Froggie, as he is known by his army of fans, started his working days as a pipe lagger, night time would be spent singing in the pubs and secretly writing poetry in his spare time, a great talent that maybe would have stayed hidden if not for the illness. Once he started to recover from his illness Froggie decided to advertise for musicians to put together a Band, four very talented musicians called The Monopoly were to become Froggie's new Band. Before long Froggie became signed to the top record companies of the time POLYDOR, BELL, JET WARNER, his writing talents also led to his signing to major publishing houses a great honour as his songs were being recorded by artist all over the country and abroad. CLIFF RICHARD, DAVE CLARK FIVE to name but a few. Still today his songs are recorded by major artists. In 1992 Raymond released his autobiography telling stories of his earlier years in the music business. His concerts are sold out across the country and abroad, the Froggie followers arrive at the shows clutching their frogs with green scarves waving, certainly a sight to behold. Froggie writes and sings his own songs mesmerising his audience, making them laugh with one of his many stories or cry with emotion with a song that touches the heart like no other. Raymond also released another album of songs to coincide with this new tour. An evening with Raymond Froggatt is pure magic, an evening not to be missed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Below is an article that has been reproduced with the permission of the Wolverhampton Express & Star titled: "Rock Back The Clock" Raymond Froggatt must be the only Brummie ever to love Wolverhampton as much as his home city, but it's not surprising. When it came to good time music there was, and still is, nothing to equal a Raymond Froggatt show in Wolverhampton. It was one of the quintessential Wulfrunian experiences in the Sixties: you got a glass of liquid coolant at the bar, squeezed into the packed throng front of stage, and waited until the music started rolling. More than an hour, many great songs, and several encores later, you looked around and saw everyone grinning as broadly as you. Whenever Black Country rock fans discuss favourites who inexplicably failed to hit the big time, it's not long before Froggy gets a mention. He had tremendous charisma, all his own hair and teeth, legions of faithful fans, great backing musicians, a splendid singing voice, and drew full houses all over the country. You couldn't blame his songs either: The Dave Clark Five had a Top 10 hit with Red Balloon, and Froggy songs have sold in their millions for Cliff Richard, Leon Russell, Gladys Knight, The Byrds and a French film star called Mari Lafforette, plus top American country music stars including George Hamilton IV. Maybe he didn't have the pop star look of the day as a young 'un, resembling, with his black hair and beard, and powerful build, the wicked woodcutter from Snow White rather than the prince with the revivifying kiss, but then Ken Dodd's no oil painting, and he churned out a hit or three. Spotlight What's more Froggy grew into his looks over the years and still looks good today. Not getting a hit must still be galling for the band, but there are many pop stars from the sixties no?one can remember, whereas there are thousands who'll never forget Froggy, including many a married couple who met at one of his gigs and went a?wooing at his later shows. Raymond William Froggatt gained his taste for the spotlight in near darkness. His first paying performance was when he was eight years old, and sang Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea when the lights failed at the Dunlop Social Club, earning sixpence as a reward. Around 40 years ago he teamed up with guitarist Hartley Cain, bassist Louis Clark and drummer Len Ablethorpe to form the Raymond Froggatt band. Before long he managed to get a gig in Wolverhampton, and the city has held a special place in is heart ever since. "This was the only place, at the start, where we could go out and feel like we were somebody good," he told me years later. 