Gina and Romany Rye

Line-Up included

John Brannigan - guitar/vocals

Norman Quinlan - singer and congas

Gina Branelli - vocals, accordion/keyboard

Peter Laurie - drums

Gina and Romany Rye were a world travelling top grossing cabaret band; returning time to time to Blackpool to take residence at the Islander, Gaiety Bar (Brannigan's) Lemmon Tree Night club/casino.

Cunard, Top Rank, Hilton group could not get enough of the multi talented foursome for their venues throughout the world. 

The early days the band started out in 1960s in Hazel Grove. Recording at Strawberry Studios, we went onto our own studios in Poynton (Camel) that saw the birth of some great musicians that went onto great things.

Working around Manchester and the Fylde coast with regular slots on Border TV for Derek Batey and Granada TV for Muriel Young.

This was the band that other musicians came to see! World class musicians, a band with a world championship accordion player, classic trained singer, one of the most respected guitar players by the industry, respected throughout the world.

Although the band finished about ten years ago as a four piece Gina still performs in Las Vegas every year playing and singing to sell out audiences.

Myself? I still play and do some teaching when I am not enjoying the sun in other warmer places than Manchester. I have nothing else I need to prove in my life; been there done it.

Hope that's of some interest to you. When Peter Bocking left the band after many years he went to Vegas with Lonnie Donigan. He was replaced by Adrian Eddelstone, later on replaced by Ashley Mulford (Sad Café) - the rest is history.

Johnny Brannigan