Nesbeth had received singing lessons from Connor, and when the latter decided to record an album of Jamaican songs, he asked Nesbeth to assemble a vocal backing group.[3] Besides Nesbeth, other members of the group were Frank Mannah, and brothers Harold (Harry) and Allan Wilmot.[3]Songs from Jamaica (Argo RG33) was released in 1954 with the group credited as "The Caribbeans".[3] Connor persuaded the group to appear with him in cabaret in London's Celebrity Restaurant to promote the album.[4]
During the following year, the group was briefly known as "The South Londoners" and "The Southerners", but when they made their second recording providing harmony vocals to Connor on Songs from Trinidad (1955, Argo RG57), the group had settled on the name The Southlanders. They later recorded a third album with Connor.[5]
The group's biggest commercial hit, and its only appearance in the UK Singles Chart, was their 1957 cover version of "Alone", which sold more than one million copies. "Alone", released by Decca Records, entered the Chart on 22 November 1957 and spent 10 weeks in the chart, peaking at number 17 on 28 November.[1][6]
The group's final single, "Imitation of Love", was released in 1961.[7]
The song the group is most identified with is "I am a Mole and I Live in a Hole" (also known as "Mole", "The Mole" and "The Mole in a Hole").[3] The title line from the song was spoken by the group's bass voice Harry Wilmot, father of Gary Wilmot.[3] Harry Wilmot died in 1961, when his son was six years old. The song failed to make the UK Singles Chart in 1958, but has been performed at every Southlanders' event since its release.[3] Group founder Vernon Nesbeth said that the group tried to take the song out of their set but that club managers and audiences insisted upon hearing it. "It's become protected. Untouchable. We've even sung it in Japanese," said Nesbeth.
When its profile began to wane, the group performed in cabaret on cruise ships and in hotels until it disbanded.[3] Nesbeth semi-retired in January 2004 to reside in Spain; he died on 6 March 2017 in Torrevieja.[8] Allan Wilmot retired and resided in South London.[9] He died on 20 October 2021, at the age of 96.[10][11][12]
Referencesedit
^ abRoberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 517. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
^Gibbs, Craig Martin (27 April 2015). Calypso and Other Music of Trinidad, 1912–1962: An Annotated Discography. McFarland. ISBN9781476619316.
southlanders, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, january, 2011. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources The Southlanders news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2011 Learn how and when to remove this message The Southlanders was a Jamaican and British vocal group 1 formed in 1950 by Edric Connor and Vernon Nesbeth 2 The SouthlandersThe Southlanders performing in Utrecht Netherlands in 1964Background informationAlso known asThe Caribbeans The Southerners The South LondonersOriginLondon EnglandGenresrhythm and blues calypso doo wopYears active1950 1950 c 2004 2004 LabelsDecca RecordsPast membersVernon Nesbeth d 2017 Frank Mannah d 1991 Harold Harry Wilmot d 1961 Allan Wilmot d 2021 Nesbeth had received singing lessons from Connor and when the latter decided to record an album of Jamaican songs he asked Nesbeth to assemble a vocal backing group 3 Besides Nesbeth other members of the group were Frank Mannah and brothers Harold Harry and Allan Wilmot 3 Songs from Jamaica Argo RG33 was released in 1954 with the group credited as The Caribbeans 3 Connor persuaded the group to appear with him in cabaret in London s Celebrity Restaurant to promote the album 4 During the following year the group was briefly known as The South Londoners and The Southerners but when they made their second recording providing harmony vocals to Connor on Songs from Trinidad 1955 Argo RG57 the group had settled on the name The Southlanders They later recorded a third album with Connor 5 The group s biggest commercial hit and its only appearance in the UK Singles Chart was their 1957 cover version of Alone which sold more than one million copies Alone released by Decca Records entered the Chart on 22 November 1957 and spent 10 weeks in the chart peaking at number 17 on 28 November 1 6 The group s final single Imitation of Love was released in 1961 7 The song the group is most identified with is I am a Mole and I Live in a Hole also known as Mole The Mole and The Mole in a Hole 3 The title line from the song was spoken by the group s bass voice Harry Wilmot father of Gary Wilmot 3 Harry Wilmot died in 1961 when his son was six years old The song failed to make the UK Singles Chart in 1958 but has been performed at every Southlanders event since its release 3 Group founder Vernon Nesbeth said that the group tried to take the song out of their set but that club managers and audiences insisted upon hearing it It s become protected Untouchable We ve even sung it in Japanese said Nesbeth When its profile began to wane the group performed in cabaret on cruise ships and in hotels until it disbanded 3 Nesbeth semi retired in January 2004 to reside in Spain he died on 6 March 2017 in Torrevieja 8 Allan Wilmot retired and resided in South London 9 He died on 20 October 2021 at the age of 96 10 11 12 References edit a b Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 517 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Gibbs Craig Martin 27 April 2015 Calypso and Other Music of Trinidad 1912 1962 An Annotated Discography McFarland ISBN 9781476619316 a b c d e f g Colin Larkin ed 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music First ed Virgin Books pp 417 418 ISBN 0 7535 0149 X Notes 1954 Edric Connor and the Caribbeans Songs from Jamaica Folkcatalogue wordpress com Notes 1955 Edric Connor and the Southlanders Songs from Trinidad Folkcatalogue wordpress com The Southlanders Officialcharts com The Southlanders Doo wop blogg org 23 December 2010 Retrieved 10 November 2017 Nicol Keith 7 March 2017 Death of Vernon Nesbeth EWN Media Group Retrieved 10 November 2017 Fisher Bob Theo Morgan 2011 1957 British Hit Parade Part 2 July December booklet various artists UK Acrobat Music ACQCD7025 Allan Charles Wilmot 1925 2021 The Windrush Foundation Retrieved 22 October 2021 War Hero Allan Wilmot s Story A Tribute Wadsworth Marc 8 November 2021 Allan Wilmot obituary the Guardian Retrieved 12 November 2021 External links edit Windrush Pioneers Allan Wilmot The Windrush Foundation The Southlanders discography at Discogs The Southlanders at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Southlanders amp oldid 1212435737, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
