Four Pennies
 

Does anyone remember Lionel Morton from Blacburn, and his band, who later changed their name to The Four Pennies, playing in the Derby Hotel in St James St on a Friday night around the 1960's They then went on to make a number one hit on the charts "Juliet"

Re: Four Pennies
 

They still get plenty of mentions on Radio Lancashire - come over and listen.

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Yep seen em a few times up Con on Monday night, Most people around here of certain ages remember em pretty well,:) was a guy called fritz in the four pennies as well i recall. They were a Blackburn based group.:) Recall Lionel married the blonde lass "Actress" Julia Foster.

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Lionel was a choirboy at Blackburn Cathedral I think

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Fritz Fryer was from Great Harwood, on a few occasions when they played the Con on Mondays they billed as The Lionel Morton 4 + 1 can remember the guys name but he was a lad who lived up Willows Lane and was a pianist, anybody else remember him, or what his name was?

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Nah mate Fritz was from Oldham, may have lived oer harrod i have no idea. He died about 6/7 yrs ago in Lisbon.

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They changed their name to Four Pennys as Reidys music shop who helped them was on Penny St. Lionel Morton was married to Julia Foster( like Jaysay says) and she is the mother of Ben Fogle from her second marriage.

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Yeh been drinking greeny? I said it not jaysay.:D

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Try this

Juliet - The Four Pennies - YouTube

Re: Four Pennies
 

Was certainly living in Harwood while with the Pennies or should I say prior to the Pennies, ya I can remember reading about him dying in the LT

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Yes i seem to remember that. I may be wrong but i think Lionel Morton was married, maybe to a Blackburn girl, and that her name was used for the number one hit song. they were later divorced.

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Juliet was named after is Niece if I remember rightly

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Thank You JAYSAY that could be so.

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Your quite right Cashy, I used to knock about with Franny Franks about 63 and we used to spend some monday afternoons in the bar and playing snooker up the Con. Lionel used to come in with the band ( The Lionel Morton Four ) to get set up for the evening. He was always taking some kind of pills. Nervous as hell. Jon Anderson once said, "I turned down the song Juliet" dont know how true his quote was, but I have it on video somewhere.

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Frannys still batting as is brother Tommy, He spends a fair bit of time in Thailand, but was talking to him a few weeks back.:) His ex wifes mam died a few weeks ago n i was at the funeral.

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I was in the same class as Franny Franks at the Holy Family Mog

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Its a few years since I saw Tommy, think the last time was in the White Bull up New Lane

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Yes I do He trapped my hand in his van door hinge ouch! Where are they now? Shirley

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Jon anderson wasnt he in the Warriors?

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many moons ago

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Are the two brothers mentioned in these threads, Franny and Tom Franks, any relation to the late Franks brothers, Francis and Tom. Both these brothers were very talented in their own right. Francis in comedy and Tom played instruments. During the war years the two brothers produced top class musical and variety shows at the Hippodrome. "Anchors Aweigh" and "Mikado" were two that come to mind. These shows were backed by Howard & Bulloughs. A joiner from Ossy, Jack Hulme who i believe Jaysay would know played piano in the orchestra. The reason i am asking this is because the Franks brothers were connected to St Annes and i see that Franny sings and was in the same class with Jaysay at Holy Family.

Re: Four Pennies
 

It's possible Irene, both Tommy and Franny went to St Annes, Tommy will be 69 or 70 and Franny a couple of years younger so the late Franks Brothers may have been father/uncle. Incidentally Jack Hulme played at our wedding and was a great favourite up James St Ossy.

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Yep they are the same Irene.;)

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wish I could listen to radio Lancashire...but live in Tucson Arizna..Miss the green grass of home...

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Jon Anderson my brother said when he came home he could barely speak to anyone...Fame! He used to live across from my nans on Cedar st.....

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You can listen online.
BBC Radio Lancashire 103.9 FM | Listen Online | Live Streaming Radio

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Listen to it on the bbc website

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Also available on the BBC Iplayer Radio App

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Not true goneroping..whenever he came back to town usually to see his family he always got in touch with his old mates if he had the time, usually via Rod Hill or Gordon Kenyon. Met up with him in the Pickwick back in the day and moved up to the New Brewery for a few beers. Absolutely no edge to him. ;)

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You are spot on D. Met Jon a few times over the years after various shows with Yes and with Rick Wakeman. Still remembers his mates from St Chrirtophers and when we played football together in the school yard. He is a real nice chap as is his brother Tony. Another guy who hasn't changed a bit is Brian Chatton from Bolton. ex warriors, The Hollies and Meatloaf.

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Jaysay would the pianist from up Willows Lane be Ricky Pearson? He wrote several songs for Hermans Hermits who he managed for a time. He ran the Sportsmans Club up Peel Park on Friday nights for a time. He had a brother Eddie.