Southport Rhythm Club

04/01/08 

Since I sent you an email re Frank Wilson I have found, after much searching, a photo of Frank Wilson taken about 1948 at the Southport Rhythm Club. Perhaps you may wish to put the photo of Frank on your web site. 

Frank played in and around the Southport area with Dave Wilson’s Dixielanders, Dave was no relation to Frank, they were an outstanding band, in that era most of the gigs were dances etc, they also had a regular gig at the old Southport Pier Pavilion, it is possible that they were one of the first bands to play jazz in that style.

John Chilton's Who’s Who of British Jazz states the band was formed in the early 40s and played Manchester Rhythm Club in 1943. Frank will be 85 in 2008. He was playing very well last year in London.

Eric Lister lived in Southport for many years and I remember him well, I cannot remember were I heard him playing apart from the Southport Rhythm Club, which I helped run along with 5 others including Eric Moonman who later became an MP.

I do hope the old programme from Manchester Jazz Club will be of some interest. - Alan Grubb, IOM