Shakin' All Over

 

Gene Rockwell & The Falcons

Shakin' All Over

From "The Many Faces Of Gene Rockwell", album issued by Gallotone Records (South Africa) in 1965.

Gene Rockwell was born Gert Smit in 1944 in the town of Krugersdorp in the Transvaal province of South Africa.

He won his first talent competition at the age of 15, in Durban's "Little Top". Still in his teens, Gene formed The Blue Angels, later to become The Falcons, in 1963, with whom he played guitar and sang his famous gritty-blues-style songs. The original line up of the Falcons were George Usher (lead guitar), Jannie Heynes (bass guitar), Clive Swegman (rhythm guitar), Frank Rickson (drums). They played many packed out shows, becoming a staple of the dance scene in South Africa, particularly Durban. 

He died at the age of 53 years, on July 3, 1998.

So Glad You're Mine

Sharon Tandy
1943-2015

So Glad You're Mine

From her album "Sharon Loves You Know Who?" released in 1962 on Gallotone Records in South Africa.

I was born Sharon Finkelstein in Johannesburg in 1943. I came from an eccentric family. I was totally unspoiled. But I was a very naughty and rebellious child, because of my upbrigning.  My first love was Elvis I remember going to see Jailhouse Rock thirteen times, I used to pull my hair out and get really excited. It did seem like we were detached from the rest of the world, so we grabbed what we could. I also loved Little Richard and do to this day. [from the Big Beat CD booklet, notes edited]

Sharon cut a dozen singles between 1962-1964 - all for the Continental and Gallo labels, before moving to England in 1964 at the suggestion of Frank Fenter, head of Atlantic Records in UK, whom she later married.

For more info, you can read the extensive sleeve notes of her CD album published by Big Beat Records HERE

Sharon Tandy passed away on 22 March 2015, aged 71, London, United Kingdom.