Less than a month after their first live appearance, The Quarrymen entered ABC TV’s talent show TV Star Search, organised by “Mr Star Maker” Carroll Levis.
The event was held at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre, a venue The Beatles would headline numerous times in future years. On this occasion, however, it was a regional qualifying audition, one of many similar shows staged by Levis around Britain.
Performers did not normally receive a fee for taking part, but the variety shows were popular with paying audiences. It was seen as a good opportunity for new acts to hone their craft and, potentially, be discovered.
The Quarrymen didn’t pass their audition on this occasion; the winners were the Sunnyside Skiffle Group from Speke, a group which featured 19-year-old Nicky Cuff, who was 4ft 6in tall and played the tea chest bass while standing on it.
Among the songs The Quarrymen performed was ‘Worried Man Blues’, a folk song recently popularised by skiffle supremo Lonnie Donegan.
Although The Quarrymen played no further part in the shows, the finals were held twice-nightly between 17 and 23 June 1957.
Also on this day...
- 2024: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Moody Theater, Austin
- 2023: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Lincoln
- 2018: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Flens-Arena, Flensburg
- 2018: Paul McCartney returns to Liverpool for surprise live show
- 2011: Paul McCartney live: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
- 2004: Paul McCartney live: Forum Horsens Stadium, Horsens
- 1992: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati
- 1967: Editing, mixing: You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)
- 1966: Recording, mixing: Good Day Sunshine
- 1964: The Beatles live: Princess Theatre, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- 1964: Mixing: A Hard Day’s Night, Things We Said Today
- 1963: The Beatles live: King George’s Hall, Blackburn
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1961: The Beatles live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
- 1960: The Silver Beetles live: The Institute, Neston, Wirral
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.