London Rock 'n' Roll Festival 2008: Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Wanda Jackson, Jack Scott, Linda Gail Lewis, Frankie Ford, Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers, Mike Sanchez, Forum, London, October 28 and November 8th and 20th

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
	JERRY LEE LEWIS Nicknamed “the Killer”, Jerry Lee Lewis established himself as a major rockabilly star on Sun Records with ‘Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On’, ‘Great Balls of Fire’, and ‘Breathless’, all Top Ten hits in 1957 and '58. His rhythmically assured and versatile piano style was influenced by church music and by country and rhythm & blues musicans. He captivated legions of fans with his flamboyant attitude and unpredictable, charismatic showmanship in stage, television, and film appearances. His blond hair falling in his face, he exhibited seemingly boundless energy and a menacing sexuality while carrying out various stage antics: standing on the piano, playing it with arms and feet, kicking over the stool, even lighting the instrument on fire.The subject of biographies, documentaries, and a major Hollywood film, Lewis's life was punctuated by erratic behaviour, alcohol and drug problems, bouts of ill health, tax debts, wild escapades, and six marriages. His talent, persistence, longevity, and huge legacy of recordings, however, guarantee his place among rock music's royalty.
	LITTLE RICHARD Exploding into world consciousness in the mid-1950s..."awop-bop-a-loo-mop-alop-bam-boom"… Little Richard just about laid the foundation and established the rules for a new musical form: rock and roll. Born and raised in Macon, Georgia, the third of twelve children, Richard Wayne Penniman began singing in his local church choir while still a youngster. Whilst washing dishes in a Greyhound bus station, Richard sent a demo tape to Specialty Records. The song, ‘Tutti Frutti’ was his catalyst for success and led to an uninterrupted run of smash hits, including ‘Long Tall Sally’, ‘Rip It Up’, ‘Lucille’, ‘Jenny Jenny’, ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and launched into a virtual non-stop schedule, encompassing recording, television, films, soundtracks, commercials and live shows. Driven by an incredible, hard-to-match energy which lends credence to his ‘wild man of rock ’n’ roll’ image, Richard continues to tour extensively, delighting audiences with his unique blend of music and humour. This is Little Richard's only UK show and will be with his full 8-piece band.
	JACK SCOTT ...lived the American Dream. Scott was born in Canada, raised in Detroit, an Italian hillbilly who worshipped Hank Williams, and became a rock and roll star. Not well known among casual mainstream oldies listeners, Jack Scott had more chart records than Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent combined. His hits included. Jack's most enduring song may well be "The Way I Walk." The song was recorded early in the so called "punk" or "new wave" "return to the basics" movement of the late 70's by Robert Gordon (1978) and The Cramps (1979). Gordon's version was most recently featured in the movie "Natural Born Killers" although, unfortunately, it is not included in the soundtrack album.
	WANDA JACKSON There are great singers and there are great entertainers: ‘Queen of Rockabilly’ Wanda Jackson is both and her shows are energy-packed. On one tour in France she was billed as ‘Hurricane Wanda’ and she did not disappoint them. The Japanese took a super liking in 1959 to one of her rockin’ songs, ‘Fujiyama Mama’ and made it their #1 song for six months. She has been nominated for the best Femal Singer Grammy twice and has been inducted into The International Hall of Fame, The Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She recorded for Decca Records for in 1954-55, and for Capitol Records from 1956-1973 and had a pile of hits, including ‘Right Or Wrong’, ‘Let’s Have A Party’ and ‘In The Middle Of A Heartache’. In 2008, Wanda is having a ball and singing just as good as ever! This is her only UK performance this year.
	FRANKIE FORD ...sang his way to rock n' roll immortality in 1959 with the mega hit ‘Sea Cruise’. That song has become one of the greatest rock n' roll classics of all time and the tag line, ‘OOH-WEE, OOH-WEE, BABY’ is one of the most recognizable lines in all of popular music. Born on August 4, 1939, Frankie studied singing and dancing and first appeared on stage aged 5. A member of the Syncopators, one night after a local gig, Frankie was introduced to Joe Caronna, New Orleans distributor for Ace Records. The result was an Ace Records' session and Frankie's first hit,’Cheatin’ Woman’. ‘Sea Cruise’ was the follow-up and the rest is musical history! Frankie's other hits on Ace Records include ‘Alimony’, ‘Time After Time’, ‘I Want To Be Your Man’ and What’s Going On?’. ‘Sea Cruise’ etched Frankie's name in rock n' roll and R&B history, but the story doesn't end there. It has been used to advertise Diet Coke and Sprite, Coors Light Beer on radio and TV commercials and is featured in countless movies. Frankie Ford... The Legend Continues. Frankie is flying in especially to play for us tonight. ‘OOH-WEE, OOH-WEE, BABY’!!!
