Freddie and The Dreamers

Freddie Garrity started out in a skiffle group The Red Sox, which he formed in 1957 with his brother Derek Garrity. Later he was in The John Norman Four. Then The Kingfishers and then formed The Dreamers Rhythm Group in 1959, that in October 1961 became Freddie and the Dreamers

As for Derek Quinn he joined a group called The Kingfishers with a line-up of Freddie Garrity on lead vocals (b. Frederick Garrity Jnr, Saturday, November 14, 1936, 123 Crescent Road, Crumpsell, Manchester, Lancashire, UK d. Friday, May 19, 2006, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales), Derek Quinn on bass (b. May 24, 1942, Manchester, Lancashire, UK), Ernie Molloy on lead guitar (b. Ernest Molloy, Manchester, Lancashire, UK), Roy Crewsdon on rhythm guitar (b. Thursday, May 29, 1941, Manchester, Lancashire, UK) and Bernie Dwyer on drums (b. Bernard Dwyer, Wednesday, September 11, 1940, Manchester, Lancashire, UK d. Wednesday, December 4, 2002, Cheadle, Cheshire, UK).

When Garrity had joined this group he had sold his amplifier to Crewsdon. When Molloy left to be a milkman, Quinn became the lead guitarist, harmonica player and the band was joined by bassist Pete Birrell (b. Peter Birrell, Friday, May 9, 1941, Manchester, Lancashire, UK). 

In late 1959 The Kingfishers changed their name to The Dreamers Rhythm Group that in October 1961 became Freddie and the Dreamers.

Some Dreamers Rhythm Group concerts:

• Saturday, March 11, 1961: The New Plaza Ballroom

Some Freddie and the Dreamers concerts: 

• Tuesday, July 3, 1962: The Caven Club, 10 Matthew Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK, debut gig at this club
• Monday, March 30, 1964: The Hippodrome, Birmingham, Warwickshire, UK, with Craig Douglas, The Mudlarks, Don Arrol, for one week
• Saturday, April 18 - Sunday, May 17, 1964: The Roy Orbison Tour, Freddie and the Dreamers were special guests, with Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, Tony Sheridan and The Bobby Patrick Six, Chris Stanford and the Cornets, The Three Quarters, Ezz Reco and the Launchers, The Federals. The promoters were Tito Burns & Peter Walsh
• Saturday, April 18, 1964: The Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire, UK, first date of tour 
• Sunday, April 19, 1964: The Granada, Walthamstow, East London, UK 
• Monday, April 20, 1964: The Granada, Harrow, Middlesex, UK 
• Tuesday, April 21, 1964: The Gaumont, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
• Wednesday, April 22, 1964: The Granada, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK 
• Friday, April 24, 1964: The Colston Hall, Bristol, Somerset, UK 
• Saturday, April 25, 1964: The Granada, East Ham, East London, UK
• Sunday, April 26, 1964: The De Montfort Hall, Leicester, Leicestershire, UK 
• Monday, April 27, 1964: The Fairfield Halls, Croydon, Surrey, UK 
• Tuesday, April 28, 1964: The Gaumont, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK 
• Wednesday, April 29, 1964: The Gaumont, Ipswich, Norfolk, UK 
• Thursday, April 30, 1964: The Gaumont, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK 
• Friday, May 1, 1964: The Odeon, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK 
• Saturday, May 2, 1964: The Granada, Tooting, South West London, UK
• Sunday, May 3, 1964: The Coventry Theatre, Coventry, Warwickshire, UK 
• Monday, May 4, 1964: The Granada, Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK 
• Tuesday, May 5, 1964: The Gaumont, Worcester, Worcestershire, UK 
• Wednesday, May 6, 1964: The Odeon, Birmingham, Warwickshire, UK 
• Thursday, May 7, 1964: The Gaumont, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK 
• Friday, May 8, 1964: The City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK 
• Saturday, May 9, 1964: The Odeon, Bolton, Lancashire, UK 
• Sunday, May 10, 1964: The Empire, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK 
• Monday, May 11, 1964: The Odeon, Manchester, Lancashire, UK 
• Tuesday, May 12, 1964: The Odeon, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK 
• Thursday, May 14, 1964: The Odeon, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK 
• Friday, May 15, 1964: The Odeon, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, UK 
• Saturday, May 16, 1964: The City Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumbria, UK 
• Sunday, May 17, 1964: The Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry Street, near Leicester Square, West London, UK, last date of tour 
• Saturday, September 19 - Sunday, October 18, 1964: Freddie and The Dreamers & The Hollies Autumn 1964 Tour with The Four Pennies, Tony Jackson and the Vibrations, Marianne Faithfull, The Toggery Five. The Compere was Don Dwight
• Saturday, September 19, 1964: The Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire, UK, first date of the tour
• Sunday, September 20, 1964: The ABC, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
• Monday, September 21, 1964: The Rank, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
• Tuesday, September 22, 1964: The Rank, Taunton, Somerset, UK
• Wednesday, September 23, 1964: The ABC, Exeter, Devon, UK
• Thursday, September 24, 1964: The ABC, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, UK
• Sunday, September 27, 1964: The ABC, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK
• Monday, September 28, 1964: The Rank, Luton, Bedfordshire, UK
• Tuesday, September 29, 1964: The Rank, Birmingham, Warwickshire, UK
• Thursday, October 1, 1964: The Odeon, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
• Friday, October 2, 1964: The ABC, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, UK
• Sunday, October 4, 1964: The Empire, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
• Monday, October 5, 1964: The Rank, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, South Wales, UK 
• Tuesday, October 6, 1964: The Rank, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK 
• Wednesday, October 7, 1964: The ABC, Chester, Cheshire, UK
• Thursday, October 8, 1964: The Odeon, Manchester, Lancashire, UK
• Friday, October 9, 1964: The City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK 
• Saturday, October 10, 1964: The Rank, Worcester, Worcestershire, UK
• Sunday, October 11, 1964:
• Wednesday, October 14, 1964:
• Thursday, October 15, 1964: The Rank, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK 
• Saturday, October 17, 1964: The City Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumbria, UK
• Sunday, October 18, 1964: The Rank, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK, last date of the tour

