Bobby Elliott
| Bobby Elliott | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert Hartley Elliott |
| Born | 8 December 1941 Burnley, Lancashire, England |
| Genres | Rock |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Associated acts | The Hollies |
| Website | http://www.hollies.co.uk |
Robert Hartley "Bobby" Elliott (born 8 December 1941) is an English rock drummer, best known for playing with The Hollies, who has been described as "one of the very finest drummers in all of pop/rock".
Elliott discovered jazz music when he was 10 or 11 and wanted to become a drummer. He attended Nelson Grammar School, but is a self-taught drummer, who learnt to drum with home-made brushes and sticks, on tins and other household items, by copying Chico Hamilton of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet and Gene Krupa of the Benny Goodman Orchestra.
Elliott was an original member of Johnny Theakstone and The Tremolos, who formed in 1959. Fronted by the vocalist Johnny Theakstone, Elliott drummed alongside guitarists Jerry Wilcox and Mick Hay, and bassist William "Bonny" Oliver. In late 1960 they sent a demo tape to BBC Radio's Saturday Club, calling themselves Shane Fenton & The Fentones, but Theakstone died before they received a reply. Having been offered an audition, the band's roadie Bernard Jewry (later known as Alvin Stardust), stepped in as vocalist, adopting the stage name Shane Fenton at Theakstone's mother's request.
Tommy Sanderson became their manager, and negotiated a record deal with EMI who released "I'm a Moody Guy", which reached 19 on the UK singles chart. The next three singles failed to chart, "Cindy's Birthday" was then a minor hit, before the following three singles also flopped, and the band broke up in April 1963.
Elliott also played in Ricky Shaw and the Dolphins, a Manchester band led by guitarist Tony Hicks who left to join The Hollies in April 1963. Shortly after, the Hollies drummer Don Rathbone left and Elliott also joined the Hollies, whilst Jewry and Sanderson became the band's joint managers.
As of 2013 Elliott still plays with the Hollies, and has recorded with almost no other band since 1963.
Prominent drummers who were influenced by Elliott include Gilson Lavis, Ric Lee, Cozy Powell and Ian Paice.
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