The two sisters-in-law Valerie and Elaine (sometimes known as Eileen) Murtagh,[1] performed as 'The Avon Sisters' at the 1958 BBC Radio Exhibition, in the Olympia Exhibition Halls, Earls Court, London. There they were heard by Norrie Paramor, who signed them to the UK's Columbialabel.[2]
Their first recording was with The Mudlarks on the B-side of their 1958 single "My Grandfather Clock", a cover of "Which Witch Doctor".[2] Following this they added Ray Adams from Nat Gonella's band, and changed their name to 'The Avons'.[2]
The Avons had three other chart entries in the Top 50 up to 1961, but never achieved the same success as their first record. The charting follow-ups were "We're Only Young Once", "Four Little Heels", and another cover, of Bobby Vee's "Rubber Ball". The Avons were approached to perform the song "Pickin' Petals" in the UK heat of the 1960 Eurovision Song Contest, but their participation was cancelled due to a European Broadcasting Union rule that stated that trios could not compete.
Their song "Dance On!" (1963) was recorded as an instrumental by The Shadows.[5] A vocal version was recorded by Kathy Kirby the next year.[2][6] They also wrote "In Summer", a number 5 UK hit for Billy Fury in 1963.[7]
An American 1950s doo-wop group whose biggest hit in 1957 was entitled "Baby".[8]
A trio from Nashville, Tennessee; Paula Hester, Beverly Bard and Fran Bard. They recorded several Northern soul tracks, starting out on RCA's Groove label in 1963, releasing the single "Push a Little Harder" b/w "Oh, Gee Baby!". They moved to Sound Stage 7 in 1966, and then to Excello in 1967, releasing their last single on Ref-o-Ree in 1968.[9]
^Jon Kutner (26 May 2010). 1000 UK Number One Hits. p. 210. ISBN9780857123602. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
^ abcdeLarkin C., Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music, (Muze UK Ltd, 1997); ISBN0-7535-0149-X, p. 22
^"Seven Little Girls (Sitting In The Back Seat) by Paul Evans Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 34. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
^"Dance On Tab by Shadows @". Ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
^Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 68. ISBN0-85112-250-7.
^"Billy Fury - I'll Never Fall In Love Again / In Summer (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
^Hamilton, Andrew. "The Avons - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
^"The Avons (4)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
External linksedit
The Avons biography at Oldies.com
December 15, 2023
avons, were, british, vocal, group, originally, composed, valerie, murtagh, born, 1936, willesden, london, elaine, murtagh, born, 1940, county, cork, ireland, known, avon, sisters, they, added, raymond, adams, born, 1938, jersey, channel, islands, changed, the. The Avons were a British pop vocal group Originally composed of Valerie Murtagh born 1936 Willesden London and Elaine Murtagh born 1940 County Cork Ireland and known as The Avon Sisters they added Raymond S Adams born 1938 Jersey Channel Islands and changed their name to The Avons Contents 1 Career 1 1 Early days 1 2 Seven Little Girls 1 3 Later career 2 Groups with the same name 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksCareer editEarly days edit The two sisters in law Valerie and Elaine sometimes known as Eileen Murtagh 1 performed as The Avon Sisters at the 1958 BBC Radio Exhibition in the Olympia Exhibition Halls Earls Court London There they were heard by Norrie Paramor who signed them to the UK s Columbia label 2 Their first recording was with The Mudlarks on the B side of their 1958 single My Grandfather Clock a cover of Which Witch Doctor 2 Following this they added Ray Adams from Nat Gonella s band and changed their name to The Avons 2 Seven Little Girls edit The Avon s first single release in 1959 was a cover version of Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat written by Bob Hilliard and Lee Pockriss 3 The record reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart and stayed on the chart for thirteen weeks 4 Later career edit The Avons had three other chart entries in the Top 50 up to 1961 but never achieved the same success as their first record The charting follow ups were We re Only Young Once Four Little Heels and another cover of Bobby Vee s Rubber Ball The Avons were approached to perform the song Pickin Petals in the UK heat of the 1960 Eurovision Song Contest but their participation was cancelled due to a European Broadcasting Union rule that stated that trios could not compete Their song Dance On 1963 was recorded as an instrumental by The Shadows 5 A vocal version was recorded by Kathy Kirby the next year 2 6 They also wrote In Summer a number 5 UK hit for Billy Fury in 1963 7 Between 1963 64 the group also recorded for the Decca and Fontana labels 2 without achieving any more hits Valerie Murtagh became a successful songwriter and remained involved with the British music industry With her songwriting partner Harold Spiro she wrote under the name Valerie Avon the UK entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 Long Live Love performed by Olivia Newton John Groups with the same name editAn American 1950s doo wop group whose biggest hit in 1957 was entitled Baby 8 A trio from Nashville Tennessee Paula Hester Beverly Bard and Fran Bard They recorded several Northern soul tracks starting out on RCA s Groove label in 1963 releasing the single Push a Little Harder b w Oh Gee Baby They moved to Sound Stage 7 in 1966 and then to Excello in 1967 releasing their last single on Ref o Ree in 1968 9 See also editList of doo wop musiciansReferences edit Jon Kutner 26 May 2010 1000 UK Number One Hits p 210 ISBN 9780857123602 Retrieved 20 January 2017 a b c d e Larkin C Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music Muze UK Ltd 1997 ISBN 0 7535 0149 X p 22 Seven Little Girls Sitting In The Back Seat by Paul Evans Songfacts Songfacts com Retrieved 10 April 2012 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 34 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Dance On Tab by Shadows Ultimate guitar com Retrieved 13 February 2013 Rice Jo 1982 The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits 1st ed Enfield Middlesex Guinness Superlatives Ltd p 68 ISBN 0 85112 250 7 Billy Fury I ll Never Fall In Love Again In Summer Vinyl at Discogs Discogs com Retrieved 13 January 2013 Hamilton Andrew The Avons Music Biography Credits and Discography AllMusic Retrieved 13 February 2013 The Avons 4 Discogs com Retrieved 19 January 2017 External links editThe Avons biography at Oldies com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Avons amp oldid 1102893834, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
