The genius of Hank B Marvin - a six decade career of twangtastic twangability!

Hank Marvin and the 1959 Fiesta Red Fender Stratocaster 

Cliff Richard imported for him into the UK

Hank Marvin has a distinctive guitar sound, in the early 1960's it could be heard on Cliff Richard's chart toppers as well as those records recorded and played by Cliff's backing group The Shadows, which Hank was a part of. He owned the first Fender Stratocaster in the UK which helped drive demand for this guitar across Europe and the Commonwealth.

Hank Marvin with Red Stratocaster, Jet Harris and Bruce Welch

1960 was the start of a decade that would define the post war modern world. Things were changing, the rock n' roll stars of the 1950's were either dead, subdued, in the Army like Elvis was, or mired in scandal it seemed. The vanguard that had established the rock n' roll era now gave way to a slicker and more acceptable entity. One which the movers and shakers realised could be modelled into a commodity - The Teenager - who had money to spend.

The Drifters in Expresso Bongo before they became the Shadows

With the skiffle music boom in the late 50's, the music that followed spawned the first showing of youth culture. The established 'powers that be' were shocked. Their grasp on power looked fragile, a new era was coming. Something that Punk rock achieved 20 years later!

The unassuming frontage of the 2 I's coffee bar - where history was created

Out of Skiffle and Rock n' Roll, a venue in London's Soho established itself as the place to be seen and if lucky, be discovered. The 2 I's coffee bar in Soho's Old Compton Street was where legend has it Tommy Steele was discovered.

Cliff Richard and his original Drifters at the 2I's coffee bar - 

Terry Smart, Cliff, Ian Samwell and Norman Mitham

To this place in Soho gravitated Bruce Welch and Hank B. Marvin, a pair of guitarists from Newcastle. Staying on in London after participating in a talent contest, they worked in the coffee bar when not playing on the stage.

One of the earliest photos of Cliff, Hank and Bruce

Hank was one of the great young guitarists of the era which included Jim Sullivan, Tony Sheridan, Joe Moretti, all names who would find careers in music later. When Cliff Richard started to become famous, it was not long before his original Drifters backing group were replaced by inmates of the 2I's club who possessed greater musical ability. 

By 1960 Cliff had his own show on ATV

These were Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan who then became the Shadows in 1959. Later still, Brian Bennet and Brian 'Licorice' Locking from the 2I's fold would later become Shadows when Meehan and Harris left.

New shirts, new Guitars - at a Soho tailor's shop 1959

Hank Marvin's guitar abilities became honed by his extensive playing in the 2I's coffee bar and touring with Cliff Richard. By early 1959, Cliff purchased a guitar that would change musical history for the 60's as well as for himself, Hank Marvin and the Shadows.

Early record sleeves often feature the Fender guitars of the Shadows

The 1959 Fiesta Red Birdseye Maple neck Fender Stratocaster with gold plated hardware Hank was gifted was a sensation. To look at, it was futuristic and made other guitars look out of date, sonically, Hank Marvin was able to use it to create a unique sound that was to influence guitarists for decades.

The Vox AC15 in the style of the early ones used by the Shadows - 

because of the Shadows, the AC30 was created, 

leading to making the Vox name famous worldwide.

The sum of the parts was the Fender Stratocaster, the Vox AC15 (later AC30) amplifier and the echo machine - all helped create possibilities in Hank's mind which he had the talent to translate into sound.

The Shadows onstage with Cliff Richard 1961 with Vox AC30's

Hank was shown a Meazzi echo machine by Joe Brown in 1959, Joe didn't really get on with the machine, Hank suddenly realised he could and purchased a Vox badged version of it.

A 1960 performance

Plugged in to the Selmer Truvoice Hank originally used, the Stratocaster sounded fabulous. It was not long before the Vox AC15 was adopted and amazing sounds found their way onto records which still sound fresh and outstanding today. At a stroke, many groups ditched their singers and became instrumental groups, emulating Hank's style and glasses, needed or not!

A foray into films jointly boosted the careers of Cliff and the Shadows

A promotional still from 'Summer Holiday' which the Shadows wrote music for

Hampered by heavy strings, Hank made extensive use of the Stratocaster's vibrato arm, (called the tremolo arm, erroneously by Fender). The echo machine combined with the intelligent use of the studio's surfaces allowed dynamic sound to be created.

As many groups came and went from the music scene, Cliff and the Shadows endured. Changes of guitars, amplifiers and line-ups did not diminish the Shadows. Hank Marvin's playing has improved year on year. But go back to his early work with Cliff and you can hear the talent and ingenuity there.

Into the 1980's the Shadows career enjoyed a resurgence

Hank's solo tour in 1990 seemed to denote the end of the Shadows as a unit, his move to Australia in 1986 made touring and recording more difficult. His solo work was interesting, but the 'unit' of the Shadows and Cliff Richard seemed to work very well. 

Although Hank's solo playing is very good, it seems to lack the feel of the Shadows line-up. It is probably as they were really good musicians that they worked so well together. There was probably a 'three way unit cohesity' in the totality of the music of their collective input that was perhaps not as achievable in Hank's solo work.

Perhaps those solo years of the 90s allowed Hank to arrange and play the music he was doing in a style away from the Shadows and for his own satisfaction. It certainly was quality music nonetheless, without any doubt. He was able continue to invent great musical renditions of existing music and compose some really catchy new material.

The final tour 2009 - we never thought we'd see this!

To many the Shadows or the Cliff and the Shadows unit is where Hank is best known either as the 'unit' of the Shadows or with the Shadows and Cliff Richard. Hank Marvin has such a distinct sound, one that he has managed to use over six decades of performing and recording. 

The reunions of the Shadows in 2004 and 5 and with Cliff in 2009 are things we thought we wouldn't see again. It is great we were able to have this experience. The reconvening of these performers showed that they were still great, perhaps at a greater leerl than we could have hoped for. 

Cliff's generosity has helped provide us with this great musical legacy. Hank's playing has prompted many now famous guitarists to pursue the gift of music. And buy Fender Stratocasters in Fiesta Red!! Of which I have owned many.

Big glasses and red Fender Stratocaster - 

unmistakeably the great Hank Marvin