The Persuaders 1983 - 1989
John Jenkins and John Gillin left "Come in Tokio" in 1983 on the brink of Record Company interest after three BBC Radio Sessions (two John Peel and a Kid Jensen Sessions) to form a band that they could write songs for - Tokio had been Phil Wylie's band using Phil's song.
For two years they auditioned musicians to form the basis of what became "The Persuaders" - The name "The Persuaders" was chosen based on the TV series starring Roger Moore and Tony Curtis.
Dave Price (bass) initially joining - Brian Farrell (formerly of "Our Kid" - the original One Direction) joined on Drums and Tony Upham became the vocalist for the period up to late 1985.
Two BBC Radio Sessions followed in 1984 and 1985 - One for John Peel and One for Janice Long before Upham was replaced in late 1985 by John Kennedy.
Paul Speed replaced Farrell and Section B Horns (who we called The Brett Sinclair Horn section that included Tony Peers, Paul Thomas, Karen Pettigrew, Andy on Trombone) were replaced by full time members of Steve Yates (Sax), Rob Yates (Trombone), Peter Robinson (Trumpet) and Karen Pettigrew (later Guatella) (Sax)
The first 6 months of 1986 was spent refining the big sound and with the addition of session backing Singer Siobhan Maher - the band eventually hit Liverpool to ecstatic reviews courting record company interest from Virgin and Chrysalis and Management interest - The highlight of this period was Richard Branson joining them on stage and inviting them to play at The Manor House Fete in Oxford in front of Mike Oldfield and John Lydon. Unfortunately the interest did not result in any solid signings and by late 1987 the band succumbed to several changes with John Gillin, Dave Price, Siobhan Maher, Steve Yates, Paul Speed all moving on - Siobhan and Paul formed RIVER CITY PEOPLE during the end of their Persuaders career and were in both band simultaneously. John Jenkins did a little bit of keyboards for them in the very early days.
1988 saw a different Persuaders line up with Alan Clinton (Backing Vocals), Dave Orford (Drums), Alan Maher (Bass), Perry Leach (Percussion), and Andy Szigmund (guitar).
A Management deal with STING's s Manager Kim Turner was signed but by early 1989 with the band off the road whilst Jenkins writing new material at the request of the management company John Kennedy left to start his own band "South of the River" and John Jenkins decided to retire from music professionally for some time.
There are a host of other names to add to the roll call throughout the years - Paul Thomas, Tony Peers, Dali, Karen Mathews, Natalie James, Andy on Trombone, Charlie French, Danny on Violin, Paul Cook, Sue on Backing Vocals, Ann Murphy Backing Vocals, Colin on Saxophone.
For two years they auditioned musicians to form the basis of what became "The Persuaders" - The name "The Persuaders" was chosen based on the TV series starring Roger Moore and Tony Curtis.
Dave Price (bass) initially joining - Brian Farrell (formerly of "Our Kid" - the original One Direction) joined on Drums and Tony Upham became the vocalist for the period up to late 1985.
Two BBC Radio Sessions followed in 1984 and 1985 - One for John Peel and One for Janice Long before Upham was replaced in late 1985 by John Kennedy.
Paul Speed replaced Farrell and Section B Horns (who we called The Brett Sinclair Horn section that included Tony Peers, Paul Thomas, Karen Pettigrew, Andy on Trombone) were replaced by full time members of Steve Yates (Sax), Rob Yates (Trombone), Peter Robinson (Trumpet) and Karen Pettigrew (later Guatella) (Sax)
The first 6 months of 1986 was spent refining the big sound and with the addition of session backing Singer Siobhan Maher - the band eventually hit Liverpool to ecstatic reviews courting record company interest from Virgin and Chrysalis and Management interest - The highlight of this period was Richard Branson joining them on stage and inviting them to play at The Manor House Fete in Oxford in front of Mike Oldfield and John Lydon. Unfortunately the interest did not result in any solid signings and by late 1987 the band succumbed to several changes with John Gillin, Dave Price, Siobhan Maher, Steve Yates, Paul Speed all moving on - Siobhan and Paul formed RIVER CITY PEOPLE during the end of their Persuaders career and were in both band simultaneously. John Jenkins did a little bit of keyboards for them in the very early days.
1988 saw a different Persuaders line up with Alan Clinton (Backing Vocals), Dave Orford (Drums), Alan Maher (Bass), Perry Leach (Percussion), and Andy Szigmund (guitar).
A Management deal with STING's s Manager Kim Turner was signed but by early 1989 with the band off the road whilst Jenkins writing new material at the request of the management company John Kennedy left to start his own band "South of the River" and John Jenkins decided to retire from music professionally for some time.
There are a host of other names to add to the roll call throughout the years - Paul Thomas, Tony Peers, Dali, Karen Mathews, Natalie James, Andy on Trombone, Charlie French, Danny on Violin, Paul Cook, Sue on Backing Vocals, Ann Murphy Backing Vocals, Colin on Saxophone.
The Music
BBC Radio Sessions 1985
The Persuaders did two BBC Radio Sessions - Both in 1985 - The First for John Peel and included the Songs;
Marc Vormawah did the backing vocals on the John Peel Session and the Brett Sinclair Horns played on Several of the Songs
- Captain of the Ship
- Great Expectations
- Music for Pleasure
- Something's where just meant to be
- To Be Free
- Day After Day
- A Night on the Town
- Another Time Another Place
Marc Vormawah did the backing vocals on the John Peel Session and the Brett Sinclair Horns played on Several of the Songs
1986 - 1987
This is probably the Golden Age of The Persuaders with John Kennedy the main singer and Siobhan Maher doing duets and backing Vocals, John Jenkins - Keyboards, John Gillin - Guitar, Dave Price - Bass, Paul Speed - Drums, Steve Yates - Sax, Karen Guatella - Sax, Peter Robinson - Trumpet - Robert Yates - Trombone.
Songs recorded in this period and featured here are as follows:
- Tightrope
- Each Time you make me stay
- Helplessly
- Can we Still be Friends?
- Heart and Soul
- A Night on the Town
- So Far Away
- Great Expecations
1988 - 1989
Musicians left and new ones came in including on Backing Vocals Alan Clinton (who was a big Persuaders fan) and Alan Mahon on Bass
The Line up most remembered was John Kennedy - Vocals, Alan Clinton - Backing Vocals, John Jenkins - Keyboards, Andy Szigmund - Guitar, Alan Mahon - Bass, Dave Orford - Drums, Peter Robinson - Trumpet, Karen Guatella - Saxophone, Robert Yates - Trombone, Perry Leach - Percussion.
Songs featured here in this line up include :
- I Won't let you Down Again
- I Miss You
- Can you Feel it?
- Strangers when we Meet
- Scared of Losing Sight
- Trust in Me