THE KESTRELS ( 50's UK Doo Wop )

White group from Bristol in England started  about 1956 when three schoolmates Tony Burrows, Roger Greenaway and Roger Maggs singing as a skiffle group know as Johnny Rebs, when they add Jeff Williams singing as a vocal group under the name of The Beltones or the Hi-Fi's.

In 1958 participe in a local talent competition and won to appear on to Carroll Levis's TV show but under the new name of the Kestrels (by the Kestrel pencil, co), this appearance led to their first recording on Donegall records in 1958 with a Ep with the songs_Be My Girl / I Like Your Kind Of Love / We Were Wrong / Down By The Riverside.

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Without success they signed with Pye records (a big record company in England) who in November, 1959 released_In The Chapel In The Moonlight / There Comes A Time. the disc play in all England and part of Luxembourg and reach a Top 30 in December 1959 and January' 60 ( this disc was released in 1960 in the U.S. by Laurie records).

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Their next single in February of 1960 have the Fireflie's song_I Can't Say Goodbaye. with an update of Magg's tune_We Were Wrong. the B side a nice doo wop ballad have a big acceptacion but the disc failed on the sales and the group was destined to backup works with Pye's artists as Billy Fury or Marty Wilde.

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In March of 1961 Decca records released_Sound Off (Duckworth's Chant) / Can't Say That I Do. as the Four Kestrels followed  in September by_All These Things / That's It. as the Kestrels.

In June 1962 moved to Pye's subsidiary label where released_Wolverton Mountain / Little Sacka Sugar. the A side send the group a the radio, TV shows and local clubs.

After this recording Roger Maggs left and was replaced by Peter Gullane, now the group working with singer Lonnie Donegan with who recorded songs as_Noah Found Grace In The Eyes Of The Lord / Good News, Chariot's A-Comin / Keep On The Sunny Side / Pick A Bale Of Cotton / This Train.

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Their own next release was in October 1962 with_Don't Want To Cry / Love Me With All Your Heart (Quando Calienta El Sol). failed but their next side in January 1963_Walk Right In b/w_Moving Up The King's Highway. a folk sound-a-like made a UK Top 10 and the group change their sound of a popish doo wop to a folk sound.

In May 1963 the Kestrels toured with Helen Shapiro and the Beatles and Lennon & McCartney even suggested the group recorded one of their songs_There's A Place. with the B side_Little Star. (not the Elegant's song) but when the Beatles recorded the same song the Kestrel's "version" died soon.

In 1963 Piccadilly released an album "Smash Hits from The Kestrels" with the songs_ Island Of Dreams / Michael, Row The Boat Ashore / Please, Please Me / Rhythm Of The Rain / Sherry / Speedy Gonzales / Walk Like A Man / When I Fall In Love / Will You Love Me Tomorrow.

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In September 1963 Piccadilly released one new song of the group_Lazy River. with the know side_Love Me With All Your Heart (Quando Calienta El Sol). followed in December by the Drifter's side_Dance With Me b/w_I Want You. with bad sales the group never recorded again and disbanded in 1965.

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Complete Bio at; http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-kestrels-mn0000096616

Kestrel's Facebook page at; https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kestrels/140215952687221

The group have the unreleased side_Don't Take The Stars.

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Roger Greenway and Roger Cook have a nº 1 as song writters with the Fortunes side_You've Got Your Troubles. Tony Burrows was the lead singer of the Ivy League. many countries make discs of the group with different picture sleeves (below one from Spain)...