Brian Casser
Encyclopedia
Brian Casser is a British singer and guitarist. He led the first notable beat group
in Liverpool
, Cass & The Cassanovas, who were early rivals of The Beatles
in the city. He later led another group, Casey Jones & the Engineers, which was one of Eric Clapton
's first bands, and then, as leader of Casey Jones & The Governors, became successful in Germany
in the mid 1960s.
(born 13 November 1938, Ilkley
, Yorkshire
), and drummer and singer Brian Hudson (born 21 April 1938, Cleveland
, Yorkshire
). After a few months, Hudson left and was replaced by Johnny Hutchinson
(born 18 July 1940, Malta
), known as Johnny Hutch. In need of a bass guitarist
, Hutchinson then brought in Johnny Gustafson
(born 8 August 1942, Liverpool) in December 1959. At that time Gustafson did not have a proper bass guitar
so Barber converted an acoustic
for him. The group became popular playing a wide range of music, from Latin American music to rock and roll, in dance halls in the Liverpool area. Casser also started his own music club in Liverpool, the Casanova Club, whose guest groups included one known at the time as the "Silver Beetles"; according to some reports, Casser had suggested that they change their name from the earlier spelling of "Beatals" which Casser found "ridiculous". In May 1960 Cass & The Cassanovas took part in auditions in front of leading manager Larry Parnes
who was looking for backing bands for his stable of pop singers. The group secured a place as backing group for singer Duffy Power
and toured with him. By this time, Casser had begun using the stage names of "Casey Jones" and "Casey Valence".
In December 1960, Gustafson, Hutchinson and Barber left the band, and formed themselves into a new trio, The Big Three
. Casser moved to London around 1962, and managed the Blue Gardenia club in Soho
. He also briefly formed a group called the Nightsounds, which featured Albert Lee
on guitar. The following year, he won a recording contract with the Columbia
label, and recorded a single, "One Way Ticket", using the name Casey Jones. With drummer Ray Stock, he recruited two former members of R&B group the Roosters, guitarist Eric Clapton
and bassist Tom McGuinness, and briefly toured as Casey Jones & The Engineers. Clapton and McGuinness left after a few performances, shortly followed by Stock.
Casser then formed a new group with David Coleman (lead guitar), Roger Cook (rhythm guitar), Jim Rodford
(bass) and Peter Richards (drums). They played at the Star-Club
in Hamburg
and became popular in Germany
, releasing two singles, "Tall Girl" and "Don't Ha Ha" on the Bellaphon
label, before changing their name to Casey Jones & The Governors, apparently in an attempt to stress their British origins. The record label reissued "Don't Ha Ha" - which in fact was a version of the 1958 Huey Smith and the Clowns song "Don't You Just Know It" - under the new band name and it rose to # 2 on the German pop chart
. Casey Jones and the Governors continued to tour and record successfully in Germany for a few years, achieving six top 40 singles and releasing two albums on the Gold 12 label, Casey Jones and the Governors (1965) and Don't Ha Ha (1966).
In the 1970s, Casser, still using the name Casey Jones, worked as a disc jockey
in Löhnberg
, and recorded a solo album, Casey's Rock 'n' Roll Show. In the 1990s, he formed a new version of Casey Jones and the Governors to play the oldies circuit in Germany, and in 2006 was reported to be living near Dortmund
.
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Cass & The Cassanovas, who were early rivals of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
in the city. He later led another group, Casey Jones & the Engineers, which was one of Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
's first bands, and then, as leader of Casey Jones & The Governors, became successful in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the mid 1960s.
Career
Casser lived in Liverpool in the late 1950s, having previously worked in the Merchant Navy. As singer and rhythm guitarist, he formed a trio, Cass & The Cassanovas, in 1959, with singer and guitarist Adrian BarberAdrian Barber
Adrian Barber is a musician / producer who is responsible for recording the Beatles "Gray Zone" Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962.-Musician / electronics:...
(born 13 November 1938, Ilkley
Ilkley
Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish in West Yorkshire, in the north of England. Ilkley civil parish includes the adjacent village of Ben Rhydding and is a ward within the metropolitan borough of Bradford. Approximately north of Bradford, the town lies mainly on the south bank of the River Wharfe...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
), and drummer and singer Brian Hudson (born 21 April 1938, Cleveland
Cleveland, England
Cleveland is an area in the north east of England. Its name means literally "cliff-land", referring to its hilly southern areas, which rise to nearly...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
). After a few months, Hudson left and was replaced by Johnny Hutchinson
Johnny Hutchinson
Johnny 'Hutch' Hutchinson , also known as Johnny Hutch, was a Liverpudlian rock and roll drummer of the late 1950s and early 1960s, during the same time that The Beatles rose through the ranks of British rock bands...
