Who were Paul Dean and the Clansmen - a 60s beat-group Any connections to Paul Nicholas?

Answer 1

Paul Dean (Real name Philip Darryl Core) was a singer from Liverpool who, for a short time, in 1965, was backed by a beat group from the Merseyside area, named The Clansmen

The Clansmen at the time comprised of group members:- Dave (Rossi) Rosbotham - Bass Guitar and vocals, Dave Walker - Lead guitar and vocals, Eric Iddon - Drums and Ian (Dino) Collier - Keyboards.

The group was formed in 1962 with Dave Rossi on Lead guitar and vocals, Ray Bradshaw on Bass Guitar, Ian Collier on piano, Eric Iddon on drums and Edgar Walsh on rhythm guitar and vocals.

Edgar left the group in early 1963 to be replaced by Dave Walker from another Mersey group "The Banshees". Ray left in early '64 and Dave Rossi swapped to Bass Guitar with the group continuing as a four piece.

It was this line-up that went on to gain a considerable fan base, mainly in the Lancashire and Greater Manchester areas.

Paul Dean was classicaly trained, but had decided to try his hand as a pop singer.

At the time of his association with The Clansmen, he was being mentored by a songwriter / talent scout named Ralph Bowdler who was looking for a group to back his protege.

Ralph had heard a demo record that had been recorded by the group and contacted them with a view to a possible collaboration and potential recording contract.

This in turn led to various gigs being performed by Paul and The Clansmen over a short period but it was mutually agreed that this was not an ideal liaison as the Clansmen were really into Rock and Blues Music and Paul Dean's style was not really to their taste.

Paul and the Clansmen went their separate ways and Paul subsequently split with Ralph Bowdler, changed his name to David Garrick and went on to have a couple of minor hits in the UK, the most notable of which was a little ditty called "Dear Mrs Appleby".

Ralph then took The Clansmen under his wing and arranged for Demo records to be sent to various recording companies but by this time the Merseybeat bubble had well and truly burst and all came to nothing. The Clansmen continued until mid 1966 but then went their separate ways.

David Garrick has spent the intervening years performing and recording in Mainland Europe.

There is no connection whatsoever to Paul Nicholas