Post by wingsj0 on Dec 27, 2005 14:08:47 GMT
Howie Casey And The Seniors
It was a Sunday afternoon and I found myself in an interesting conversation with professional Sax player and ex WINGS member Howie Casey.
In The Army
Howie Casey musical career started way back in 1959 when he learned to play the saxophone in the army and formed Howie Casey and The Seniors. The band began to make a name for themselves throughout the city of Liverpool and performed at all the local venues including, the Jacaranda.
Jacaranda
The Jacaranda was a small coffee bar situated in the centre of Liverpool, it was a place where all the local bands would meet up to trade chords or talk about the latest records! Howie Casey and The Seniors played there on regular bases and caught the eye of its owner and ‘Booking Agent’ Allan Williams.
Alan Williams
Allan Williams booked Howie Casey And The Seniors to play a Liverpool Stadium Show with an American rock ‘n’ roll singer called Gene Vincent in May 1960. In the audience of that show was a man called Larry Parnes who was so impressed with Howie Casey and the Seniors he asked Allan Williams if he would arrange an audition for the band as he was seeking bands to back up his up and coming artist such as Billy Fury, Johnny Gentle, and Duffy Power.
After the audition Howie Casey and The Seniors were booked by Larry Parnes, to back one of his artists at a seaside resort Blackpool. Sadly the season was cancelled and Howie confronted Allan Williams who promised to take the group to London and find work for them in Hamburg
Howie fondly remembers “He took us to 2 1s coffee bar and as luck would have it the German club owner Bruno Koschminder was present and seeking bands to play at his club in Germany, called – The Kasierkeller Club. Koschminder, booked them for a season which was to start at the end of July".
Howie Casey and the Seniors found themselves working in Hamburg for a few months alongside all the Liverpoolian acts that were based out their around that time and this is where, Howie Casey and Paul McCartney paths crossed for the first time.
Howie Casey and The Seniors, season ended in Hamburg Germany in October 1960. The band tried to find other work, but on their return back to Liverpool they lost all their equipment when the building that they stored it in got burnt down.
The Beatles in The Cavern Club
Howie fondly remembers “We used to play the launch time sessions at The Cavern Club, because we were a brass band, many of the bands asked us to join them on stage. John Lennon asked us to join The Beatles many a time during their set! About this time, Pete Best was on drums, and Stuart Sutcliffe played bass. After there gigs, The Beatles used to hang out and listen to the Club’s’ resident DJ the late Bob Wooler spinning the latest disc. As he played them, the lads would learn them. On first listening I didn’t think The Beatles where anything special but when Ringo joined them I liked them and heard a different band.”
Joining Wings
"I joined Wings at the time of Band on the Run album. Paul wanted a brass section and he hired me, Steve Howard. Theadus Richard and Tony Dorsey. We played on all the hit records such as Jet, Bluebird, Banned On The Run, Silly Love Songs, and Letting Go. Etc and where hired for the Wings Over America and Australian Tours which was a fantastic experience!! They where a great line up Jimmy McCullough, Joe English ect. And we had a great time!!
Howie Casey Today
Today, Howie Casey is a music teacher and teaches the Saxophone to children and teenagers. Howie Casey recently got back to gther for a Wings reunion with ex band members Denny Laine, and all the brass section to do a show of Wings music which was held in America with Beatles Tribute Band – American English the show was a huge success all round.
Looking to the future Howie informed me that the original Wings brass section have all reunited back together recently, to record an album of songs from Wings. This album will be a tribute to their former boss Sir Paul McCartney and his band Wings, which they were employed for a part of four at least five years.
Jo Rishton with Howie Casey
Interview approved by Howie Casey (C) The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine - Issue 3
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.
It was a Sunday afternoon and I found myself in an interesting conversation with professional Sax player and ex WINGS member Howie Casey.
In The Army
Howie Casey musical career started way back in 1959 when he learned to play the saxophone in the army and formed Howie Casey and The Seniors. The band began to make a name for themselves throughout the city of Liverpool and performed at all the local venues including, the Jacaranda.
Jacaranda
The Jacaranda was a small coffee bar situated in the centre of Liverpool, it was a place where all the local bands would meet up to trade chords or talk about the latest records! Howie Casey and The Seniors played there on regular bases and caught the eye of its owner and ‘Booking Agent’ Allan Williams.
Alan Williams
Allan Williams booked Howie Casey And The Seniors to play a Liverpool Stadium Show with an American rock ‘n’ roll singer called Gene Vincent in May 1960. In the audience of that show was a man called Larry Parnes who was so impressed with Howie Casey and the Seniors he asked Allan Williams if he would arrange an audition for the band as he was seeking bands to back up his up and coming artist such as Billy Fury, Johnny Gentle, and Duffy Power.
After the audition Howie Casey and The Seniors were booked by Larry Parnes, to back one of his artists at a seaside resort Blackpool. Sadly the season was cancelled and Howie confronted Allan Williams who promised to take the group to London and find work for them in Hamburg
Howie fondly remembers “He took us to 2 1s coffee bar and as luck would have it the German club owner Bruno Koschminder was present and seeking bands to play at his club in Germany, called – The Kasierkeller Club. Koschminder, booked them for a season which was to start at the end of July".
Howie Casey and the Seniors found themselves working in Hamburg for a few months alongside all the Liverpoolian acts that were based out their around that time and this is where, Howie Casey and Paul McCartney paths crossed for the first time.
Howie Casey and The Seniors, season ended in Hamburg Germany in October 1960. The band tried to find other work, but on their return back to Liverpool they lost all their equipment when the building that they stored it in got burnt down.
The Beatles in The Cavern Club
Howie fondly remembers “We used to play the launch time sessions at The Cavern Club, because we were a brass band, many of the bands asked us to join them on stage. John Lennon asked us to join The Beatles many a time during their set! About this time, Pete Best was on drums, and Stuart Sutcliffe played bass. After there gigs, The Beatles used to hang out and listen to the Club’s’ resident DJ the late Bob Wooler spinning the latest disc. As he played them, the lads would learn them. On first listening I didn’t think The Beatles where anything special but when Ringo joined them I liked them and heard a different band.”
Joining Wings
"I joined Wings at the time of Band on the Run album. Paul wanted a brass section and he hired me, Steve Howard. Theadus Richard and Tony Dorsey. We played on all the hit records such as Jet, Bluebird, Banned On The Run, Silly Love Songs, and Letting Go. Etc and where hired for the Wings Over America and Australian Tours which was a fantastic experience!! They where a great line up Jimmy McCullough, Joe English ect. And we had a great time!!
Howie Casey Today
Today, Howie Casey is a music teacher and teaches the Saxophone to children and teenagers. Howie Casey recently got back to gther for a Wings reunion with ex band members Denny Laine, and all the brass section to do a show of Wings music which was held in America with Beatles Tribute Band – American English the show was a huge success all round.
Looking to the future Howie informed me that the original Wings brass section have all reunited back together recently, to record an album of songs from Wings. This album will be a tribute to their former boss Sir Paul McCartney and his band Wings, which they were employed for a part of four at least five years.
Jo Rishton with Howie Casey
Interview approved by Howie Casey (C) The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine - Issue 3
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.