Born Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity on 21 May 1940, Tony Sheridan held the distinction of having sung on The Beatles’ first commercially-released music.
Inspired by his parents’ love of classical music, Sheridan learned to play the violin as a child, and later switched to the guitar following the rise of skiffle and later rock ‘n’ roll.
He formed his first band in 1956, and two years later he appeared for the first time on the ITV television programme Oh Boy, on which he played electric guitar.
In 1960 Sheridan was offered a contract to play at Bruno Koschmider’s Kaiserkeller Club in Hamburg, Germany, where he proved to be a hit with local audiences. In November that year he moved to the Top Ten, a club run by rival promoter Peter Eckhorn. Sheridan played at the Top Ten from 1960 to 1963, working originally with his backing group The Jets, and occasionally using a variety of other musicians.
The Beatles met Tony Sheridan during their first Hamburg trip in 1960, though they didn’t perform together. The next year, however, saw them alternating with Sheridan’s band, and occasionally backing him. Following one of these performances, a friend of orchestral leader Bert Kaempfert – also an agent for the Polydor label – recommended them for a recording session.
The sessions took place on 22–23 June 1961 on a stage at Hamburg’s Friedrich-Ebert-Halle school, and on 24 June 1961 at Studio Rahlstedt. The Beatles’ fee was 300 marks.
A number of songs were recorded, including ‘My Bonnie’, which Polydor chose to release as a single in Germany. The b-side was ‘The Saints’, a beat version of When The Saints Go Marching In.
The single, credited to Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers, was released in October 1961, and reached number five in the German charts.
With The Beatles’ fanbase growing in Liverpool, demand grew for imported copies of My Bonnie. The buzz around the single inspired Brian Epstein to seek out the group, which he went on to manage.
On 24 May 1962 a fourth and final day of recording with The Beatles took place, again at Studio Rahlstedt, in which versions Sweet Georgia Brown and Swanee River were taped. Swanee River was later lost, but was re-recorded by Sheridan and another group in a Beatles style. Sheridan also re-recorded his vocals on Sweet Georgia Brown in 1964 to reference The Beatles growing fame.
The eight songs The Beatles recorded with Tony Sheridan were released on a 1964 album titled The Beatles’ First. Three songs from the session, My Bonnie, Ain’t She Sweet and Cry For A Shadow – the latter a Harrison–Lennon instrumental, were released in 1995 on the Anthology 1 album. Cry For A Shadow and Ain’t She Sweet, although recorded on the day of the My Bonnie session, did not feature Sheridan.
In later years Sheridan remained in Germany, living in the village of Seestermühe and regularly performing in Hamburg. He died in Germany on 16 February 2013 at the age of 72.
I heard news that he is dead. Can anybody confirm this?
Peace and love.
Yes, he died yesterday in Germany.
The garage band I was in as a kid – like when I was 12 (1970) – we used to play and sing and perform “Take Out Some Insurance on My Baby” – people were like, “Where’d that song come from?” We’d tell them it was an obscure Beatles song – we felt very inside for knowing that tune. Thanks, Tony.
Rest in Peace, Tony. I’m happy to own ‘The Early Tapes of the Beatles’, which I picked up from a used CD store several years ago. Very talented man, big loss.
One day they will all be gone. What a sad day that will be.
I saw him many times in the *TOP TEN* and *STAR CLUB* in Hamburg Germany,I remember song’s like
“skinny Minny” and “what I’d say”, he was part of the Star Club house-band with Roy on piano.Great loss.
Sorry to hear about Tony. I can’t believe Rolling Stone’s obituary. They’ve got a photo of Tony, stating that it’s from the 2 I’s, Soho, New York City. New York City? What the hell…?
Also, they refer to the Beat Brothers as the “Beat Boys”. Incredibly sloppy journalism. Or is it another case of Rolling Stone trying to rewrite rock & roll history again?
The further one is from the events, the further from the facts. The number of books about The Beatles by such writers only result in an increasingly high mound of dross, and the transformation of unfounded surmises into “fact”.
It’s young writers who don’t know the history, and did insufficient research. No conspiracy.
Rolling Stone is to busy writing about its pet politics than actually do some decent music journalism.
Rolling Stone knows little about either.
The one who recommended to Bert Kaempfert the Beatles for hiring them for recording session backing Tony Sheridan was a Croatian – then Yugoslav singer Ivo Robic, who had recorded for Polydor and was a true star of his own then having a world wide hit Morgen and was also the “hidden” author of Frank Sinatra’s hit Strangers In The Night.
Hi Guna Janez are there any written sources to back this piece of information up? I’m doing some research and trying to add this in but can only see you as a source. You know how it works, Cheers Kingsley
I’ve just been playing The Beatles album (featuring Tony Sheridan). What a great album to start a path of what was really a quite un-known band at the time,( The Beatles). Little did anyone know that the world was just round the corner. I have only ever played this album 3 times and the reason is to keep it as perfect as poss for someone of the next generation to enjoy as much as this one has. Tony Sheridan did a great job on the album and sort of help to make The Beatles be known to the awaiting world. What an unselfish man.
