It was during the late sixties that Byron bought, most unusually, a Selmer Clavioline. This instrument is a small keyboard that years ago were fitted below the keys of a piano. It can only produce single notes and cannot produce a cord. Why buy this then? In 1962 the Tornados produced their hit Telstar and this was the sound Byron wanted to achieve.

Around 1965 five young men put a wooden shed in the back garden and an 8’ x 6’ studio was born. The lads decided on a name, ‘The Maylegends’ and to begin with most of the songs were three cords only. They then thought about adding instrumentals so that the lead singer could get the drinks in. As every other group were doing Shadows material they decided to do Tornado material. Having bought the sheet music for Telstar the group then realized that new cords would have to be discovered as Telstar was in B flat and just did not sound right in the key of C major.

MAYLEGENDS 1968. L - R Bass Rowley (drums), Byron Elwell (Clavioline), Lenny Worrall (lead singer) why did he have his coat on his head?, Ian Sanders (rhythm guitar), Geoff Meakin (lead guitar), and late comer Gary Tudor (bass).

Bert Weedons, ‘Play in a Day’ book was passed round and everyone wondered why composer Joe Meek had to use cords like Bb, Gm, Cm etc when there were good old major keys like C major. In the end Joe was right and the key of Bb was used on Robot. It must have been at this stage that the other group members wished they had chosen a lead guitarist and stuck to Apache.

Percussion Corner

Later members of The Maylegends were,

Keith Otterwell (lead singer). Like Lenny, Keith was an excellant singer and added his own style to the group.

Colin Eyre (rhythm guitar).

One or two passed through but I do not remember their names.

For three years the Maylegends hit the road in a £50 Austin J2 minibus and it wasn’t till later that we realised how much better a van was with tread on the tyres!! Married in 1969 to Brenda, the Maylegends continued till later that year. After finishing with the group, Byron sold his clavioline for £10 (any chance of having it back please) and that was it for the music scene.

Around 1970 the music patch had worn off so Byron went out and bought a Vox Continental organ, (panic, this played cords). Using car spray aerosols to smarten it up just about destroyed anything plastic on the keyboard. Also on the Vox the key colours are opposite to any other organ so sharps and flats are white, others black. Quite a problem if you are following keyboard tuition books.

Clavioline

During 1970, Byron met up with David Knowles who had recorded for record producer Joe Meek in the sixties and Dave was lead singer with the very successful, Dave Kaye and the Dykons whose manager was Albert Hand of Heanor, Derbyshire who ran the magazine Elvis Monthly. Having been asked to join, Byron took his special edition Ford blue metallic Vox organ and shared a reliable Vox AC30 amp. What a difference to the Maylegends, their van had seats.

Vox Continental 300 Organ

For the first few bookings, guitarist John Middleton, wrote the cords down for him on a bit of paper, which was kept on top of the organ. Great till someone in the club opened a door, let in a draught and the cord list disappeared!! Having a great voice Dave Kaye at the time did all the Elvis Presley Fan Club Conventions worldwide and in the UK. Back to the ‘Play in a Day’ book as Dave’s songs were mostly F sharp and E flat. What about Bb then?

The Main Keyboards

For three years Byron toured with the Dykons but in 1973 decided to leave on news of the new addition that was to join the family. First daughter Joanne had arrived. Rachael followed in 1977. On leaving the group the old Vox was sold (or perhaps it finally gave way under the toxic resprays). A brand new Vox Continental 300 twin manual keyboard was bought, along with a quite large Sharma Rotary Speaker Cabinet. Why a portable organ was bought for the home no one knows. Oh yes, the Tornados had one in the sixties.

The Space Babes

In the early 1990’s a Hammond A100 was purchased with bass pedals (what’s them?) When moving to Fritchley in 2001 the new music room was on the third floor. No place for a Hammond weighing as much as a mini car. Hammond sold but Vox and speaker still here today.

In 2003 Byron entered the world of the new keyboards and purchased a Technics KN6500 and a Hammond XK2. Along with other bits the whole lot was moved to the top floor.

In early 2004 Byron issued his first cd album ‘Worlds Apart’ under the fictional group name Space Babes. This consisted of 21 instrumentals including 13 of his own which included the very popular instrumental that Byron has written for the A1 Steam Trusts brand new steam engine 60163 Tornado which at a cost of over 3 million pounds, and is about to start on main line rail tours. Encouraged by Tom Hammond who runs the Tornado groups fantastic web site www.the-tornados.coma new album was planned for 2007.

In 2004 Byron joined the Joe Meek Appreciation Society who ran a feature on the new album and has received excellent support and encouragement from all the committee and their members who keep the name of Joe Meek alive. Look their site up now and see why it has to be worth joining.
www.joemeeksociety.co.uk/

During November 2006 a third keyboard was introduced, the Yamaha Tyros 2, along with a Yamaha recording and editing desk. Compared to the clavioline and the Vox organ, which came with just a basic intro book, these new keyboards come with a three quarter inch thick guide book and 7 tutional cds. Not easy at my age !! With all the new and existing equipment, a new 21 track CD album was released in November 2007, and was called 'Encounters', making this Byron’s second CD album of instrumental music. To celebrate the completion of A1 Steam Locomotive 60163 Tornado, Byron has released a three track cd which contains, Tornado - Race Against Time (steam version) -and a new number Mission Complete. This is available for £2.95 including post and packing.

Most of Byron’s work on these albums has been influenced by the Record Producer, Joe Meek, and in a small way we hope it keeps the sixties instrumental sound alive and well.