The_Mudlarks
The Mudlarks were an English pop vocal group of the late 1950s and early 1960s.[1] They had two Top 10 UK hit singles in 1958.[2]
The Mudlarks | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Luton, Bedfordshire, England |
| Genres | Pop music |
| Labels | EMI |
| Past members | Jeff Mudd Fred Mudd Mary Mudd David Lane |
The Mudlarks were a family group from Luton, Bedfordshire, England,[1] originally comprising Fred Mudd (1933–2007), Jeff Mudd (born 1936),[3] and Mary Mudd (born 1938).[4] According to press releases at the time, they all had jobs at the Vauxhall motor plant in Luton, and spent their spare time singing together.[4] In 1958, they attracted the attention of BBC Radio music presenter David Jacobs,[1] who won them an appearance on the Six-Five Special TV show, and a recording contract with EMI's Columbia label.[4]
The Mudlarks' first release, "Mutual Admiration Society", was unsuccessful but their second, a cover of the American novelty song "Lollipop", originally recorded by the duo Ronald and Ruby, and more successfully by The Chordettes, rose to No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart.[2][4] They followed this with another UK Top 10 hit, a cover of The Monotones' "Book of Love".[2][4] At the end of 1958, The Mudlarks were voted top British vocal group by readers of the New Musical Express.[4] Jeff Mudd then left the group as he was called to do National Service.[1] He was replaced by David Lane (born David Burgess, 1938 – 2010), a compere and entertainer on the Manchester club circuit. The Mudlarks continued to release records until 1964, but had only one more hit – "The Love Game", a No. 30 hit in 1959.[2]
Fred Mudd married Leila Williams,[3] who was Miss Great Britain in 1957 and from 1958 until 1962 co-hosted the BBC children's programme Blue Peter. He died in Marbella, Spain in 2007,[3] leaving a widow, daughter and three grandsons.
In 1962, Mary Mudd and David Lane married in Newton Abbot. Lane died at his home in Hattersley in 2010; he had cancer for eight years previously.[5]
Jeff Mudd married Hazel Dixon in 1962; he now lives in Cornwall.
- Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 301. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 382. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2007 January to June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- "The Mudlarks". 45-rpm.org.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- Malyon, Mike (25 July 2016). Seems Like a Nice Boy: The Story of Larry Grayson's Rise to Stardom. Andrews UK Limited. ISBN 9781911476016 – via Google Books.