Kramer Is Next In British Pop Invasion

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30534, 1 September 1964, Page 11

Kramer Is Next In British Pop Invasion

Billy J. Kramer, a successful pop singer from Bootle, near Liverpool, is to appear in two shows in Christchurch on September 12, backed by the Dakotas. Both singer and band are under contract to Brian Epstein, manager of Ihe Beatles. Kramer, aged 21, was bom William Ashton and was an apprentice fitter with the

British Railways during his early singing years.

He was teamed with the Dakotas when he signed a contract with Epstein. After a successful German tour the band persuaded him to change his name to “something more glamorous.” The telephone directory was consulted but the group could not make its mind up and finally accepted the choice made by a telephone operator.

Kramer’s, recent successes have been songs written by Lennon and McCartney. Kramer and the Dakotas will appear in' Nelson on September 9. Several other pop-singing tours are expected. Later next month the Searchers, a four-man singing and instrumental group in the Merseyside manner, will appear in Christchurch before starting an Australian tour. In February the Dave Clark Five, a hit-parade singing and instrumental group, will make its first New Zealand tour. The Landon correspondent of “The Press” reoorts that the 21-year-old British singer, Cilla Black, will visit New Zealand “about the. end of March.”