The Past

Mike Gannon was born in the North West of England in Ince, near Wigan, Lanacshire. His father was from County Mayo, Ireland. This meant that Mike’s early musical influence was mainly listening to Irish folk music played by his father on the penny whistle and the melodian. So in keeping with Irish tradition, the first instrument that Mike played was the harmonica.

Such was Mike’s ear for music, that from around the age of nine, Mike began teaching himself to play guitar. (Most children of that age like to take a favourite cuddly toy to bed with them. For Mike, it was his guitar!)

Mike started playing music on a professional basis at the age of fourteen. He joined a cousin's group, playing in the coffee bars and dance halls around Wigan.

At this point in time, Mike's song writing talent began to emerge and approximately a year later he formed his own group, "The Madmen", along with his cousin John and they started playing gigs not only around Wigan but further afield.

His musical influences were very much rooted in the Ray Charles and jazz/rhythm and blues area of music. Playing gigs however, meant that the influences of the day sometimes had to take priority and the popular tunes as well as some original material made up the numbers played in the usual programme for "The Madmen".

There were many similar groups around in Wigan and Lancashire at this time, which became known as the "Beat Boom".

The "Mersey Sound" had got everyone interested in looking to the North of England for its musical talent, and one day the legendary Dick Rowe of Decca Records (he is famous for turning the Beatles down), gathered together several groups in a local Ballroom for an audition. Mike's Madmen were one of them!!

Dick Rowe was more than interested in both the young Gannon's ability to write original material and in his group, and he asked them to play again when everyone else has finished their audition.

Dick Rowe promised his interest was genuine and asked the young Gannon to gather together some more of his original songs and meet up again in approximately six months time. This is something Mike fully intended to do!

At the time "The Beat Boys" were acknowledged as a top group. They already had a Decca recording contract, and they approached Mike asking him to join them.

Mike discussed this offer with his own group "The Madmen", and after much deliberation decided to accept the offer. So before the six months period was up and further contact with Dick Rowe was to be established, Mike had become a "Beat Boy"!

"The Beat Boys" were one of the top groups in the country at the time. The group was managed by three brothers from Manchester, who had wonderful connections and also owned one of the premier jazz/blues clubs in England.

The club known as the "Twisted Wheel". is where Mike spent most of his spare time watching the jazz and blues greats who played there on a regular basis. Artists such as:

(Georgie Fame was himself an ex Beat Boy), and an artist who shaped Mike's musical influences more than anyone and with whom Mike had the pleasure of meeting on several occasions - Memphis Slim (his real name is John "Peter" Chatman.)

During this time he was also playing guitar and vocalising with the Jess Greenough Big Band, a sixteen piece band which was resident at a Ballroom in Wigan.

The association with the Jess Greenough Big Band lasted for many years and Mike was allowed to just turn up and play when he was not on tour with "The Beat Boys".

"The Beat Boy" days lasted for almost two years, and after a tour engagement to back "Screamin' Jay Hawkins", Mike Gannon left the group.

Leaving "The Beat Boys" was a wrench, but Mike had decided to form his own jazz and blues group which he called "The Frame".

Another top group came on the scene known as "The Vacquero's". They approached Mike to play bass as well as sing. After the initial protest that he was a lead guitarist, he was persuaded to go to one rehearsal and give it a go. The persuasion paid off, because Mike joined the group!

Mike insists that "The Vacquero's" were the best group he had ever worked with, everyone in the group being excellent musicians in their own right and this combination made working together a great pleasure. Playing bass and singing with "The Vacquero's" was for Mike one of the longest and happiest periods spent with any group.

This time spent with "The Vacquero's" also allowed Mike to play guitar with the Jess Greenough Big Band on Monday evenings.

For many years the song writing took a back seat and the time spent working with a variety of musicians in different combinations was for many years the way it was.

Venturing into cabaret as a solo act was also going to add another dimension to Mike's musical career and this was done on a regular basis as well as also playing with genre's of different types.

After getting tired of cabaret, Mike formed a trio and decided to play piano as well as guitar on stage. The trio was one of the most enjoyable musical experiences Mike had and he graduated to become resident musician at the famous Imperial Hotel in Blackpool.

The Imperial Hotel for the uninitiated is the premier hotel where the Labour and Conservative governments have successively held their conferences each year for many years. The Imperial is situated on the Lancashire coast and is not only a good venue to play at but it is also where you are likely to be seen by the most number of people.

After two years at The Imperial Hotel, Mike was offered the residency at the Piccadilly Hotel, which is a premier hotel situated in the middle of Manchester.

After the Piccadilly Hotel contract came to an end, Mike was offered and took up the residency at The Trafalgar Hotel which is a premier venue situated in the Lancashire countryside.

At the end of the contract at the Trafalgar the decision to disband the trio and have a rest was taken. This gave Mike the opportunity to be involved in other things and concentrate more on writing once again.

Being a commited Christian, Mike became involved in the pageant to celebrate the Fourteen Hundredth Anniversary of the conversion of England to Christianity by St Augustine. He advised and arranged some of the music for the Pageant on the day and also played the lead part of the Venerable Bede when it was turned into a BBC radio drama.

This involvement led him to concentrate on the Millennium Pageant in 1999, a celebration of 2000 years of the life of Christ, which was held at Preston North End Football Ground, situated in the heart of Lancashire.

Mike was involved in the production side of the Pageant as well as writing some of the original music which was used on the day. This led to the recording of the titles known collectively as "In The Beginning".
The first track on the CD, "River of Life", was used at the recent dedication of the new Millennium illumination which is now lit up and standing proudly on the Promenade at Blackpool. Mike performed "River of Life" and led the prayer prior to the Bishop performing the dedication ceremony of the illumination.
These events were reported in the local media and it has led to several interviews over the local BBC radio network and media.

The Present

Today, Mike is involved in the Catholic Stage Guild. The Catholic Stage Guild’s aim is to give Pastoral care to artists who require it and also on occasion financial help to artists who are in need.

He also writes, performs and records Christian songs which he and his singers have put together in CD's, "In the Beginning" and "Blues for Jesus" and which are shown on the next pages.

The Future

This part is still under construction.

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