| The Temperance Seven |
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| CATEGORIES ABOUT THE TEMPERANCE SEVEN | |
| 1960s music groups | |
| temperance seven, the | |
| comedy musicians | |
| english musical groups | |
| musical groups established in 1957 | |
| parlophone artists | |
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CAREER The Temperance Seven were founded at Christmas 1955 although it has been alleged they first "saw the light" in the Pasadena Cocoa Rooms, Ballspond Road, North London, in 1904. The three founder members were Paul McDowell who originally played trombone, Philip Harrison (originally played banjo) and Brian Innes. Gradually the band evolved into a nine-piece ensemble with a light-hearted and humorous style although they were all serious musicians. The name "Temperance Seven" was a subtle play on words — the number seven being "one under the eight". That there were nine members or "one over the eight" implied intemperance. It was in 1961 that the Temperance Seven achieved national fame with the Number 1 Hit "You're Driving Me Crazy" which was Produced by George Martin , quickly followed by "Pasadena" which reached No 4 in the charts. They toured Britain widely that year and their performances acquired a set routine beginning with the last few bars of "Pasadena" (which became their signature tune) and ending with the stirring strains of the " Gaumont-British News ". By the summer of 1961 their fame was such that they appeared at the London Palladium . During this memorable performance, when opening with the first few bars of "Pasadena" the band members seemed distracted and uneasy — there were only eight of them on stage. It had been rumoured by the host — Bruce Forsyth — that there had been a dressing room fall-out with vocalist Paul MacDowell. Just as the band reached the point of the vocal, a cloud of smoke saw a megaphone-wielding MacDowell propelled upwards via a trapdoor, to begin his refrain bang on cue. The audience were mesmerised only to be further caught out by Pasadena's legendary double false-ending. The Temperance Seven came to popularity during the resurgent Jazz era of the early 1960s. Their unique sound, coupled with their brilliant musicianship and ingeniously humorous compositions, set them apart from their contemporaries. However, they arrived at the cusp of that era and as popular tastes changed with the emergence of Elvis and The Beatles , the Temperance Seven gradually slipped into obscurity although the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band attempted to wear their mantle for several years whilst claiming no affiliation. The original Temperance Seven were dissolved in the late 1960s, but the band continues to perform with new personnel. From time to time original members make guest appearances. Many members of the original band reunited for a BBC Radio programme about the group in 2003. MEMBERS The Temperance Seven dressed in a manner appropriate to the style of music they played. Some members also went under preposterous Pseudonym s emphasised by the wearing of a minor yet conspicuous item of clothing — Colin Bowles a dog-collar and John R. T. Davies a fez. "Josef Kronk", who supposedly arranged "The Temperance Seven 1961" LP, is the collective pseudonym for the band. A partial "early" line-up includes:
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY Singles
EPs
Albums
Other appearances The Temperance Seven also appear on:
FILMOGRAPHY
SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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