Cheers mate, you must have earned a free ticket into the biggest concert in Heaven.
Incredible remarks from a really true fan. The Genesis of The Beatles!
I have no idea whether Sheridan was unselfish or not. He was an undistinguished Elvis clone among dozens. He did play great guitar.
But let’s not pretend to know stuff that we don’t.
I led the band The Jets…met Bruno Koschmeider in Two I’s…put a few guys together minus Tony Sheridan for Kaiserkeller gig…Tony was due on US bases with Wee Willie Harris…I did all contract work with Bruno….Tony came into the I’s….peed off…his passport for Willie Harris gig not ready…I told him not to worry…he could come with us.. I missed furst part as wife had our first kid..rejoined later..taught Tony lot of jazz chords during our residence..gleaned from Shirty Rogers Giants discs..I would hammer out flattened tenth with major seventh..Tony would shout WTF was THAT….and play on guitar..especially great on My Babe…he passed these on to Beatles….they backed him on My Bonny and The Saints…the latter arranged by myself and Jimmy Maken…credited in first pressing then wrongfully credited to Tony when Fab Four made it big.
We still await royalties Polydor!
If I had not added Tony to The Jets as an extra singer..he would not have recorded My Bonny with The Beatles..as the record company were not interested..so…no Fab Four…strange old girl..Lady Luck!
I loved playing with Tony..one of our greats..but sadly ignired in the UK!
Tony’s my boyfriend’s granddad! Love the appreciation for him as many don’t know the Beatles origin!
Agreed, I bought “the beatles first” when I was 12, i loved it, the sheer enthusiasm they could generate, even Pete does his best!
Tony used to live in my house, my elderly neighbour used to tell me about all the jam sessions which used to go on in the garden. In 2010 my neighbour saw Tony standing outside my home and he spoke to him. He asked if he thought we would let him have a look around, unfortunately we were in Barbados and my neighbour didn’t have a key. I e-mailed Tony and said when he next came over to contact me and have a look around, but sadly he passed away before ever making it back. Im trying to think of a fitting name for the house!
Always remain very large in Our History The Beatles Number One Viva The Beatles Help!
“Tony Sheridan held the distinction of having sung on The Beatles’ first commercially-released music.”
He continues to hold that distinction — and always shall.
I bought “In the Beginning” (1st US Polydor release) in 1970 3 months before the release of Let It Be. I was 9. I didn’t know what to expect, but having a warm spot for their earliest recordings fired up my fascination. The fact that 10 out of 12 songs were sung by Tony Sheridan did not disappoint me at all; mainly because of the strength of the material. He did it well with character. The LP had a timeless feel to it. Had I not read the liner notes, I would have never guessed it was recorded as far back as 1961. Most importantly, one thing leads to another, Without Tony working with The Beatles & having them as backup on the 45 My Bonnie, Brian Epstein would never have been asked or import that single. Thus Brian may have never been compelled to go to the Cavern Club & consider managing The Beatles. Without Tony, The Beatles may have been overlooked.
Please, who knows the name of the musician who played the organ in Ya Ya with Tony Sheridan and The Beatles (Beat Brothers)??
Roy Young, according to the linernotes of «The Early Tapes of the Beatles» written by Bill Harry.
Cracks me up knowing Tony would ridicule (in his opinion) “bad guitars” – like John’s Rickenbacker – but there’s always that picture of him playing a crappy Futurama. (There’s a pic around of a young Jimmy Page playing one, too) Proves everybody’s got to start somewhere!
Also, that Ric 325 isn’t a “bad” guitar. John made great rhythm sounds (and a few leads) on his, and John Fogerty got some great sounds out of his on the bulk of the CCR material.
As for Tony, he was a pretty good guitar player, had a good voice, and from the few clips I’ve seen, put on an energetic performance. What I’ve heard, I generally like.
Tony went to the same school as me, the City of Norwich (CNS). His compatriots included Patrick Faux Chadwick aka Pussy or Chad at whose jam sessions I later performed. Chad performed my composition “No Passion” when living in Gibraltar. He had ironically come from Liverpool.
Simon, I have just seen your mention that you went to CNS and much earlier than my ’62-67 at TGS. I have met Alan Mann, one of Tony’s school friends, who wrote ‘The Teacher’ and gave me a copy. Tony’s half-brother Paul , born after Tony left for London, is a friend of mine and lives in Norfolk. A few years ago I met Tony’s sister Cathy who lives in Wales.
I saw and heard Tony at the 50’s/60’s music weekend at UEA 2008. A time I shall always remember.
I am a collector of Tony’s early 60’s vinyl and have been very surprised that so many local people do not realise that Tony, who really got The Beatles started big time, lived 4 mile away from me in Thorpe St Andrew. Been to the bungalow and there is no plaque on the wall yet.
At different times and in different interviews, both Tony Sheridan and John Lennon claimed that much more was recorded during those Hamburg sessions than was ever released. Can anyone verify?