Miki & Griff
Encyclopedia
Miki & Griff were a British
country music
duo
, who had several hit single
s on the UK Singles Chart
in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
and Emyr was Welsh
. They first met while singing in the George Mitchell
Choir in 1947-48. After leaving the group, they sang with Johnny Dennis & the Ranchers, and wed
in 1950. While doing variety show
s with Max Bygraves
, they began using the name Miki & Griff, and did comedy skits in addition to pop
and country music
.
Lonnie Donegan
discovered the duo and had them record
with Pye Records
; in addition to singing with Donegan on his self-titled release, they also released several singles
which enjoyed chart
success in Britain
. They toured America
in 1964, including performances at the Grand Ole Opry
, though they never really broke into the US
market. They continued to tour into the 1970s; Barbara (born 20 June 1920) died on 20 April 1989.
Emyr (born 9 May 1923) died on 24 September 1995.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
, who had several hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
s on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
History
Miki and Griff's actual names were Barbara and Emyr Griffith; Barbara (née Salisbury) was ScottishScottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
and Emyr was Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
. They first met while singing in the George Mitchell
George Mitchell (musician)
George Mitchell, was a Scottish musician, best known for having devised the long-running The Black and White Minstrel Show....
Choir in 1947-48. After leaving the group, they sang with Johnny Dennis & the Ranchers, and wed
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
in 1950. While doing variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
s with Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves OBE is an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs...
, they began using the name Miki & Griff, and did comedy skits in addition to pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
.
Lonnie Donegan
Lonnie Donegan
Anthony James "Lonnie" Donegan MBE was a skiffle musician, with more than 20 UK Top 30 hits to his name. He is known as the "King of Skiffle" and is often cited as a large influence on the generation of British musicians who became famous in the 1960s...
discovered the duo and had them record
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
with Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
; in addition to singing with Donegan on his self-titled release, they also released several singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
which enjoyed chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
success in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. They toured America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1964, including performances at the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
, though they never really broke into the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
market. They continued to tour into the 1970s; Barbara (born 20 June 1920) died on 20 April 1989.
Emyr (born 9 May 1923) died on 24 September 1995.
Charting singles
- "Hold Back Tomorrow" (1959) UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#26 - "Rockin' Alone" (1960) UK #44
- "A Little Bitty TearA Little Bitty Tear"A Little Bitty Tear" is a song written by the American country music singer-songwriter Hank Cochran. It has been recorded by many musical acts, including Cochran himself and Burl Ives.-History:...
" (1962) UK #16 - "I Want to Stay Here" (1963) UK #23