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July 23, 2010

Ladybirds



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Ladybirds
The Ladybirds performing on The Benny Hill Show in 1970. Left to right : Marian Davies, Maggie Stredder and Gloria George
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The Ladybirds

The Ladybirds performing on The Benny Hill Show in 1970. Left to right : Marian Davies, Maggie Stredder and Gloria George
Background information
OriginEngland
GenresPopular music
Years active1962–2005
LabelsVarious
Associated actsThe Vernons Girls
The Pearls
Former members
Maggie Stredder
Marian Davies (deceased)
Barbara Moore
Gloria George
Penny Lister
Ann Simmons
Laura Lee (deceased)
Tracy Miller
Joan Baxter
Kay Garner
Vicki Robinson
Sylvia King
#

The Ladybirds are a British female vocal harmony trio, most famous for their appearances in The Benny Hill Show. They participated in over 60 episodes between 1969 and 1991. In addition, they were long-standing backing singers to many established artists, and perennial television performers.

The Ladybirds had their origins in an earlier vocal group, The Vernons Girls.[1] The original troupe disbanded at the start of the 1960s, but a smaller unit carried on, headed by Maureen Kennedy. Most of the other members performed as duets and singing trios. Amongst them were 'The Redmond Twins', 'The Breakaways', 'The Pearls', 'The DeLaine Sisters', and the longest surviving and best known, The Ladybirds.[2] Founding member Maggie Stredder and Jean Ryder, billed as The Two Tones, appeared at United States Air Force bases in Germany, before returning to the UK to join Max Bygraves on stage. In 1962, following an appearance on the Val Doonican TV Special, Marian Davies had replaced Ryder, plus Gloria George was added, and The Ladybirds was born.[3]

After signing to Decca Records in August 1965, Marc Bolan recorded his debut single. The Ladybirds sang backing vocals, while apart from Bolan's vocals, all other music was created by studio session musicians. "The Wizard" was released on 19 November 1965.[4]

In 1966, The Ladybirds were recruited to provide vocal backing on BBC Television's Top of the Pops programme.[5] They continued in this role until 1978. They also appeared on a number of Twiggy’s television shows.

The Ladybirds sang backing vocals on Sandie Shaw's 1967 British number one hit single and Eurovision Song Contest entry "Puppet on a String",[6] as well as on records by Rolf Harris, Des O'Connor and many other hits and misses.

In 1969, when Benny Hill joined Thames Television, he recruited them to The Benny Hill Show. The Ladybirds' first number was "Goin' Out Of My Head". In 1971 Hill did a spoof of Top of the Tops, but unusually The Ladybirds were not on that programme. Instead, one of the musical guests, Petticoat & Vine, appeared in the sketch. The Ladybirds' later Broadway medley was unique in that each member sang independently, ie. Stredder ("Don't Bring Lulu"), George ("I Won't Dance") and Davies ("I Wanna Be Loved by You"). After that point, George left the trio.

On the May 1973 album release, Rigor Mortis Sets In, by John Entwistle, the Ladybirds were credited as the backing vocalists.[7]

Up until 1973, the Ladybirds remained as a working trio of Gloria George, Maggie Stredder and Marian Davies. Penny Lister was then recruited for a short tenure. From the mid 1970s until 1986, the regular members became Stredder, Ann Simmons, who was another former Vernons Girl, and Laura Lee. Simmons later joined The Pearls.[8]

The Ladybirds also appeared on a 1974 BBC TV performance by Olivia Newton-John, backing singing on "Long Live Love", another Eurovision Song Contest entry. However Ann Simmons was misidentified as her predecessor Gloria George.[9]

The Ladybirds appeared on many light entertainment shows on UK TV. The Les Dawson Show, The Two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Little and Large, Glen Campbell, Shirley Bassey, Paul Daniels, The Generation Game and Children in Need.[1] However, by 1978, when they returned to The Benny Hill Show, purely as backing vocalists rather than actual performers, they also had stopped appearing on Top of the Pops.[10] In 1977 The Ladybirds recorded songs for a low budget covers album. Tracks featured included "Chanson D'Amour", "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" and "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina". The music compelled the all-female group to tackle songs made famous by male singers.

