On The Road With The CAROL SINGERS
They have been called a pop phenomenon. They have more fans than the
Beatles. They are more popular than Cliff Richard. They have appeared
all over the world and every year perform to thousands. Yet they have
never released an album or single. Who are the Carol Singers? What are
they like and why are they so successful?
There have been a number of personnel changes since the Carol Singers
UK tour last December. Soprano Mrs Evans has left to start a family. Mr
Jenkins, the groups baritone for the last five tours, has parted company
after being offered a job in Daventry and Miss Roberts, the 'Singers'
handbell player and for so long the groups driving force, quit because
she disagreed with the direction in which the band was heading.
"Driving down King George Avenue marked a dramatic change in direction
for us. Gilly wanted us to go down Idminston Road after Baden Road,"
explains Guy Summerbee for the Egham and District Round Table who
represent the Carol Singers. "She has decided to pursue a solo career
this coming Christmas."
This year the Carol Singers will play a record breaking forty seven
streets in three nights! Last year they played to over sixty in four but
felt it was affecting their performances. "We were cheating our public,"
says lead alto Margaret 'The Bucket Shaker' Colley. "Being on the road
for as long as we are is very exhausting on the vocal chords. Belting out
'Silent Night' night after night in sub-zero temperatures eventually
takes it's toll. Last year by the time we reached Barton Street, our fans
were booing through their letter boxes."
The Carol Singers were formed in 1987 when Colley and her brother started
singing hymns in their garage. Soon, with the music press predicting a
hymn revival, they went on the road as a duo. "At first we started on
peoples porches. We never dreamed we'd be so big that we'd be singing
from a huge lorry in the middle of the street."
"Singing from a hymn sheet meant we didn't need to know how to play a
musical instrument. Hymn sheets have been responsible for the emergence
of a new generation of musicians," says David.
Mr and Mrs Pollard joined to strengthen the rhythm section. "We were
really into Gerhardt and Scheffer, the Lennon and McCartney of Lutheran
hymns and heavily influenced by people like Isaac Watts and the great
Philip Dodderidge. I spent a lot of my youth standing in front of my bed-
room mirror miming choral works. It was a dream come true to be asked
to play with the Carol Singers." says Dennis Pollard, an accountant
from Chertsley.
"We took a long time to really break through into the big time,"
remembers wife Sheila who sings soprano and rings the doorbells. "If it
hadn't been for Christmas I don't think we would have ever made it."
The Carol Singers were soon big business. They could earn as much as
GBP47.50p a night. They played short sharp lessons in contagious hooklines.
Their lyrics were relevant and they had a definite 'look'. Soon people
were humming their hit 'Hark The Herald Angels Sing' and even dressing
like their idols in thick overcoats, warm scarves and woollen mufflers.
Babies used to start screaming when they heard them coming down the road.
Dogs would rip huge holes out of their scarves and run off with them.
"We have had some scary moments. Sometimes we have had to run off before
being paid."
"The arrival of local singing teacher, Alec Gifford completed the line
up and bought a new energy and depth to the Carol Singers music. "'O
Little Town Of Bethlehem' has never sounded so good," wrote the New
Musical Express.
"I just saw this ad in the Round Table's monthly newsletter saying,
'Singer wanted. Must be over thirty and hardy' and I applied. I auditioned
and got the job. I love the travelling. We were on the road for four
miles last year and I went to streets I never knew existed."
Gifford sings the solo on the Carol Singers' big hit 'Oh Come All Ye
Faithful' the curtain raiser to their concerts. "it's an unashamedly
conceptual set," admits Gifford. "All our songs have a message. They
portray a wide spectrum of feelings and emotions. I suppose they could
be called religious."
Free from the glamour, arrogance and hype that normally attaches itself
to modern groups, the Carol Singers are refreshingly modest and level-
headed. They do a lot of work for charity. They have managed to steer
clear of scandal. They are a clean living band into sherry and mince-
pies and the festive spirit. Except for the false snow and polystyrene
reindeer they do not believe in gimmicks. What they offer is relevant
foot-stomping music which probably explains their eternal appeal. They
will be around for many years to come. But as Colley says, "In this
business you could be big one week and out in the cold the next. Tastes
change so quickly in the music industry."
(The Carol Singers will be appearing on your doorstep soon)
