “rocking along”!!!
LATE 1950s
