Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys


Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys were a British rock and roll band, led by Colin Hicks, the younger brother of singer Tommy Steele.

Career

In November 1957, the British music magazine, NME, reported that Steele's manager, Larry Parnes had signed up Hicks, and that Hicks would undertake a ten-week variety tour with Marty Wilde. In March the following year, the same source stated that Hicks and Wilde were fulfilling contracted dates, left after Terry Dene had been diagnosed as unfit to continue touring. In 1958 they had some television appearances, and a recording contract with Pye Records, and released a few singles with the label. However, he did not achieve the same level of success as his brother.
In 1959 they appeared in the Italian film, Europe By Night, with the song "Giddy Up a Ding Dong" that became a hit for them in Italy and resulted in an invitation to tour there. They became popular there and recorded several singles for the Broadway label in Italy.
In the early 1960s just before a concert in Torino, Hicks became ill and lost his voice, and his backing group at the time consisting of Shel Shapiro, Johnny Charlton, Bobby Posner and Mike Shepstone were persuaded by a manager in Italy to sever ties with Hicks which they did. They then became The Rokes, and started playing behind the Italian female singer Rita Pavone. However they were signed to RCA Italiana on their own and debuted with a single, a cover version of "Shake, Rattle and Roll".
They also hold a distinction of being the first foreign rock band to play in a socialist state.

Former personnel

Note: One line-up of the Cabin Boys evolved into a group called Nero & the Gladiators

Discography

Singles

Pye
Broadway International