RUSS SAINTY

Russ Sainty - Biography

Born: Alfred Sainty April 1936

Proper job: Parks and Gardens for Leyton Council

  1. 1957
    • Demobbed from National Service - Driver Royal Signals Regiment
    • First gig at The Antelope pub in Leyton with The Buddy Monroe Five
    • Changed name from Alfie Sainty to Russ Sainty as it sounded more Rock 'n' Roll
  2. 1958
    • Singing solo on the cinema circuit in Leyton, Leytonstone and Walthamstow in between gigs with The Buddy Monroe Five
    • Russ and his dad drive up to London to check out the 2i's Coffee Bar as Russ has heard it's the place where everything is happening. After an audition by the doorman/manager Tom Littlewood, Russ was paired up with Tony Sheridan and booked for many sessions at the club
  3. 1959
    • Russ met Barry Stoller and Mel Miller who were looking for a vocalist to join their group The 4 Teens. Russ joined and the band renamed themselves, becoming the Nu-Notes
    • Regular gigs all over the country in Ballrooms, Halls, US Air Bases
    • Performed on the opening night of Eaton Missions - 59 Club in Hackney, and at the official opening in front of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, playing alongside Cliff Richard and the Shadows.
  4. 1960
    • Regular BBC broadcasts on Saturday Club.
    • Opening Night at the California Ballroom in Dunstable, with Ronnie Carroll. Russ went on to make 338 appearances there.
    • Summer Season at Butlins in Bognor.
    • Tour with Craig Douglas, Ricky Valance, The Avons, Al Saxon, Mike Preston and Alan (Fluff) Freeman.
    • Recording contract for Russ and the Nu-notes, both together and solo.
    • The Nu-Notes change their name and become the Rhet Stoller Group.
  5. 1961-1965
    • Now the most broadcast group at the BBC with Saturday Club, Easy Beat and Pop Go The Beatles shows.
    • Russ now doing a lot more solo work including a show at the Royal Albert Hall.
    • Package tours with Bobby Vee and the Crickets, The Allisons and many others.
    • Continuing to record as Russ Sainty and the Nu-Notes, The Nu-Notes and the Rhet Stoller Group.
    • The Rhet Stoller Group have a chart hit with 'Chariots'.
    • In 1962 Russ has a huge seller with 'Send me the pillow that you dream on'.
    • Rhet Stoller strikes it big when he pens the Match of the Day theme tune, still used today.
    • Roger Dean (lead guitar) leaves the Nu-Notes for a stint with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and then later rejoins... and then leaves again.
    • Russ marries Ann, and goes solo. As showbiz marriages go it's something of a success as they're still together.
  6. 1966-1968
    • Russ fomulates a new cabaret act for the Northern Club circuit.
    • Plays Wishee Washee in Aladdin at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea.
    • Following the death of Ann's mother, the pair move to Hayling Island to help Ann's father run a 52-seater Restaurant.
    • Russ continues singing and broadcasting and manages to find time in between to father son Darren and daughter Michele.
  7. 1969
    • On the road doing the Northern and Scottish Working Men's clubs.
  8. 1970-1975
    • Working the great Bailey Clubs circuit.
    • Warner holiday circuit.
  9. 1976-1981
    • Cabaret tour of South Africa.
    • Cruise liners out of Miami to the Bahamas.
  10. 1982-1989
    • Russ and Ann take over the running of entertainments for Warner Holidays at Sinah Warren on Hayling Island.
    • Russ continues touring on the Warner's circuit.
  11. 1990s
    • Russ joins the Dallas Boys as lead singer but continues to do solo work as well.
    • In 1997 Russ secures a 27 week season at Butlins in Bognor regis with his own 1 hour Rock 'n' Roll Spectacular.
    • The remainder of the 90s is taken up with numerous tours and performances in Holiday Centres, Hotels, Private Functions, Theatres and British Legion Clubs.
  12. 2000-now
    • Similar touring schedule to the 90s.
    • In 2006 Russ is invited by the Lord Mayor of Westminster to attend the unveiling of a plaque to mark the site of the 2is Coffee Bar. Along with many of the old names, including Sir Cliff Richard, Russ is nominated one of the founding fathers of British Rock 'n' Roll.
    • Broadcast on Radio Caroline world wide.
    • Russ begins writing the book of his story.
    • This web site gets set up and Russ realises just how much he's forgotten, and equally how much he actually remembers.