(born 18 July 1940, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
), known as Johnny Hutch. In need of a bass guitarist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, Hutchinson then brought in Johnny Gustafson
John Gustafson (musician)
John "Gus" Gustafson also known as Johnny Gustafson is an influential bass player who has had a thirty eight year recording and live performance career...
(born 8 August 1942, Liverpool) in December 1959. At that time Gustafson did not have a proper bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
so Barber converted an acoustic
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
for him. The group became popular playing a wide range of music, from Latin American music to rock and roll, in dance halls in the Liverpool area. Casser also started his own music club in Liverpool, the Casanova Club, whose guest groups included one known at the time as the "Silver Beetles"; according to some reports, Casser had suggested that they change their name from the earlier spelling of "Beatals" which Casser found "ridiculous". In May 1960 Cass & The Cassanovas took part in auditions in front of leading manager Larry Parnes
Larry Parnes
Laurence Maurice "Larry" Parnes was an English pop manager and impresario. He has been described as "the first major British rock manager... Parnes' stable encompassed most of the most successful pre-Beatles British rock singers."...
who was looking for backing bands for his stable of pop singers. The group secured a place as backing group for singer Duffy Power
Duffy Power
Duffy Power is an English blues and rock and roll singer, who achieved some success in the 1960s and has performed and recorded intermittently since then.-Career:...
and toured with him. By this time, Casser had begun using the stage names of "Casey Jones" and "Casey Valence".
In December 1960, Gustafson, Hutchinson and Barber left the band, and formed themselves into a new trio, The Big Three
The Big Three (musical group)
The Big Three were a Merseybeat group from Liverpool. They are best known for their 1963 recording of "Some Other Guy".-Career:The Big Three evolved from a group called Cass & The Cassanovas, formed in May 1959 by Brian Casser as a trio comprising Casser , Adrian Barber The Big Three were a...
. Casser moved to London around 1962, and managed the Blue Gardenia club in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
. He also briefly formed a group called the Nightsounds, which featured Albert Lee
Albert Lee
Albert William Lee, born 21 December 1943 in Leominster, Herefordshire, England, is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked both in the studio and on tour with some of the most famous musicians which stretch through a very wide of genres...
on guitar. The following year, he won a recording contract with the Columbia
Columbia Graphophone Company
The Columbia Graphophone Company was one of the earliest gramophone companies in the United Kingdom. Under EMI, as Columbia Records, it became a very successful label in the 1950s and 1960s...
label, and recorded a single, "One Way Ticket", using the name Casey Jones. With drummer Ray Stock, he recruited two former members of R&B group the Roosters, guitarist Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
and bassist Tom McGuinness, and briefly toured as Casey Jones & The Engineers. Clapton and McGuinness left after a few performances, shortly followed by Stock.
Casser then formed a new group with David Coleman (lead guitar), Roger Cook (rhythm guitar), Jim Rodford
Jim Rodford
Jim Rodford is a musician who played with The Kinks, The Swinging Blue Jeans and was a founding member of Argent...
(bass) and Peter Richards (drums). They played at the Star-Club
Star-Club
The Star-Club was a music club in Hamburg, Germany that opened Friday 13 April 1962 and was initially operated by Manfred Weissleder and Horst Fascher. In the sixties, many of the giants of rock music played at the club. The club closed on 31 December 1969 and the building it occupied was...
in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and became popular in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, releasing two singles, "Tall Girl" and "Don't Ha Ha" on the Bellaphon
Bellaphon Records
Bellaphon Records is an independent German record label. Their artists have included Geordie, Limahl, Johnny Cash, Nektar, and Ganymed.Bellaphon were founded in 1961 by Branco Zivanovic. They are headquartered in Frankfurt. The company runs the labels Bellaphon, Bacillus and L&R. Bellaphon has...
label, before changing their name to Casey Jones & The Governors, apparently in an attempt to stress their British origins. The record label reissued "Don't Ha Ha" - which in fact was a version of the 1958 Huey Smith and the Clowns song "Don't You Just Know It" - under the new band name and it rose to # 2 on the German pop chart
Media Control Charts
The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...
. Casey Jones and the Governors continued to tour and record successfully in Germany for a few years, achieving six top 40 singles and releasing two albums on the Gold 12 label, Casey Jones and the Governors (1965) and Don't Ha Ha (1966).
In the 1970s, Casser, still using the name Casey Jones, worked as a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
in Löhnberg
Löhnberg
Löhnberg is a community north of Weilburg in Limburg-Weilburg district in Hesse, Germany.- Neighbouring communities :Löhnberg borders in the north on the community of Greifenstein, in the east on the towns of Leun and Braunfels , in the south on the town of Weilburg, and in the west on the...
, and recorded a solo album, Casey's Rock 'n' Roll Show. In the 1990s, he formed a new version of Casey Jones and the Governors to play the oldies circuit in Germany, and in 2006 was reported to be living near Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
.