John H. Warburg - 17/3/14

I actually met Freddie once. It was one of those magic moments, although I am sure he may not remember :-)

I was walking through the dark passageway in the entrance to Kennedy Street Artistes, when they were in London Road, opposite Piccadilly Station.

Freddie walked past me and said "Hello mate".

Not a long conversation I admit, but one of my few meetings with the rich and famous. I also remember seeing an actor off the telly on the 42 bus. We didn't speak.

Paul - webmaster - May 2006

Memories

Eric Haydock and myself had arranged to meet Fred and the gang at the South Pier in Blackpool.

When we arrived Freddie said that they had agreed to play a football match for charity at Bloomfield Road Football Ground. North Pier vs South Pier.

Off we all went to the ground & all the big stars appearing in Blackpool turned up including Mike Yarwood & Peter Gordino. Eric played for the Dreamers team - for my part I only ran up to the halfway line got severe cramp, was carried off & consigned to the commentary bench for the rest of the game along with Pete Birrel. 

Well, the South Pier & The Dreamers with captain Freddie won the day. The trophy was presented and we all went back to the South Pier for a well earned drink, Freddie carrying the trophy in his white puma bag.

We stayed on for the show at night and it was,well it was "Freddie & the Dreamers" at their best. What a great day out it was and what wonderful memories of that day, thanks a lot guys it was appreciated. 

Brian Higham - Photos in the gallery copyright to Brian Higham 

The photo of Freddie with the poster in the background that reads Saturday was taken at Frascati's public house on Oxford Road in Manchester at about 1958-59. The two musicians on either side of Freddie were life long friends of mine. The double bass player was Peter Doherty and on guitar his brother Paddy who came from my home town of Magherafelt in N. Ireland.

Peter was a resident musician for quite a long time at the Ritz Ballroom in Manchester,And he also played jazz at the old Stork Club just off Market Street in the early sixties, His brother Paddy also played jazz around the clubs of Manchester at the same time, Sadly both of them have now passed on, Paddy died in 1973 and Peter died in 1990.

James O'Hagan

Fall of 69 I spent a week in Southhampton waiting for my ship to come in. I stayed at a small hotell close to the TopRank. That weekend Freddie And The Dreamers performed at the TopRank. As I was very fond of their music, and totally in love with "If-You-Got-A-Minute-Baby" I just had to be there.

I was lucky and got a chance to talk to Freddie. When I told him how much I liked his song he invited me to sing duo on If-You-Got-A-Minute-Baby, which I did. He introduced me to the crowed as a Norwegian Fan. After the performance he said he was impressed of my voice. After the show we had some beers before they left. I still has the record (LP)and care for it as if it was made og gold. I will never forget that day, and what "downtoearth" persons Freddie and his band was.

I wish I could get a second chance to meet them again.

