Hawkes Entertainment Group

The Swinging Blue Jeans

The Blue Genes were formed as a semi-pro band in 1959, eventually changing their name to The Swinging Blue Jeans and turning professional in 1962.

 

Following a number of successful resident engagements at such famous Liverpool clubs as the Mardi Gras and The Cavern, The Jeans were offered resident seasons at the Star Club in Hamburg alongside such Liverpool groups as The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Searchers and Merseybeats.

 

In 1963, The Swinging Blue Jeans blasted their way into the charts with “Hippy Hippy Shake”, which resulted in them appearing on the very first show of the long running BBC Television series “Top Of The Pops”.  Due to the incredible international success of “Hippy, Hippy Hippy Shake”, The Jeans were featured on every major pop TV show in Great Britain, Scandinavia and Europe.  They also featured in no less than 3 feature films.

 

Hit singles were the norm.  “Good Golly Miss Molly”, “You’re No Good”, “Don’t Make Me Over” and “It’s Too Late Now” were all chart successes.  Mixed in with the hit singles were two hit albums, “Blue Jeans A Swinging” and “Swinging Blue Jeans At The Cascade”.  The Swinging Blue Jeans are still one of the most popular of the authentic 60’s bands.  Their annual tour commitments have included such countries as Germany, Australia, Sweden, Spain, Norway, New Zealand, Denmark, Holland, Ireland, Poland, Canada, USA and of course, Great Britain.

 

1994 was a particularly exciting year for The Blue Jeans.  A major sell-out tour with Gerry & The Pacemakers and Helen Shapiro during the spring was followed by a highly successful season at Windsor Golf & Country Club in Kenya.  A tour with The Searchers, Billy J. Kramer & The Merseybeats in the autumn rounded off a busy year to perfection. 

 

This brings us up to 2010.  The Swinging Blue Jeans have another Solid Silver 60’s Tour coming up with The Troggs, Dave Berry, Mike Pender (Searchers), Brian Poole and Peter Starstedt.  Original front man Ray Ennis will retire in June 2010 after 52 years in the business.  Alan Lovell, who has been with the SBJ for many years, will carry on with leadership of the band.  The new line up as of June 2010 will be:

 

Alan Lovell - Lead Vocals & Guitar

Peter Oakman - Bass & Vocals

Jeff Bannister - Keyboards & Vocals

Graham Hollinworth - Drums & Vocals

All members of The Swinging Blue Jeans were raised on the excitement of Rock & Roll and The Swinging Sixties, and it’s that type of background that remains in their live stage act.  When you see and hear them, you will feel that excitement and understand what the 60’s were all about.  It’s an experience that will reach out and touch you!

Hippy Hippy Shake

Don't Make Me Over

For Bookings:

Please contact me at Hawkes-Entertainment-Group@comcast.net or via the contact page of this site.

Thank you!