What was the name of Cliff Richard's original backing group?

Harry Webb became lead singer of the rock and roll group, the Drifters (not to be confused with the US group of the same name). The 1950s entrepreneur Harry Greatorex wanted the up-and-coming Rock 'n' Roll singer to change from his real name of Harry Webb. The name Cliff was adopted as it sounded like "cliff face", which suggested "Rock". It was "Move It" writer Ian Samwell who suggested that the former Harry Webb be surnamed "Richard" as a tribute to Webb's musical hero Little Richard.

Before their first large-scale appearance, at the Regal Ballroom in Ripley, Derbyshire in 1958, they adopted the name "Cliff Richard and the Drifters". The four members were Harry Webb(now going under the stage name "Cliff Richard"), Ian "Sammy" Samwell on guitar, Terry Smart on drums and Norman Mitham on guitar. None of the other three played with the later and better-known Shadows, although Samwell wrote songs for Richard's later career.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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16 Comments

docluci

I guessed right because it was the only group name that I recognized!!!!!

Elsy O. Stromberg

Thought it couldn't be the Drifters, so guessed wrong.

Michael Doherty

According to Cliff Richard’s official website, the first name that was considered was The Planets, which was rejected. They chose The Drifters and played under that name for a short time, but since there was a group in the U.S. called The Drifters, they changed again to The Shadows.

Leanna Greenbush

No idea. Guessed wrong.

lmjmom

Got it.

Scott J Pender

The Shadows (originally known as the Drifters) were an English instrumental rock group. They were Cliff Richard's backing band from 1958 to 1968 and on numerous reunion tours. The Shadows have placed 69 UK charted singles from the 1950s to the 2000s, 35 credited to the Shadows and 34 to Cliff Richard and the Shadows. The group, who were in the forefront of the UK beat-group boom,[1] were the first backing band to emerge as stars. As pioneers of the four-member instrumental format, the band consisted of lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar and drums. Their range covers pop, rock, surf rock and ballads with a jazz influence.[2] The core members from 1958 to 2015 were Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch. Along with the Fender guitar, another cornerstone of the Shadows sound was the Vox amplifier. The Shadows, with Cliff Richard, dominated British popular music in the late 1950s and early 1960s in the years before the Beatles. The Shadows' number one hits included "Apache", "Kon-Tiki", "Wonderful Land", "Foot Tapper" and "Dance On!". They disbanded in 1968, but reunited in the 1970s for further commercial success. The Shadows are the fourth most successful act in the UK singles chart, behind Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Cliff Richard.[3] The Shadows and Cliff Richard & the Shadows each have had four No. 1 selling EPs.

filmnut

The Shadow’s were Cliff Richards band. The Drifters is a black Rythem and Blues why must you give people headaches with your trick question. Trick Trivia Quiz Club

paulmyers

It’s the Shadows not The Drifters

hector tubens

Lucky guess. No clue whatsoever.

Joss Coverdale

Misleading question — again.

Richard G Schwartz

I thought it was the Shadows.

Kenneth Jacobs

The question asked the name of the the original backing band, not the original name of the backing band. This was a very poorly worded trick question.