Trond E. Gebhardt-Larssen

I first came across Freddie in the olden days when skiffle was a lad. The skiffle group that I was in (The Sioux City Six) entered the National Skiffle Competition which was being presented by Jim Dale at the old Manchester Hippodrome. 

The night that we did our bit, one of the other groups that was on was 'The Red Socks' whose singer was this little curly haired loonie with big glasses. They were good but we thought that they were far too showbiz and weren't taking the music seriously. Of course they won.

The next time that I saw Freddie he was selling sheet music from a stall on Blackpool Prom. Not long after that Freddie and the Dreamers blossomed forth; Fred still wasn't taking the music seriously.

Fast forward to the early 70's when I was in a band called 'Spice' doing our own material. We were playing a gig at a private party in Cheshire when this (very) drunk partygoer came up to us and said that he thought that our songs were fantastic and that he had a recording studio and he'd like to record us and make us famous.

Apparently we resisted giving him the usual muso's response to drunken partygoers (a humourous phrase, the second word of which is 'off'). Instead we gave him our phone number not expecting to hear from him again. Blow me, he did ring and he did have a recording studio, 'Starlite' (ugh!) in Hyde. It was Roy Crewdson. 

We recorded nearly an album's worth of songs, The band wasn't up to much but the songs were (and still are) good. The project ended when the studio folded and Roy disappeared off the scene. The band folded soon after. Roy was and I'm sure still is a good lad and we had some laughs and one or two (or three) pints in 'The Jolly Carter'. 

A good time was had by all but I'm still waiting for fame and fortune to come my way. 

Pete Crooks - 1/3/09 

As a teenager in the '60s I was a paperboy and I used to deliver Freddie's newspapers to his Mum's place on the estate behind the Mersey Hotel, Princess Parkway in West Didsbury and often saw him fooling about in the street giving his crazy jumps and giggles.

One morning I was gutted when I saw the bands Bedford Van smashed up at Henlys Filling Station on the Parkway ... I thought it was the end ... but no thankfully they were all OK.

Freddie married a lovely young girl, Josie Tideswell from my estate Brandwood Avenue. My friend's Mum, Mrs Morley made up the wedding and bridesmaid dresses for the event.

Another time Freddie and the gang were making a film for TOTP in my avenue using Jimmy Savile's E type Jag..a white one with black stripes down the bonnet..

Often we would get Freddie to sign his photos and sell them at our school Barlow Hall.

Saw the band lots of times and it was such a thrill for us teenagers then, to see a local band make it big as they did ... we all loved them.

Derek Alltree - 6/1/10

To add to the comments by Derek my mum made the wedding dresses etc.

My main memory is after Freddie married Josie they lived for short while in Brandwood Avenue. I vividly recall when I was about 13/14 going to the shops passing his house just has he was coming out. He remembered me because my sister was one his wife's best friends and he used to be the betterware salesman for our estate. We walked to the shops together while Freddie peeled an orange and kicked each piece of peel into the gardens we passed.

He was just a big kid really, but a great bloke.

Chris Morley - 22/1/10

A great sound from a great group that I was pleased to book and loved listening to.

Mike Deutsch - Manager, Jungfrau - 4/4/10

My Dad at one point shared lodgings with Freddie and I am keen to have contact from the remaining members of the original band if they recall my Dad John from Dublin who lives in Manchester. If I say all the pubs on the old Stretford Road and Frascatis it may mean something to them.

I was told of Freddie's love of humour and how he would often run up to you and kick you in the seat of your pants and just run off again.I missed the sad departure of Freddie in 2006.

Gary McShane - 8/10/10

Thanks to all who have shared their stories about Freddie and the Dreamers. Can anyone out there help me out? Does anyone recall how long the original lineup lasted?

I have seen articles stated that Freddie and the guys disbanded in 1968 and I have also seen listing for early 1969 but I know I saw a Big Star program from either late 1969 or early 1970 that had Freddie and the original Dreamers with beards and longer hair but unmistakenly the original guys, Pete, Roy Bernie and Derek. Also the Oliver in the Overworld LP on Regal Starline came out in January of 1970 so was it possible Freddie and the lads were still active in 1970?

Any photos or personal recollection of seeing the guys past 1968 would be greatly appreciated if it could be shared on this great site. Thanks so much 

Jim Fry - 9/11/10 

Hi, reading all the articles about The Dreamers brought back memories. I used to know Derek Quin the lad with dark glasses. We use to play together with Alan Moss and myself. We use to always be swopping american comics which we did in them days. I was just wondering if anyone remembers Derek in is early years.

