The Nashville Teens

The Nashville Teens

The Nashville Teens are a British classic pop and rock group from Weybridge, United Kingdom, formed in 1962 and active since then. The best-known line-up centres on singer Ray Phillips and singer Arthur Sharp, alongside musicians who pass through the group over time, including John Hawken, Mick Dunford, Pete Harris, Dave Maine, Pete Shannon, Roger Groome, Terry Crowe, John Allen and Barry Jenkins. The current line-up includes Ray Phillips, Adrian Metcalfe, Colin Pattenden, Simon Spratley and Ken Osborn.

Early line-ups and formation

Arthur Sharp begins his music career as manager of Aerco Records in Woking, Surrey. The later “Mark II” line-up includes Sharp and Phillips, with former Cruisers Rock Combo members John Hawken on piano, Mick Dunford on guitar, Pete Harris on bass and Dave Maine on drums. Pete Shannon joins on guitar, and Roger Groome later replaces Maine. In 1963, Terry Crowe joins briefly, and later that year Dunford and Groome leave and are replaced by John Allen and Barry Jenkins.

Recordings and chart success

The group backs Jerry Lee Lewis while playing in Hamburg, contributing to the album Jerry Lee Lewis Live at the Star Club. They also back Carl Perkins on “Big Bad Blues” and perform with Bo Diddley. Their debut single is “Tobacco Road”, produced by Mickie Most and released in 1964; it reaches number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in the United States. The follow-up, “Google Eye”, reaches number 10 in the UK. Further charting singles include “Find My Way Back Home”, “This Little Bird” and “The Hard Way”. Later singles include “I Know How It Feels To Be Loved”, “Forbidden Fruit” and “That’s My Woman”, which do not chart. In 1971 the band releases “Ella James”, a Roy Wood song, on Parlophone.

Film and later history

The Nashville Teens appear in the 1965 film Be My Guest. Their record producers include Andrew Loog Oldham and Shel Talmy. Barry Jenkins leaves in 1966 to join the Animals and is replaced by Roger Groome. Arthur Sharp leaves in 1972 to join Don Arden, who had previously managed the band. Despite Phillips’ efforts, the group splits in 1973. They reform in 1980 with Phillips as the only familiar member, joined by Peter Agate, Len Surtes and Adrian Metcalf, and continue performing.