Answers Re: Colin Keyes
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 9:40 am
Hello Friends.
There were questions and answers on the messageboard regarding Colin Keyes. Let me fill in some detail for those who asked the questions. I first met Colin Keyes when we (The Jones Boys) appeared on variety bill in the west end of London, at The Prince of Wales in November 1956. The bill included Hylda Baker, Peggy Ryan & Ray MacDonald (Peggy was Donald O'Connor's partner in a few films), Charlie Cairoli & Paul, Derek Roy, Morecambe & Wise, Jo Jack & Joni, Joe Church and Billie Anthony. Colin was playing piano for Billie Anthony. I was very impressed with Colin, he was a brilliant pianist.
Soon after Ruby and I were married she needed a pianist to do a tour with her, the ones she had used previously were unavailable to do it. I recommended Colin and he joined Ruby and he stayed with her for quite some time. He also undertook a C.S.E. tour with us too. He and Ruby combined to write 'I'm In Love With the Boy Next Door' and 'Hurry Home' both songs were published within the EMI group of companies.
He later joined Matt Monro for quite a while then he joined Bruce Forsyth and Bruce featured him as a 'deadpan' character (at the piano) and he became part of the show and was very funny. Later he joined Des O'Connor and was the Musical Director for several of Des O'Connor's series. He did all of the arrangements for all of the shows and was quite brilliant.
In more recent years Colin became ill and had to give up the Des O"Connor show to concentrate on arranging. He lived in Abingdon in Oxfordshire but now he seems to have retired somewhere else. I have tried to contact him by telephone but without success. Perhaps lady luck might take a hand, he just might discover the RM website and get back into contact.
I hope that is of interest to the questioners.
Adios Amigos. Bernie.
There were questions and answers on the messageboard regarding Colin Keyes. Let me fill in some detail for those who asked the questions. I first met Colin Keyes when we (The Jones Boys) appeared on variety bill in the west end of London, at The Prince of Wales in November 1956. The bill included Hylda Baker, Peggy Ryan & Ray MacDonald (Peggy was Donald O'Connor's partner in a few films), Charlie Cairoli & Paul, Derek Roy, Morecambe & Wise, Jo Jack & Joni, Joe Church and Billie Anthony. Colin was playing piano for Billie Anthony. I was very impressed with Colin, he was a brilliant pianist.
Soon after Ruby and I were married she needed a pianist to do a tour with her, the ones she had used previously were unavailable to do it. I recommended Colin and he joined Ruby and he stayed with her for quite some time. He also undertook a C.S.E. tour with us too. He and Ruby combined to write 'I'm In Love With the Boy Next Door' and 'Hurry Home' both songs were published within the EMI group of companies.
He later joined Matt Monro for quite a while then he joined Bruce Forsyth and Bruce featured him as a 'deadpan' character (at the piano) and he became part of the show and was very funny. Later he joined Des O'Connor and was the Musical Director for several of Des O'Connor's series. He did all of the arrangements for all of the shows and was quite brilliant.
In more recent years Colin became ill and had to give up the Des O"Connor show to concentrate on arranging. He lived in Abingdon in Oxfordshire but now he seems to have retired somewhere else. I have tried to contact him by telephone but without success. Perhaps lady luck might take a hand, he just might discover the RM website and get back into contact.
I hope that is of interest to the questioners.
Adios Amigos. Bernie.