Brian Gardner - 1/3/11

In the late 1950's and early 60's Freddie was a regular visitor to Brandwood Avenue, when he was dating Josie Tideswell. He also dated my sister Valerie once or twice before Josie.

He used to have a variety of jobs selling door-to-door one of which was Addis brushes.

His favourite trick after seeing Josie home and making a proper racket in the process, was to "swim the privit hedges", had to be seen to be believed but he did it regular.

My cousind Barbara & Neda used to have some of his plastic Addis Ware items and used to hold special 'touch-it' sessions in their school a Moss Nook in Wythenshawe, this was when they were very famous of course, when all the school girls would file past touch and scream their heads off.

I used to run the Bulls Head in Tintwistle some years aga and Jackie his daughter used to live in that village then. She came in with Josie, who I hadnt seen for 40+ years and we had a good old chat about him and my sisters.

Tony Owens - 11/9/11

I was very young when I saw this group. They used open The Mechanics in burnley on a Saturday afternoon for 13 to 16 year olds. The group played there several times. Freddie was very funny, he used to talk to us and tell us jokes. Happy days!!!!!!!!

Catherine Roberts - 11/9/11

The original band was together until 1970 when Derek Quinn left the band to start his own agency. Freddie and the Dreamers continued to perform as a quartet through at least 1972.

Jerry Fuentes - 12/10/12

Front man Freddie Garrity was my grandma's milkman in Harpurhey in the mid fifties or so she told me.

I was born and lived in Harpurhey in my early years- in a back to back street just up from Bernard Manning's Embassy Club. I did go to that club in late sixties where Mr Manning would start his act with .." when you walk in this club you go down 3 steps .. physically and socially ..."

PS - to all - Well done Paul for your efforts with this site - I do hope it will both entertain and educate many in years to come.

Phil Nadin - 21/2/13 

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In the 80s Freddy came out to Australia in a pretty regular basis. My wife Sue and I owned a small sound and lighting company and did a lot of work for an agent called Maurice Cameron. He booked Freddy into the bigger RSL's and leagues clubs where he did very well as the Aussies loved their nostalgia. (Try to tell me anywhere else an aging Al Martino could still sell out a big room). 

Anyway we twice provided sound and lighting for Freddy's tours. He was ok to deal with but seemed quite bitter about how his career had turned out. The Dreamers were just a bunch of hired hands much younger than him. He did however put on a very professional show each night.

Paul Bradshaw - 18/5/13

Roy Crewdson was my father's cousin, I met Roy on several occasions when he came to visit his relations in Earby Lancashire. (In those days Earby was in Yorkshire).

Several years later when I was about 22 (born in 1946) I went to Blackpool with a friend and was invited to the Stage Door at the Opera House to meet Roy and Freddie and the others.

When we arrived we asked the doorman we had been invited by Roy.. Just then Freddie apeared and asked who I was looking for ? I said I was here to meet Roy. "Roy who" he replied, I said "Roy, you know, who plays with you.."

Freddie replied.. "No one plays with me, only my wife" then he laughed and invited us in, I remember sitting in a bar area, with Tommy Cooper sat opposite.

After meeting Roy and Co. I went on to be a Pop Group Manager until 1972.

Mike Crewdson - Earby - May 2013

Thanks for the link to my F&D site. I have long since lost the passwords, etc and have not updated in such a long time, even my email is incorrect there!

What memories I have...but not from the 60s.

I visited Freddie in the hospital in 2003, his wife drove me to Sheffield for it, he was in form even as he lay in bed. He would tell naughty jokes to the nurses and I remember being sad at seeing how frail he was.

I stayed a few times with Derek and Jackie Quinn who were incredibly kind to let a stranger in their home! We all went out to a club one night where Pete Birrell and Bernie's sister were there among others, and we had a great time. Pete looked the same as ever to me, hadn't aged a bit. We were annoying old ladies by making too much noise at bingo! Later Derek ran some of his old home movies for me. I'd love to go back sometime.

Heidi Crabtree - 2/9/13

Regarding the "original" Dreamers. The lead guitarist before Derek Quinn was Ernie Molloy, who worked with Freddie at the dairy. Ernie declined to turn professional and stayed "on the milk" Last heard of he was still at Healds in Didsbury. I was at school with his brother, Johnny Molloy, an exceedingly good footballer!

Dave Chalmeres - 2/9/13

In the early 60's I played in a group called Tony and the Trekkers and we were the support group for Freddie and the Dreamers at Sale Town Hall. They were the first famous group we performed with and though we expected them to be somewhat aloof they turned out to be good fun and their act was really entertaining.

Tony Peel - 11/9/13