Who was/is Chas McDevitt ? - CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more

Chas McDevitt

When skiffle swept across British popular music in the mid-1950s like a tornado, Chas McDevitt was one of its defining figures. Alongside Lonnie Donegan he was the only skiffle act to win worldwide recognition, selling millions of records, particularly in the U.S.A.

McDevitt came out of jazz, having played banjo with the New Crane River Jazz Band, founded by Ken Colyer. He was discovered in London clubs such as the Gyre & Gimble and the Two I's by Bill Varley, who soon became the group's manager. After winning talent shows on Radio Luxembourg, Varley secured the band a contract with Oriole Records, a small family firm with its own pressing plant.

The worldwide hit was 'Freight Train': its driving double-tempo beat and the famous whistling refrain were only added during the final takes. On Varley's suggestion, McDevitt brought in singer Nancy Whiskey, whose mellow voice and jazzy, blues-tinged feel made the group unmistakable. Their debut LP was 'The Intoxicating Miss Whiskey'; for the budget label Embassy the ensemble, billed as The Cranes Skiffle Group, even covered its own hit.

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