Gene Vincent – How he was introduced to Coventry 1960

Gene Vincent – 

How he was introduced to Coventry 1960

By Pete Clemons

Beginning in January 1960, both Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent were part of a tour of the UK that ended in tragedy. Eddie Cochran was killed and Gene Vincent seriously injured after a high speed car accident in Chippenham.

Coventry was the second gig on the tour schedule. The first being in Ipswich on the 24th January. And, after the Ipswich gig, there were three days of rehearsals at a studio in Gerrard Street, London, before the tour resumed on the 28th.

Much has been written about Eddie Cochran, in regard to the tour. But, I always felt that Gene Vincent had been a little neglected. So I was delighted to come across a news report, from Coventry that, prior to the gig, introduced the city to him.

A young man whose name has held a consistently high position in the popularity polls and best sellers charts, both here and in America, is 21 years old Gene Vincent.

'The first singing success for the likeable young man came when he was serving as a boiler tender in the US Navy. He was 17 at the time, and he spent most of his evenings with his guitar on the deck of the tanker, singing for his shipmates.

On his demobilisation he returned to his home town of Norfolk, Virginia, more determined than ever to make singing his career. He was not to wait long, he auditioned for a local radio show,and quickly became the star of that show.

This was followed within a few weeks by another important audition, this time with Capitol Records, and again Gene won through, this time being chosen from nearly 200 rock 'n' roll singers. Since then, backed with his own group the 'Blue Caps' he has recorded countless singles, EP's and LP's, many of which have had the distinctive style that he has developed from his love of country music'.

After the gig there then appeared to be a mixed review of it all. It suggested that the audience inside enjoyed the gig, but they were not going to set the greater world alight. But at that time the country was still wary of rock 'n' roll and saw it as a threat.

'Gene Vincent the American singing star who added to his scores of successes on his present tour of Britain with a tumultuous reception at the Gaumont on Thursday.

There were no frantic scenes when the latest ration of rock 'n' roll reached Coventry last night. The two American and several British performers who made two appearances at the Gaumont on the same day drew shrieks inside the theatre, but seemed in little danger of losing their shirts outside'.

The fact is though that rock 'n' roll was here to stay. And, 60 years on, is still being heard today.