On the record: Carlisle singer’s life in music
Last updated 09:27, Saturday, 04 October 2008
Music has always been Richard Atkinson’s passion. Better known on the music circuit as Richard Dean, he has travelled worldwide with a career spanning over four decades. Today he shares his memories with Timeline.
“I was born and bred in Carlisle, and as a youngster lived in Currock. I always loved music and, believe it or not, the first band I sang with, purely as a one-off, was Rue and the Rockets when I was about 15.
“During the sixties, youth clubs were the places us youngsters used to socialise with friends to listen to our favourite music.
“My friends and I formed a group called The Dakotas – not the ones who backed Billy J Kramer – but the ones who used to practice at the Blackfriars Youth Club in the Kings Hall, Globe Lane, and played at other clubs like Currock Villa Boys and Botcherby School.
“The line-up was Barry Pluckrose, Richard Jennings, Clifford Sands, Harry James and myself. We went on to play all over the north of England and into Scotland and supported acts such as Cat Stevens, PJ Proby, and Eden Kane when they played at the Market Hall in Carlisle.
“After The Dakotas split in 1963, I joined another Carlisle band, The Cave Dwellers. There was always a big line-up with this group as we included two or three saxophones, keyboards, guitars and drums.
“We played R&B as well as rock, at regular venues like The Cosmo and The County ballroom in Carlisle, again supporting well known acts like Jimmy James and The Vagabonds, The Merseybeats and The Fortunes.
“I stayed with The Cave Dwellers for two years, deciding eventually to form my own band The Richard Dean Sect. This line up consisted of: Gordon Halliwell (guitar), Brian Rogerson (drums), Pete Batey (bass) and myself on vocals. We did pretty well, winning an audition in Liverpool which took us on a seven-month tour of Holland, Belgium and Germany, where we played at the famous Star Club circuit. We were the first Carlisle band to do this.
“In 1968 I decided to take the big step in moving to London, as it was the only place to be if you wanted to get into the real world of music and it proved the right thing to do. I spent the next 18 years performing on the same stage as some of the great bands like Johnny Kidd (and The Pirates) and The Searchers. I even recorded a record in 1982 called Alley-Oop, which managed to get into the top 100. Music has always been my first love, but I was lucky to find someone who was happy to share me with my music, and in 1970 married my wife Lynn.
“During the mid-seventies and early eighties I played in quite a few different R&B bands, Fruit Eating Bears, Medium Wave Band, Grand Slam and Blue Lightning, supporting again the bands of that era such as The Clash, Tom Robinson, Dr Feelgood and The Stranglers.
“Although London was a great place to live, the music scene, exciting though it may sound, often left me flat and disillusioned so in 1984 we decided to return to Cumbria and settled in Penrith. “Although I never stopped playing, my music took a back seat when I went into the licensing trade. For a while I was licensee of the Druids Arms at Sandgate near Penrith, but these days I work as bar manager at The Derwentwater Hotel.
“However, in 2004 a chance encounter one New Year’s Eve with Tom Tyson, who owns The Music Farm in Egremont, saw me dusting down the guitar and getting back into the studio.
“I wanted to produce a CD to help raise funds for the homeless charity, Shelter. The track I chose was Christmas Eve Can Kill, recorded by the Everly Brothers back in 1972. Maybe not one of their best known tracks but Tom took my CD away with him that night and a few weeks later got back in touch saying he’d put together the backing track. Not only that, he’d managed to get guitar legend Albert Lee to play on the track. I could hardly believe it and was very nervous about meeting this great icon.
“I needn’t have worried. He was one of the nicest guys you could meet and he himself had toured with the Everlys, although he hadn’t actually heard that song. I raised over £2,500 and have never stopped since.
“I am currently working with Tom and Albert on a new CD which I’m calling Black & White Movies. Sadly Lynn died three years ago but I know she’d be happy to know I’m still continuing with my other love.”
Timeline will let you know when Richard’s CD is available.
