Local 60’s band Ray Dexter and The Invaders, band members: Singer Ray Dexter, drums Ken Grethe, bass guitar Les Hardwick, lead guitar Jerry Thorpe. The band played in local venues and made a record in 1961 called ‘Coalman’s Lament’, written by Tommy Connor and produced by the famous Joe Meek.They appeared on a television programme called Caravan with Shirley Eaton and Cardew Robinson at the Welsh Harp in London.
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If you contact Hoddesdon museum they are in contact with Ray and could help.
Has ray got a m/ phone as I need to call him
Yes he lives in Roydon and still involved in the music industry.
Hoddesdon Museum have put together an exhibition of the 60/70 music scene around the area, worth a visit.
Is Ray Dexter is around ??
Hi my Dad Fred Thurlow played double bass and bass guitar in this group around the late 50s
I used to be with him sometimes
Sadly he has just passed aged 94 yrs
I have an old poster of ray Dexter at Rye house
Les Hardwick is my uncle and is alive and well in California
I think he’s me dad!
“I know where Ray is, I know his studio engineer who lives in Were.”
Keith Wright
Well! I just wish him well and thanks for the memories.
I know where Ray is, I know his studio engineer who lives in Were.
Keith Wright
I knew Ray when he was first starting out back in the late 1950s, he had a great voice.
Does anyone know what happened to him?
Ray regularly played back bar of Swan in Hoddesdon
Takes me back a few years. Loved going to the Astoria to see Ray Dexter. It was a really great venue until Charlie retired. Ray and the boys used to do great covers of Elvis songs.
I remember Ray Dexter & the Dynamos as I also use to play at the Astoria Ware in my group the ‘Sinners’, I think Charlie was the manager or owner of the Astoria in the late 50’s & early 60’s…. Ray Dexter & the Dynamos released a record ‘The Coalmans lament’
Anyone remember way back in the distant past if Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame, played with his then wife, at the Brewery Tap, Ware, in the 70’s?
I played tenor sax with the original dynamos and left to play jazz instead after a failed BBC audition with them. We made a wild sound early on and the kids loved us but there were too many passengers in the group.DLSJQ
My band, The Niteshades, from Stevenage, used to play at the Ware Astoria. I remember Ray Dexter and The Dynamos used to play with us at Stevenage Town Hall on Monday nights. We used to play in the cellar at the Brewery Tap in Ware, also. Jam packed, great gig. Bit of a bugger getting my old Hammond organ down those spiral stone stairs, though.
There was another great group in that time, that was kept very busy in Hemel and the outlying towns and clubs, weddings etc. Played along with some big bands in the Pavillion in Hemel too. Happy days !
Can any one remember any other bands that used to play at any of the pubs in Rye House especially involving a Mr Alan Cross. I would be realy grateful for any info
Ken (Grethe) saw him in Southwold today (10th July 2010) and he doesn’t look a day older!
aka “Ray Dexter & The Dynamos” played frequently at Ware Astoria and Ware Drill Hall. What about that other local group “Cliff Richard & the Shadows” from Cheshunt??