Brian Bennett ‘Shadowing’ John Barry

February 27, 2016

On April 9 long-time Shadows drummer Brian Bennett is to release an album of film music by British composer John Barry. Among the guest artists on the album, Mark plays on All The Time In The World, a song from the soundtrack of the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service with Hal David lyrics which became a huge hit for jazz great Louis Armstrong.

Mark, a lifelong Shadows fan, says that All The Time In The World “was one of Barry’s personal favourites. It was such a thrill to be asked to contribute to this version by Brian, one of my all-time favourite great drummers and a fine composer and arranger himself. To find myself playing a wonderful John Barry composition with Brian Bennett on drums was an unforgettable experience,” Mark adds, “For guitar aficionados, I dropped my usual style for this recording and used an old Fender Stratocaster with heavy gauge strings, playing it with a pick instead of my fingers and using the tremolo arm on the instrument to create vibrato rather than my neck hand.”

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Brendan Healy

February 21, 2016

Brendan Healy, the great North-East comedian, actor and musician who passed away on Thursday evening, was a much loved figure who will be missed by countless thousands on Tyneside and beyond. Brendan made everything he did look easy but he was a consummate professional and took his work seriously. He was a lovely, talented man and a brave one. I am proud to have known him. MK

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