Personalities | The Shadows | Fifties | Rock

(Instrumental/vocal group, 1958–present)

Formed in 1958 by Newcastle teenagers Hank B. Marvin (lead guitar) and Bruce Welch (rhythm guitar), the friends became the backbone of Cliff Richard’s backing group, The Drifters, who were joined later in 1958 by Terence ‘Jet’ Harris (bass guitar) and Tony Meehan (drums). In 1959, the group became The Shadows and continued to back Richard until 1968, when the line-up included John Rostill (bass) and Brian Bennett (drums). By this time they had accumulated 26 UK hits including five UK No. 1s, among them 1961’s ‘Kon-Tiki’, and 1962’s ‘Wonderful Land’. The Shadows have reformed spasmodically since 1974, but performed farewell tours in the twenty-first century.

Styles & Forms | Fifties | Rock
Personalities | Tommy Steele | Fifties | Rock

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley

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