Wolverhampton
Tommy Burton vocal, piano, saxophone, guitar
Mac Bailey guitar, bass
Colin Burton steel guitar
Peter Graystone saxophone
Dennis Harvey drums
Horace Johnson bass guitar
Dave Holmes drums
Brian Meacham bass guitar, vocal
John Millington guitar
Trevor Worrall bass guitar, vocal
Malcolm “Mac” Wooley drums
Tommy Burton was a much-loved and highly respected performer who was very well known throughout the West Midlands. Although he did not have a hit record or gain much recognition nationally, Tommy Burton’s contribution to the local music scene in terms of influence and inspiration was considerable.
With Special Thanks
to Brum Beat
Copyright © John R Woodhouse.
Compiled by Keith Law
There Are Currently 10 Comments for this Post
Satan was my nickname given to me by Tommy…pronounced Serten.
This was at the time of the “sick jokes”, I was one of Tommy`s joke sources.I went with Johnny Pugh, Skid, and Eric James to see Thos William Burton Esq…VD & Scar at least twice a week…[email protected] The 3 Men In A Boat, The Vol Sunday lunchtime and at other various venues like B`north, Lower Gornal, and Trav Turley`s pub in Bilston for rehersals…the main rehersal was “how to scupper beer”… at which Stevie Dean(drummer) was even better than Tom.
They were really great days to be young.. it was hilarious.
Skid shouting “play something lively Burton”… to which he replied ” I`m blowing my balls off here”.
Later in life Judy & I used to see him @ The Vaughan Arms..
Roy`s pub in Lapley….. We`ll never forget you Tom.
you went with my uncle johnny and eric jones not james ive still got lots of cine film and an orignal steel 45 of the william tell overture
Hello Steven,
My name is Trevor and I was interested when I read the name Eric Jones and when you mentioned cine film.
I played bass guitar full-time in the Tommy Burton Combo from 1961 until late ’66 when we split up and followed our different interests.
I remember Eric and his wife Carmel very well. He was playing with the Combo when his twin sons were born. I cannot remember their names but I did wonder if you were one of them. Eric had a brother who came to see the Combo from time to time – I think his name was Ken and he played the piano in pubs and clubs. Eric had a friend called John but I do not remember a brother of that name. Eric also got me a job as a part-time van driver at Wainwright’s where he worked.
I think Eric joined the Combo sometime in ’62 but I cannot remember how that came about. At that time there had been a revival in the popularity of traditional jazz and Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk and other trad jazz band had records in the Top 20 so as the Combo played whatever was big in the charts a trumpet for trad jazz was a great addition to the band. Eric also fitted in with lots of other stuff we played.
I have to smile when I think about his cine camera. He brought it with him almost everywhere we went and when he started shooting with it he would shout, “Don’t just stand there – move about – do things!” Doing something instantly, off the cuff, is probably the reason that we look like idiots most of the time. If he liked something we did he would have us do it again.
Mac Bailey (lead guitarist with the Combo) sent me a DVD with some of Eric’s filming on and I tried to put it in chronological order as best I could remember. The Combo from that period was interesting but so were the shots of Broad Street and Wolverhampton as it used to be. I would love to see all the films you have. One event that happened to me all thanks to Eric was a flight in a small plane and I know he had his cine camera with him for that.
I hope you have found this of interest. I am not sure how this messaging system works but I would be pleased to receive a reply and perhaps we can meet.
Best regards,
Trevor.
I hadn’t heard about Tommy Burton when a poster appeared at the Three Men in a Boat (c1961) advertising his combo’s forthcoming appearance. I asked if anyone knew who he was, somebody said they knew Tommy Bird, at least that’s what it sounded like. It must have been in the 1980’s that he played at The Crown in Leamore (Bird’s Brewery) on Sundays at lunch time. He would come round for a collection, at the end, and put all the money in the Custodians Charity box on the bar. With this gesture and the fact that Tommy bore a striking resemblance to the licensee, one of the Birds, who I asked if he was related to Tommy. I guess he was just joking when he said: “You don’t think I would have him as a relative do you?” I had often wondered if they were really related, but it seems that Burton was his real name. In spite of the other local groups and musicians that made national and international fame Tommy Burton, and the Jackpots were by far the best.
I am going over to New Orleans for my 50 th Wedding anniversary , we watched Tommy over the years from the early sixties , my last memories of him where during the 80s- 90s at The Crest in Walsall , he used to say ” i’m going to New Orleans , why don’t you all come ? we could get a charabanc up with that Tommy Burton famous smile , if anyone know where Tommy played in New Orleans I would be very grateful if they could let me know.
Hi Trevor,
A blast from the past at Wednesbury College. I still have the ’45’ of I’m Walking and Lavenders Blue in the original paper cover which you autographed.
I remain convinced that my investment in a signed original recording will be a collectors item.
Good to have known you.
KP
i knew tummy when i was a little kid, he used to play at my dads dances, he had the combo then and my dad bought me my first kit of drums off mac wooley..
i’m 65 now & still remember him well, he was always round our house drinking tea..chattin to my mom & dad.
my dad used to run dances at burtons darlaston, tipton ex servicemens, the tock h, and a few more. my dad was reg payton.
i believe tom named his son after me..lee burton.
i still see reg kerle now & then at the trumpet bilston.
they were good mates..
Hello trevor I hope you had the film of mac I would love to meet up for a chat I am Eric and Carmels youngest son steven I have some small bits of film from wainwrights so if it is you I would love to give you a copy of any or all the films steven sorry for the late reply
Steven
Its fantastic to read all these comments . My dad played with Tommy during the combo days right through to the jazz scene..Dave Holmes {drummer}.
Great entertainer, and of cause my dad has many stories to tell when they where on the road….
Iv just come across this archive as looking for information about my dad. My dad played the drums for Tommy burton, To see my dad’s name mentioned in Fred ( Satan ) Ellis post is fantastic, would be great to hear from anyone who remembers my dad. His name was Steve Dean, most called him Stevie.