Author of new Billy Fury book visits The Cavern

Dec 1 2007 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

Anyway, Brian and our man saw Ronnie standing in the drizzle outside the Essoldo. “It was a rotten day,” recalls Vince, 67. “He was very good looking, you could see that even in the gloom. To me, he was a cross between Elvis and James Dean. He had slightly blonde hair and that surly, sensual look. He had the perfect image for rock and roll, the perfect face. I saw that straight away.”

So did Parnes, who was introduced to Ronnie by Vince and Brian a few minutes later.

There is some doubt about whether Ronnie had brought his own guitar, but, even if he had, it seems that Parnes told him to play in the dressing-room on a Hofner Committee belonging to Kenny Packwood of the Wildcats.

After hearing the self-penned songs Maybe Tomorrow and Margo, Parnes, the son of a wealthy, London Jewish property dealer, changed Ronnie’s name and booked him to appear that night. The girls went mad.

Billy Fury (1940-83) became the British Elvis, scoring a string of hits including Halfway to Paradise, Jealousy, Last Night was Made for Love and Once Upon a Dream.

Although he didn’t have any hits, Vince, powerfully built and 6ft 5ins tall, appeared on the legendary TV shows the Six-five Special, Oh Boy! and Drumbeat. He also toured with Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent and belonged in the front rank of British rock and rollers.

When his career could have slipped in the late ’70s and early ’80s, he was cast as the older Elvis in the touring version of Jack Good’s hit show, Elvis the Musical. But, among all the stars, Vince places his own childhood hero, Lonnie Donegan, at the top. In July, 2001, he had supported him in a show and Lonnie suggested that they should work together again. The opportunity arose 15 months later, when they were both to appear at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham.

Lonnie was suffering from backache before the show, but was to give what some regarded as the finest performance. For 10 minutes, Vince was on stage with him. “I sang Bring a Little Water Sylvie and Midnight Special with my king,” says Vince.

“The duets I had performed with Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard, Billy Fury, Mike Stoller and others faded into insignificance. This was Lonnie. It was the big one, the dream come true.”

Five days later, Lonnie died. The back pain had been a blood clot.

Yes, there has been happiness and sorrow in the life of this man, who went out for a Wimpy and met a rock god.

davidcharters@dailypost.co.uk