Tommy Quickly

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Tommy Quickly
Birth nameThomas Quigley
Born (1945-07-07) 7 July 1945 (age 78)
Norris Green, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Genres Pop music
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1962–1966
Labels Piccadilly, Pye
Formerly of The Remo Four

Tommy Quickly (born Thomas Quigley, 7 July 1945) is an English rock and roll singer who recorded mostly in the early 1960s. He was a later signing of artist manager Brian Epstein, whose biggest act was the Beatles. He was born to Patrick Quigley and Dorothy Gower. He is the twin brother of Patricia Quigley.

Contents

Professional career

Spotted as the vocalist with local group the Challengers, Epstein liked Quigley but not the band, suggesting first a name change (to "Tommy Quickly and the Stops"), then pairing him instead with the Remo Four. [1] The next change was in song selection; while Quickly's voice was best suited to rhythm and blues, Epstein steered him toward pop songs, starting with his first single, "Tip of My Tongue", written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the Beatles. [1] He then made the usual round of appearances on stage and in public, and was promoted by Epstein as part of his NEMS Enterprises artist stable. [1]

"Tip of My Tongue" was a flop, as were his next four singles. His fifth single, "Wild Side of Life", made the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, [1] spending eight weeks there. [2] Quickly was offered the Lennon–McCartney song "No Reply", but when he failed to issue it, the Beatles took it back and recorded it themselves. Described as young, naive and impulsive, and seemingly overwhelmed with matters since parting with the Challengers, Quickly was ill-prepared for the spotlight.[ citation needed ] When follow-up hits did not materialise, and with manager Epstein unable to push him further, Quickly retired from the music industry in 1965, [1] and for a short time hosted a British variety show for under-twelves, The Five O'Clock Club, his last appearance on the show and in any sort of spotlight being in January 1966. Later that year he spent tıme in Walton Hospital, Liverpool, suffering from a breakdown.[ citation needed ]

Tommy Quickly and the Remo Four can be seen performing "Humpty Dumpty" in the 1965 film Pop Gear (released in the United States as Go Go Mania).

Singles

Tommy Quickly is portrayed by British actor Andrew Gower in the 2020 independent short film, Humpty Fu*king Dumpty, which depicts Quckly's mental breakdown after his career failed. The film was written and directed by Stephen Walters, and released on 8 May 2020 on their official website HumptyFilm.com.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 363. ISBN   0-7535-0149-X.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 446. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  3. https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Disc/1963/DISC-1963-07-20.pdf Disc 20 July, 1963