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After a short stay in hospital, Des has passed away at the age of 88. His links to Cliff and the Shadows go right back to the start of their careers..

George

I recall that he was the compere on Cliff and The Drifters first tour circa 09/1958?. A very funny man, and from what I have read today, willing to help new talent.

Kindest regards,
Christopher

Gatwick1946 wrote:I recall that he was the compere on Cliff and The Drifters first tour circa 09/1958?. A very funny man, and from what I have read today, willing to help new talent.
Christopher

I don't know whether that is the case, but Des did compere the UK tour in which Buddy Holly & The Crickets took part in 1958. Buddy bought a brand new Hofner President guitar whilst here and presented it to Des at the end of the engagement. Hank "played" that instrument on a TV show in the mid-1980s.

RIP Des, indeed. My earliest memories of him stem from about 1961 when he was the host of an ITV quiz show (though I can't remember which one).

There's a photo of Cliff looking at a postet for his first tour. I'll need to find it, but I am sure Des was on the bill.

George

One important link between Des and The Shads was the fact that Hank produced (and played on) one of Des's albums, "Another Side of Des O'Connor", when the singer was a mere lad of 47.

One of the tracks was a version of the Buddy Holly hit "It Doesn't Matter Any More" and they played (and sang) it live on TV - in the same mid-1980s programme in which Des allowed Hank to "play" the Hofner President gifted to him by Buddy in 1958.

https://www.discogs.com/Des-OConnor-Ano ... se/5843207

Yes, I have a copy, bought s/h for £1. The record dealer couldn't believe his luck in getting the asking price.

This YT video includes the whole sequence:



R.I.P. Des.

Jim is correct. The poster shows Buddy and The Crickets topping the bill, Mr O'Conner was the compere and the date was thursday 20/03/1958, and the location was Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool.

Never saw Des live on stage, but I did see Max Miller (Portsmouth 1956), - now there was another funny man.

Sic transit gloria mundi
Kindest regards,
Christopher

I saw Des on stage in Glasgow in the 70s. Consummate professional. He could even joke about his notorious appearance at Glasgow Empire in the 50s. And he did sing 'The name song' , which has the names of 75 movie stars set to the tune Nola.

George

A total pro. Morecambe and Wise would never have got away with all that ribbing if he hadn't been.

Iain Purdon wrote:A total pro. Morecambe and Wise would never have got away with all that ribbing if he hadn't been.

I've seen it said today that Des wrote a lot of the insults.

RIP Des, the consummate pro.

Len

Gatwick1946 wrote:I recall that he was the compere on Cliff and The Drifters first tour circa 09/1958?

Kindest regards,
Christopher

Tony Marsh, I think.

Bill