	LITTLE WILLIE LITTLEFIELD Texan piano legend Littlefield began his career as a recording artist in 1949 at the age of 16. His first recording, ‘Little Willie's Boogie’, was a hit in Texas. Word reached the Bihari brothers (owners of the Modern label in LA) about a teenage wonderboy pianist breaking up at the El Dorado Ballroom. Before leaving Houston, Jules Bihari had already inked a contract and recorded Littlefield's first side "It's Midnight", which was a big hit (peaked at 3) in the US national charts. He was an overnight sensation and ove rthe coming decades scored plenty more hits, including ‘Farewell’, ‘I've Been Lost’’, the original version of ‘Kansas City’ (originally titled ‘K.C.Loving’) and ‘Ruby Ruby’. For red-hot Texas boohie-woogie, look no further! UK exclusive!
	LINDA GAIL LEWIS Younger sister of Jerry Lee Lewis, Linda Gail Lewis has proven she has what it takes to hold her own alongside two of the most talented and notoriously difficult figures in popular music. Barely in her teens when she surfaced in the early 1960s, she first accompanied her older brother; four decades later, Lewis has given her career new momentum by forming a musical partnership with Van Morrison. She has recorded on her own, but Lewis built her reputation primarily through her association with her brother. She opened shows and sang backing vocals for "The Killer" on tours throughout most of the '60s and '70s. Then, stepping out of Jerry Lee's shadow, Linda Gail Lewis dusted off piano-boogie skills she learned from him and set out as a solo artist, performing in Memphis and touring nationally and internationally to great acclaim.
	CRAZY CAVAN & THE RHYTHM ROCKERS Unassailable Kings of the Teds, Crazy Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers formed in 1964 when leader Cavan Grogan, Lyndon Needs, Terry Walley and Gerald Bishop formed "Screamin' Count Dracula & the Vampires" in Newport, South Wales. Before they started writing their own material they were a cover band, igniting the Welsh valleys with the sounds of Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent and Johnny Burnette. By 1968, Cavan, Needs and Walley and been joined by piano player Brian Thomas and bass player Don Kinsella and become known as "The Sundogs". Two years later Mike Coffey joined the ranks and they finally became "Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers". Apart from the introduction of Steve Vincent, the line-up has stayed pretty regular ever since. The touring started to become more serious and the band were developing quite a name on the rocking scene with their high energy Crazy Rhythm, a sound that became almost as familiar as Johnny Cash's boom-chicka-boom.
	MIKE SANCHEZ Whenever British boogie-woogie and blues pianists are talked about, two names spring to mind – Mike Sanchez and Jools Holland – and there’s no doubt which is the better and most exciting musician! The former leader of the renowned Big Town Playboys, Sanchez now has one of the best bands in the business and he has carved out a name for himself throughout the UK and Europe with his blistering rock ‘n’ roll, boogie-woogie and rhythm & blues. This is the man Bill Wyman calls on whenever he needs a piano-player…
	DIZ & THE DOORMEN ...were the best of a great crop of British bands making amazingly good rock’n’roll out of classic American dance music in the 1970s. Diz Watson, born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, began on piano with boogie woogie and, after his family returned to Yorkshire, found himself close to blues legend, and by then Halifax resident, Champion Jack Dupree, who was Diz’s idol at that time. Diz moved to London in the early 1970s and joined Juice On The Loose before forming his own band, Diz & The Doormen, named after the commissionaires’ uniforms the band picked up at a posh London hotel. After that came recordings with Fats Domino hornmen Roger Lewis, Walter Kimble and Lee Allen, tours with Dr. John and Chas’n’Dave, the sessions with Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry and Big Jay McNeely, and so on. Now back with his own individual, playful and robust take on the New Orleans Rhumba Boogie.
	DARRYL HIGHAM & THE ENFORCERS With fifteen solo albums to his credit, Darryl is now receiving critical acclaim within the roots music scene, as well as gaining support from a much wider audience - outside the confines of rock 'n' roll - through his ability to mix country, rockabilly, '60s pop and blues. Plus, as a session guitarist he has worked with a number of American and British rock 'n' roll and rockabilly legends, from the 1950s up to the present, including Billy Lee Riley, Glen Glenn, Alvis Wayne, Rocky & Billy Burnette, Don & Dewey, Roc LaRue, Terry Noland, Merrill E. Moore, Sonny Burgess, Vernon Taylor, Linda Gail Lewis, Slim Jim Phantom, Dave Phillips, Johnny Carroll, Screamin' Lord Sutch, Shakin' Stevens (as guitarist on the 1999 UK tour), and Wee Willie Harris. Darrel has also worked in the West End, playing guitar and portraying 50's rock legend Eddie Cochran for the revival of Jack Good's Elvis The Musical. This led to his own show touring the country at various national theatres. Darrel Higham, and his backing band - The Enforcers, further sealed their reputation as the UK's finest exponent of Rock 'n' Roll/Rockabilly when they were asked to provide the evening's entertainment for Stella McCartney's wedding. Even her Dad enjoyed the lads music, so much so Sir Paul joined them onstage for a couple of numbers!

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