Swinging 60s Cali + Memorial page
Cali-R mainly celebrates the 70's disco era of The California Ballroom but this page is to remember the fist decade of the Cali when legends like The Rolling Stones, The Who, Dusty Springfield and hundreds more all appeared there.
Friday November 14th 2008
Cali-R is putting on a special night for the swinging 60's era...
Special one off performance to celebrate his new forthcoming book, "King of the Cali"
Russ Sainty
Plus Levante
There will also be star names from the 60s pop scene attending this night.
United Services Club, High St South Dunstable
Friday November 14th - start 7.30pm
Tickets £8.50 available from September 1st. book online or
Clowns 01582 699402, or Club itself.
Together with The Book Castle, Russ will be launching his book on this very special night.
Russ has invited a few of his many friends from his long career to attend the evening.
Here is a sneak preview of what the book contains.
The legendary ‘Cali’ venue on Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire was a magnet for almost every top rock and pop act of the sixties – Tom Jones, The Hollies, The Bee Gees, The Walker Brothers, The Rolling Stones, The Searchers, Craig Douglas, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes, The Barron Knights, P.J. Proby, The Dave Clark Five, The Tornados, Lulu, The Eagles, The Byrds, Billy Fury, Dusty Springfield, The Who, Stevie Wonder...the list goes on and on.
But one performer above all was synonymous with The Cali. He was booked by Edwin Green for no less than an incredible 336 sessions up to the mid-sixties, including the magical opening night of March 12th 1960. Now that star, Russ Sainty, takes us behind the scenes to share some of his ‘Cali Happenings’. For instance, why Mick Jagger and Mel Miller almost came to blows, and why The Spotnicks came off stage with very red faces!
Away from The Cali, we hear of his prolific BBC Radio and Television appearances, and numerous attempts to achieve that elusive hit single.
He explains what happened to his backing group, The Nu-Notes, after they split, and where his own career has taken him from then up to the present day, latterly performing cabaret at venues in the South of England. Recently in 2006, along with legends like Cliff Richard, The Shadows, Wee Willie Harris and others, he was honoured by ‘The 2i’s Coffee Bar’ in London as one of British Rock ‘n Roll’s ‘Founding Fathers’.
During over 50 years in show business he has met and performed with so many other stars, and shares memorable encounters with Arthur Askey, Alma Cogan, Vera Lynn, Frank Ifield, Bobby Vee, Olivia Newton John, Bert Weedon, Matt Monroe, Eden Kane and Tommy Steele.
Russ’s story is a roller-coaster ride of triumph and disappointment, but he tells it all with truth and integrity. Life has always been fun and never predictable for the ‘King of The Cali’.
The
official ceremony to unveil the memorial sign for the
California Ballroom, took place on May 5th 2004 and
was covered by BBC Three Counties Radio and the Dunstable
Gazette.
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| This
is the memorial sign for the California Ballroom which
was erected by the council after two years of campaigning
from the Cali-r. |
The
Cali-R commemorates the California Ballroom |
Pictured
above is the original California Ballroom sign
and the new memorial sign. Also in the picture
are the Green and Ilka families with the Mayor
and Mayoress, leader of the town council and
former California Ballroom DJs. |
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| Former
California Ballroom DJs Louis Martin, Sid Hudson,
Mr H and Sixties and Seventies Ballroom Fan Jack
Saunders. |
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| The
Mayor officially opening the California Ballroom
memorial sign. |
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| Cedric
Green, son of Eddie Green who built the California
Ballroom. Thanking the people of Dunstable for remembering
his father's hard work and keeping the Cali name
alive. Cedric fully endorses the Cali-R. |
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|
Martin
Coote interviews Jack Saunders live on BBC Three
Counties Radio who along with lots of other people
were reminiscing about the old days at the Cali.
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