On occasion, Tracy Miller and Joan Baxter boosted the Ladybird ranks. In 1979 they all provided backing vocals work on Max Bygraves album, Discolongamax.

In 2005 they appeared one more time on Mark Wirtz’s Ear Theatre album Love is Eggshaped: The Soundtrack. The track entitled "Withdrawal" had vocals by The Ladybirds (by this time comprising Stredder, Kay Garner and Vicki Robinson).[11]

The Vernon Girls reformed as a trio after being invited to appear on the Cliff Richard 30th Anniversary Concert at Wembley Arena, playing over the two evenings to an audience of 140,000.[1] In recent times, Stredder, Sheila Bruce, and Penny Lister, have reappeared billed as the Vernons Girls.[2]

Stredder has more recently launched a successful career as an after dinner speaker, recalling her life in show business.[3]

#
  • Penny Lister
  • Ann Simmons (born Ann O'Brien, 20 November 19xx)
  • Tracy Miller
  • Barbara Moore
  • Joan Baxter
  • Kay Garner
  • Vicki Robinson
  • Sylvia King (real name Sylvia Rosen)

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  • The Ladybirds

    1:24
    there are many things this is which are less but tops are not one of them (and if you understood that then explain it to me)...the other thing I'd like to complain about is: THIS IS ON YouTube! WHICH IS NOT FAIR...if you know what I mean.

    The Ladybirds
    http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=137201829646956
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ladybirds

    The Ladybirds
    Categories: Backing vocalists (-) (±) | British session musicians (-) (±) | 1960s music groups (-) (±) | 1970s music groups (-) (±) | (+)
    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Jump to: navigation, search
    The Ladybirds

    The Ladybirds performing on The Benny Hill Show in 1970. Left to right : Marian Davies, Maggie Stredder and Gloria George
    Background information
    Origin England
    Genres Popular music
    Years active 1962–2005
    Labels Various
    Associated acts The Vernons Girls
    The Pearls
    Former members
    Maggie Stredder
    Marian Davies (deceased)
    Barbara Moore
    Gloria George
    Penny Lister
    Ann Simmons
    Laura Lee (deceased)
    Tracy Miller
    Joan Baxter
    Kay Garner
    Vicki Robinson
    Sylvia King

    The Ladybirds are a British female vocal harmony trio, most famous for their appearances in The Benny Hill Show. They participated in over 60 episodes between 1969 and 1991. In addition, they were long-standing backing singers to many established artists, and perennial television performers.

    thanks to Agnieszka Ledochowska (and to Hans for sending an Agniel) whose profile I hadn't visited until just now, and whose video collection on just one day does me in. I'd seen it but had forgotten how wild it really was till tonight.

    The Ladybirds had their origins in an earlier vocal group, The Vernons Girls.[1] The original troupe disbanded at the start of the 1960s, but a smaller unit carried on, headed by Maureen Kennedy. Most of the other members performed as duets and singing trios. Amongst them were 'The Redmond Twins', 'The Breakaways', 'The Pearls', 'The DeLaine Sisters', and the longest surviving and best known, The Ladybirds.[2] Founding member Maggie Stredder and Jean Ryder, billed as The Two Tones, appeared at United States Air Force bases in Germany, before returning to the UK to join Max Bygraves on stage. In 1962, following an appearance on the Val Doonican TV Special, Marian Davies had replaced Ryder, plus Gloria George was added, and The Ladybirds was born.[3]

    After signing to Decca Records in August 1965, Marc Bolan recorded his debut single. The Ladybirds sang backing vocals, while apart from Bolan's vocals, all other music was created by studio session musicians. "The Wizard" was released on 19 November 1965.[4]

    In 1966, The Ladybirds were recruited to provide vocal backing on BBC Television's Top of the Pops programme.[5] They continued in this role until 1978. They also appeared on a number of Twiggy’s television shows.

    The Ladybirds sang backing vocals on Sandie Shaw's 1967 British number one hit single and Eurovision Song Contest entry "Puppet on a String",[6] as well as on records by Rolf Harris, Des O'Connor and many other hits and misses.

    In 1969, when Benny Hill joined Thames Television, he recruited them to The Benny Hill Show. The Ladybirds' first number was "Goin' Out Of My Head". In 1971 Hill did a spoof of Top of the Tops, but unusually The Ladybirds were not on that programme. Instead, one of the musical guests, Petticoat & Vine, appeared in the sketch. The Ladybirds' later Broadway medley was unique in that each member sang independently, ie. Stredder ("Don't Bring Lulu"), George ("I Won't Dance") and Davies ("I Wanna Be Loved by You"). After that point, George left the trio.

    On the May 1973 album release, Rigor Mortis Sets In, by John Entwistle, the Ladybirds were credited as the backing vocalists.[7]

    Up until 1973, the Ladybirds remained as a working trio of Gloria George, Maggie Stredder and Marian Davies. Penny Lister was then recruited for a short tenure. From the mid 1970s until 1986, the regular members became Stredder, Ann Simmons, who was another former Vernons Girl, and Laura Lee. Simmons later joined The Pearls.[8]

    The Ladybirds also appeared on a 1974 BBC TV performance by Olivia Newton-John, backing singing on "Long Live Love", another Eurovision Song Contest entry. However Ann Simmons was misidentified as her predecessor Gloria George.[9]

    The Ladybirds appeared on many light entertainment shows on UK TV. The Les Dawson Show, The Two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Little and Large, Glen Campbell, Shirley Bassey, Paul Daniels, The Generation Game and Children in Need.[1] However, by 1978, when they returned to The Benny Hill Show, purely as backing vocalists rather than actual performers, they also had stopped appearing on Top of the Pops.[10] In 1977 The Ladybirds recorded songs for a low budget covers album. Tracks featured included "Chanson D'Amour", "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" and "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina". The music compelled the all-female group to tackle songs made famous by male singers.

    On occasion, Tracy Miller and Joan Baxter boosted the Ladybird ranks. In 1979 they all provided backing vocals work on Max Bygraves album, Discolongamax.

    In 2005 they appeared one more time on Mark Wirtz’s Ear Theatre album Love is Eggshaped: The Soundtrack. The track entitled "Withdrawal" had vocals by The Ladybirds (by this time comprising Stredder, Kay Garner and Vicki Robinson).[11]

    The Vernon Girls reformed as a trio after being invited to appear on the Cliff Richard 30th Anniversary Concert at Wembley Arena, playing over the two evenings to an audience of 140,000.[1] In recent times, Stredder, Sheila Bruce, and Penny Lister, have reappeared billed as the Vernons Girls.[2]

    Stredder has more recently launched a successful career as an after dinner speaker, recalling her life in show business.[3]
    Personnel

    * Maggie Stredder (born Margaret Elisabeth Stredder, 9 January 1936, Birkenhead) - married writer Roy Tuvey, 1 October 1966[12]
    * Marian Davies (born 23 November 1940, Crynant, Wales - died 24 January 2008, Surrey) - often misspelled Marion Davies[13] [14]
    * Gloria George[15]
    * Penny Lister
    * Ann Simmons (born Ann O'Brien, 20 November 19xx)
    * Laura Lee (born Isabella McIntyre, 11 May 1937, Musselburgh, Scotland - died July 2007 at home in Musselburgh)[16]
    * Tracy Miller
    * Barbara Moore
    * Joan Baxter
    * Kay Garner
    * Vicki Robinson
    * Sylvia King (real name Sylvia Rosen)

    References

    1. ^ a b c Merseybeat.co.uk - accessed January 2010
    2. ^ a b 45-rpm.org.uk biography on The Vernons Girls
    3. ^ a b Probus Club of Ewell website - Stredder (guest speaker) notes
    4. ^ Mark Bolan fansite @ Blueyonder.co.uk
    5. ^ Sixties City.com website notes
    6. ^ Diggiloo.net - accessed January 2010
    7. ^ Thepiratebay,.org - accessed January 2010
    8. ^ IMDb.com biography
    9. ^ Diggiloo.net - Eurovision Song Contest fansite
    10. ^ Escape-to-the-seventies.com
    11. ^ Gullbuy.com - album review dated August 2005
    12. ^ Oh Boy!fansite details @ Fortunecity.com
    13. ^ Marian Davies biography at the IMDb site,
    14. ^ Davies bio details @ Famouswelsh.com
    15. ^ TV.com Ladybirds biography
    16. ^ Edinburgh Evening News, 2 August 2007