'This town made us feel we had something to offer just by singing our own songs.” The Ship and Rainbow pub, in Dudley Road, was his fortress. The famous long room upstairs was always packed when Froggy took the stage, and at least half of the crowd knew the songs as well as he did, and would sing along with him. In his famous Rowley's Gonna Get Married, a three?beat pause was filled by the entire audience roaring "two?three?four" every time it occurred ? and every time he played the song over the years. Always Goodbye had sad lyrics, but even that turned into a celebration with the Froggy treatment. The sheer joy in the room at his gigs was unforgettable, especially the time the Ship and Rainbow fans presented him with a silver shield inscribed: "May you always return." The heat in the room, and the emotion of the occasion, proved too much for Froggy after yet another night in which he gave his all, and he collapsed on stage during his final number. The contribution of his band should never be forgotten, either. Hartley Cain had a unique style which constantly added to the songs, and bassist and arranger Louis Clark, later to join ELO and produce hit albums starring the London Philharmonic Orchestra, had an equally massive effect on the group's sound. In later years Froggy toured with Rod Stewart, ELO and Jerry Lewis, before winning the affections of the Country and Western music scene, and supporting stars such as Tammy Wynette, Glenn Campbell, Don Williams, Billie Jo Spears and his pal George Hamilton IV. He was voted top male singer by the British Country Music Association for six years in a row. He once beat Willie Nelson into second place as top international singer. The man who made over 40 records, and has written around 3,000 songs, is still going strong, and is back in Wolverhampton in April. He summed up his own career best when he old me way back in 1986: "What I would like to be remembered for is what I do best: that I could entertain, and that it was fun; for people to look back and say: 'We had a great night with Froggy.' “I wouldn't wish for better than that.” Well, he got his wish, but all his fans, myself included, wish he could have had the fame he deserved, too. My Website is www.rbmmerchandise.co.uk also www.raymond-froggatt.com (Edit) Members TOUR DATES Fri 27th The Lawns Lincoln 01522 754972 Sun 29th Roses Theatre Tewkesbury 01684 295074 May Sat 5th Princess Theatre 01485 532252 Sun 6th Princess Theatre 01485 532252 Fri 11th Wulfun Wolverhampton 0870 320 7000 Sun 13th Carnigie Arts Workington 01900 602122 Sat 19th Princess Hall Aldershot 01252 329155 Sun 20th Scarborough 01723 364500 Sun 27th Kings Lynn Festival 01362 820947 June Fri 1st Peterborough 01733 552439 Sat 2nd Eye Suffolk 01379 870134 Sun 10th Prestatyn Robin Hood Holiday Park 07889135366 Mon 11th Lord Hill Shrewsbury 01743 241899 Tue 12th Lord Hill Shrewsbury 01743 241899 Sat 16th Wallingford 07795 631431 Fri 22nd Leamington Spa 01926 334418 Sun 24th Felixstowe 01394 282126 July Sat 7th Princess Pavillion Falmouth 01326 211222 Sun 8th Exmouth Pavillion 01395 222477 Fri 13th Haverhill arts centre 01440 714140 Sat 14th Blackpool 01691 610507 Sat 21st Wolvestock Wolverhampton Sun 22nd Pavillion Theatre Rhyl 01745 330000 Sat 28th Dorset 01202 514514 August Sun 26th Strumpshall festival 01292 289122 September Fri 7th The Place(oakengates theatre)Oakengates 01952 619020 Sun 9th Cromer 2 shows 01263 512495 Mon 10th Prestatyn 07889135366 Tue 18th to 25th Sep 2007 All Star Mediterranean Charter Cruise October Sun 7th Empire Centre Halstead 07778 025490 Sun 14th to 17th Oct 2007 Spain (west virginia week) 07889 135366 Fri 19th Corn Hall Diss 01379 644013 Mon 22nd Regal Theatre Stowmarket 01449 612825 Sat 27th West cliff Theatre Clacton on sea 01255 November Thu 1st Princess of Wales Cannock 01543 578762 Fri 2nd Ayr festival scotland Sun 4th Brixham Wall Park 07708 606167 Sat 10th Ross on wye 01989 567995 Fri 16th The Lawns Lincoln 01522 754972 Sun 18th Southport Theatre 0870 6077560 Mon 19th Shrewsbury 01743 241899 Tue 20th Shrewsbury 01743 241899 Thu 22nd BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL tickets on sale june December Sun 2nd Corn exchange Kings Lynn Sun 16th Mill Theatre Sedgley