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High Seas Showband Gallery (1966-1970)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

The first mention of the High Seas Showband from Larne that we could find was in May, 1966 when they were playing in the Temperance Hall in Loughrea. As the band was based in the Belfast area, it is possible they had been playing long before this as newspaper archives from the 1960s are not available (at of May 2020) for the Belfast Telegraph. Cecil Thompson was the band's manager. Interestingly, there were a lot of adverts for the band mainly playing two venues in the south: The Temperance Hall and the Rainbow Ballroom in Glenfarne.

As far as we know the original lineup was: Thelma Hall (vocals and keyboards), Norman Purdy (vocals), Jackie Gault (guitar), Wilbur "Billy" Clements (bass), Alec Newell (drums), Jim Hill (sax), Alec Brown (sax), and Billy Duff (trombone). Stuart Gillespie would join the band shortly after its formation, but we think he left shortly thereafter as a May 21, 1966 report named Louis Craig as the band's lead guitarist.     

Glen Brown told us in an email that the band was resident in the Kings Arms Ballroom in the late 60s and also toured Ireland, Scotland and North of England. The band cut a demo Extended Play (EP) record (disc) featuring the following four numbers.

Side 1.
(a)
I'D STILL BE THERE (vocal).
(b)
I CAN'T GO ON (vocal).

Side 2.
(a)
IN MY ROOM (vocal).
(b)
ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL.

In December 1968 Donal K. O'Boyle reported in his column in the Donegal News that Merv Allen had joined the band, replacing Norman as the male lead singer.

In January 1970, Donal O'Boyle reported that the High Seas had disbanded after four years on the road. Thelma Hall would move to the growing cabaret scene.

"From l-r :Jerry McIlduff (Mcilduff), Mike Niblett, Mervye Allen ( also sang with Jimmie Johnstone Showband), Thelma Hall, Bobby  Duff, Billy Herron (see Red Admirals)  the last one I can't remember,although i remember he played brass ." ©Mike Niblett, 9 November 2003

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

High Seas (GB) High Seas (GB) High Seas (GB) High Seas (GB) Norman & Thelma (SG)
High Seas (SG) High Seas - 1966 High Seas - 1966 High Seas - 1969 Thelma Hall - 1970
         
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon
Years Vocals Guitar Guitar Bass Drums Keys/Vcls Sax Sax Trombone
1966 Norman
Purdy
Stuart
Gillespie
Jackie
Gault
Billy
Clements
Alec
Newell
Thelma
Hall
Jim
Hill
Alec
Brown
Billy
Duff
May
1966
Norman
Purdy
Louis
Craig
Jackie
Gault
Billy
Clements
Alec
Newell
Thelma
Hall
Jim
Hill
Alec
Brown
Billy
Duff
Dec
1969
Merv
Allen
Billy
Herron
  Mike
Niblett
Gerry
McIlduff
Thelma
Hall
? Alec
Brown
Billy
Duff
                   
                   

Discography

S - #3 Irish Charts
M

Audio Clips

         
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Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

Thelma Hall:
Band Member:
Band Member:
Band Member:
Band Member:
Band Member:

 


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In Loving Memory of Grant Gallagher: Sept. 21, 1990 - Nov. 18, 2006