    External links

    * The Ladybirds at Discogs
    * The Ladybirds mini biography at the IMDb website
    * The Ladybirds Who's Who
    <li id="cite_note-Mersey-0">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Mersey_0-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Mersey_0-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Mersey_0-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://www.merseybeat.co.uk/articles-details.php?cat=Mersey+Artists&amp%3Bid=345" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Merseybeat.co.uk - accessed January 2010</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-45-rpm-1">^ <a href="#cite_ref-45-rpm_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-45-rpm_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirv/vernonsg.htm" class="external text" rel="nofollow">45-rpm.org.uk biography on The Vernons Girls</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-probus-2">^ <a href="#cite_ref-probus_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-probus_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://www.ewell-probus.org.uk/programme/2005/showbiz.htm" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Probus Club of Ewell website - Stredder (guest speaker) notes</a></li>

    <li id="cite_note-3"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.acnw03383.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/rex31.htm" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Mark Bolan fansite @ Blueyonder.co.uk</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-4"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.sixtiescity.com/PopTV/TopOfThePops.shtm" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Sixties City.com website notes</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-5"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.diggiloo.net/?info.1967uk" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Diggiloo.net - accessed January 2010</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-6"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b> <a href="http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/5286554/" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Thepiratebay,.org - accessed January 2010</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-7"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1314908/bio" class="external text" rel="nofollow">IMDb.com biography</a></li>

    <li id="cite_note-8"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.diggiloo.net/?info.1974uk" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Diggiloo.net - Eurovision Song Contest fansite</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-9"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.escape-to-the-seventies.com/Television/benny_hill.php" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Escape-to-the-seventies.com</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-10"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b> <a href="http://gullbuy.com/buy/2005/8_16/wirtzeartheatre.cfm" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Gullbuy.com - album review dated August 2005</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-11"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/wolf/31/id37.htm" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Oh Boy!fansite details @ Fortunecity.com</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-12"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2011396/bio" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Marian Davies biography at the IMDb site</a>,</li>

    <li id="cite_note-13"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.famouswelsh.com/cgibin/getmoreinf.cgi?pers_id=282&amp%3Bmusic=Marion+Davies" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Davies bio details @ Famouswelsh.com</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-14"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.tv.com/the-ladybirds/person/204310/biography.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">TV.com Ladybirds biography</a></li>
    <li id="cite_note-15"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b> <a href="http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Tributes-flood-in-for-Laura.3312578.jp" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Edinburgh Evening News, 2 August 2007</a></li>
    </ol>

    In this video:

     Afrikabok Senegal-France (videos | remove tag), Agnieszka Ledochowska (videos | remove tag), Andrés Duque (remove tag), Anita Woronov (remove tag), Aurélie Combe (videos | remove tag), Barbara Stinson (videos | remove tag), Cam Paterson (remove tag), Claus Sorensen (videos | remove tag), Dampira Quin (videos | remove tag), Dean Chambers (videos | remove tag), Emmanuelle Guillouet (remove tag), Erik Satiecafè (videos | remove tag), Hangnailias Nix (videos | remove tag), Hans J. Eichinger (videos | remove tag), Jeanne Martian (videos | remove tag), Jennifer Keller (remove tag), Joey Ramone (videos | remove tag), Larry Lash (videos | remove tag), Lenny Smith (videos | remove tag), Lenore Herb (videos | remove tag), Limbs Andthings (videos | remove tag), Lumina Sector (videos | remove tag), Mark Culbertson (videos | remove tag), Matt Hamlin (videos | remove tag), Michael Sheppard (videos | remove tag), Michal Rezanka (videos | remove tag), Rachel Anne Lisi (remove tag), Reuben Netzer (videos | remove tag), Rusty Spur (videos | remove tag), Sandro Centonze (videos | remove tag), Shaun Art Wanker Gleason (videos | remove tag), Steven Truesdale (videos | remove tag), Taquila Mockingbird (videos | remove tag), ThirdEye Memories (videos | remove tag), Thomas Loeb (videos | remove tag), Vmr Recordings (videos | remove tag), Weirdi Pedia (videos | remove tag), Winston Wolfe (videos | remove tag), YouWeird Tube (videos | remove tag)