The Dennisons

Biography

One of England's earliest Merseyside bands, the Dennisons failed to break through to an international audience. Although they released an impressive debut single featuring their original tune, "Be My Girl" b/w a song, "You Don't Know What Love Is," written for them by Ben E. King, their decision to turn down a chance to record John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "All My Loving" turned out to be their downfall. With the departure of vocalist Eddie Parry, following the release of their final single, "Nobody Like Me Baby," in November 1964, the group struggled until disbanding in 1967.

Inspired by Liverpool-based band the Ravens, later known as Faron's Flamingos, the Dennisons spent much of their early days in the band's shadow. Attending the group's rehearsals, they diligently copied the chords of their songs.

Acquiring a solid following with their Saturday night performances at the BICC Club in Melling, the Dennisons signed a management contract with Kennedy Street Enterprises in early 1963. The association reaped almost immediate dividends as the band was frequently booked into the Cavern Club, where they often shared bills with the Beatles.

During the quarter of a century since their disbanding, the Dennisons have periodically reunited. They performed a special memorial concert following the death of bass guitarist Terry "Tex" Carson in 1991. Six years later, the remaining three bandmembers -- Steve McLaren, Ray Scragg, and Clive Hornby -- performed on Hornby's solo album, This Is Your Life. Although a reorganized version of the band, featuring original member Scragg, began performing in 2000, the death of Scragg in February 2001 ended the project. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide