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JON DEREK

A TRIBUTE PAGE TO MARK'S FATHER...THE LEGENDARY JON DEREK

Johnny and the Hayriders (1963)The Flintlocks (1966)Jamie, Jon & Jerry (1967)Country Fever 1970 Jon Derek, Pete Oakman, Albert Lee & Jed KellyCharley Pride with Jon Derek & Pete Oakman (BBC Studios 1970)George Hamilton IV & Jon Derek (1971)Marvin Rainwater & Jon Derek (Wembley 1975)
Slim Whitman & Jon Derek (On tour together in 1976)Jon Derek (Decca Records 1977)Don Everly, Albert Lee & Jon Derek (Wembley 1980)Albert Lee, Jon Derek & Don Everly (Wembley 1980)Jon Derek, Faron Young, George Jones, Marty Robbins & Tammy Wynette (1981)Jon Derek (1989)Country Fever...reunited! Jerry Hogan, Albert Lee & Jon Derek (1990)
 
 
If anyone acquainted with British Country Music is asked to name some popular artistes, invariably the name JON DEREK would be one of the first mentioned.
 
There cannot be many entertainment venues remaining in Great Britain that have not booked Jon, either as a solo artiste or as the leader of his famed band; COUNTRY FEVER. In addition, Jon has toured Europe on a number of  occasions and has played just about every Theatre, Festival and Club in these isles.
 
The popularity of this band made Jon give up any original ambitions of becoming an architect for he went on to join the JIM REEVES tour and turned 'Pro' in 1964.  After signing with a top impresario, they were now known as THE FLINTLOCKS and in 1966 released a single on 'Decca Records'...a Lennon/McCartney composition entitled 'What Goes On'. Their manager 'Don Arden' (who at the time also managed the 'Small Faces' and the 'Nashville Teens') decided to change their name to JAMIE, JON & JERRY.  They went on to record three more singles for 'Decca' (one of which was produced by the legendary Dick Rowe) and they toured with such artistes as CLODAGH RODGERS, CARL PERKINS, DEL REEVES and HANK LOCKLIN.
 
In 1968, Jon acquired the talents of guitarist ALBERT LEE and together they formed COUNTRY FEVER.  They recorded for 'Lucky Records' and 'Redifusion' and were often heard on BBC Radio in such programmes as 'The Terry Wogan Show', 'The Jimmy Young Show', 'Country Style' and 'Country Meets Folk' and television appearances included 'Walk Right In', 'Colour Me Pop', 'Late Night Line-Up', 'Sing Country' and 'The George Hamilton IV Show'. 

Since it’s original forming, a never ending change of top talented musicians passed through this legendary band, making JON DEREK'S COUNTRY FEVER the most sought after Country Music group on the British scene either in their own right or by touring and performing with such superstars as JERRY LEE LEWIS, JOHNNY CASH, SKEETER DAVIS, CHARLEY PRIDE, DON GIBSON, SLIM WHITMAN, MARVIN RAINWATER  and many others.

Jon's pedigree is second to none, having won a number of awards and over the years shared the stage with a plethora of superstars...you can add to this two appearances at the Royal Albert Hall, five at the London Palladium and just about every major festival that has ever been put on...including numerous appearances at the 'Wembley International Festivals of Country Music', stir in a string of major album and single releases including two No.1 hit records in Malta (Makin' Believe & Till The Rivers All Run Dry) and we have probably the hottest singing property that Britain has ever produced in the realms of Country Music.  

 
DOWNLOAD A COPY OF JON DEREK'S BIOGRAPHY  (PDF 301KB)
 
 
The Flintlocks (1966)The Flintlocks & Eddy Arnold at a Radio Caroline show (1966)Jon & Sandy Derek on their wedding day (1969)Jon Derek, Albert Lee & Jerry Hogan on stage at Newcastle City Hall (1969)Country Fever (1970)Jon Derek & Albert Lee in the recording studios (1970)Jon, Sure good working with you, All the best, Slim Whitman (1970)
Country Fever on stage with Hank Locklin (1971)Country Fever on stage at Wembley (1972)A live LP album featuring Jimmy Payne, Jimmy Saville & Jon Derek (1975)Jon Derek on stage in Great Yarmouth (1975)Jon Derek in his dressing room on the Slim Whitman UK tour (1976)Jon Derek on stage at the Beck Theatre in Hayes, Greater London (1978)Jon Derek with long time friend Raymond Froggatt (1988)
 
 
David Allan          
 
“Jon was already an established name when I began broadcasting for BBC Radio 2 in the late 1960’s.  Jon recorded many sessions for us and was equal to anything we featured from America. The reaction of the listeners was always hugely positive. He is certainly one of the very few genuine stars the British country scene has produced and I would go as far as to call him an icon!” 
 
DAVID ALLAN  (Journalist and Broadcaster)
  
Listen  BROKEN LADY
(Listen to a sample of a live recording of Jon Derek's Country Fever recorded in front of a live audience for the BBC in the late 1970's and introduced by the man himself...Mr David Allan).
 
Jamie, Jon & Jerry (1967)Country Fever with Albert Lee (1968)Jon Derek & Country Fever on tour with Hank Locklin (1970)Country Fever 1970 - Pete Oakman, Roger Dean, Jed Kelly & Jon DerekJon Derek on stage at the Portsmouth Country Music Festival (1980)Jon Derek & Marvin Rainwater on stage at Wembley Arena (1981)Jon Derek & Faron Young vocalising with Marty Robbins & Tammy Wynette(1981)
Jon Derek & Marty Robbins (1981)Good friends...Marvin Rainwater & Jon Derek on tour again! (1981)A young Mark Derek, his father Jon & friend (Peterborough CM Festival) 1981Jon Derek at the Mean Fiddler in North London (1983)Jon Derek with sound engineer Bob Whiteley (Look Records) 1983Jon Derek & Country Fever with a young Sarah Jory (1987)Jon Derek & Tony Peck (Country Fever drummer) 1989
 
JON DEREK HAS WORKED AND TOURED WITH A PLETHORA OF STAR NAMES INCLUDING:
 
JIM REEVES,  JERRY LEE LEWIS,  CARL PERKINS,  MARVIN RAINWATER,  HANK LOCKLIN,  SLIM WHITMAN,  GUY MITCHELL,  DON GIBSON,  DEL REEVES,  CLODAGH RODGERS,  GEORGE HAMILTON IV,  BOBBY BARE,  SKEETER DAVIS,  WANDA JACKSON,  CHET ATKINS,  CONNIE SMITH,  NAT STUCKEY,  JOHNNY CASH,  DOLLY PARTON,  CHARLEY PRIDE,  GEORGE JONES,  OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN,  ANNE MURRAY,  BILLIE JO SPEARS,  TONY CHRISTIE,  TOMMY COOPER,  JIMMY SAVILLE,  TAMMY WYNETTE,  CRYSTAL GAYLE,  FARON YOUNG,  MARTY ROBBINS,  DON WILLIAMS,  DON EVERLY,  THE STONEMAN FAMILY,  TOMPALL GLASER,  BILL ANDERSON  &  GLEN CAMPBELL
 
 
Country Fever supported Chet Atkins, Bobby Bare & co. on tour in 1969Country Fever supported Slim Whitman on his first tour to the UK in 1970Country Fever supported Jerry Lee Lewis on his UK tour in 1972Country Fever supported George Hamilton IV on his UK tour in 1972Jon Derek supported Slim Whitman on his extensive UK tour in 1976Jon Derek appeared at the International Festival of Country Music in 1977Jon Derek & Country Fever at the last ever Wembley Festival 1991
 
DID YOU KNOW...?
 
Harlech Castle, North Wales    Jon Derek was born in Harlech, North Wales 

Clodagh Rodgers      

Jon Derek's 'Till The Rivers All Run Dry' & 'Makin' Believe' both reached No.1 in the Maltese Singles Chart in 1977.  Irish singer Clodagh Rodgers, famous for her hits 'Come Back And Shake Me (1969) & 'Jack In The Box' (1971), can be heard singing backing vocals on both tracks along with her sister Lavinia.

Marvin Rainwater
 
 
    
US legend Marvin Rainwater who reached No.1 in the British Pop Charts in 1958 with 'Whole Lotta Woman' was quoted to have said in the early 1970's that on his future tours to the UK he would not use any other band to back him other than Jon Derek's Country Fever.

Goin Back (1984)      

Jon Derek's 1984 release 'Goin' Back' became, at the time, the fastest selling British Country Music album to date and includes six tracks recorded in the 'Decca Records' studio.

George Hamilton IV's Autobiography      

Jon Derek is mentioned in many books and publications including, George Hamilton IV's autobiography 'Ambassador of Country Music'.

Marvin Rainwater & Jon Derek (Wembley 1975)      
In its 23 year reign, Jon Derek appeared more times than any other British act at the world-renowned 'International Festivals of Country Music' held each Easter weekend at Wembley Arena.
Jim Reeves       In 1963, Jon Derek's band Johnny & The Hayriders was the only British act to ever support the late Jim Reeves on a tour to the UK.
 
Audio Samples       JON DEREK - AUDIO SAMPLES
 
 
Listen  I'M STILL YOUR FOOL  (1989)
Listen  YOUR PRETTY BROWN EYES  (1989)
Listen  AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED  (1984)
Listen  LOVE AIN'T THE QUESTION  (1984)
Listen  HEY DUKE YOU GOT TRUE GRIT  (1981)
Listen  TILL THE RIVERS ALL RUN DRY  (1977)
Listen  MAKIN' BELIEVE  (1977)
Listen  IT'S IN YOUR EYES  (1976)
Listen  WAYFARIN' STRANGER  (1976)
Listen  YOU'VE STILL GOT A PLACE IN MY HEART  (1967)
   
Discography       JON DEREK'S - DISCOGRAPHY
  
7" SINGLES
 
1966 * WHAT GOES ON - THE FLINTLOCKS  (Decca F12412)
1967 * I'D BE A LEGEND IN MY TIME - JAMIE, JON & JERRY  (Decca F12575)
 1967 * YOU'VE STILL GOT A PLACE IN MY HEART - JAMIE, JON & JERRY  (Decca F12642)
1967 * TOGETHER AGAIN - JAMIE, JON & JERRY  (Decca F12686)
1969 * MENTAL REVENGE - COUNTRY FEVER  (Lucky LU106)
1969 * COME AND STAY WITH ME - COUNTRY FEVER  (Lucky LU112)
1970 * A PICTURE OF YOU - COUNTRY FEVER  (Pye 7N17963)
1971 * THE MOTH AND THE FLAME - COUNTRY FEVER  (Decca F23156)
1975 * ALL I WANT TO DO IS LOVE YOU - JON DEREK & COUNTRY FEVER  (Jem 001)
1976 * FIVE HUNDRED MILES - JON DEREK  (Real RR2010)
1977 * TILL THE RIVERS ALL RUN DRY / MAKIN' BELIEVE - JON DEREK  (Decca F13733)
1981 * HEY DUKE YOU GOT TRUE GRIT - JON DEREK'S COUNTRY FEVER  (Amigo 005)
1989 * I'M STILL YOUR FOOL - JON DEREK & COUNTRY FEVER  (ECM 002)
 
 
LP ALBUMS
 
1968 * MOUNTAIN MUSIC JAMBOREE - COUNTRY FEVER  (Rediffusion ZS50)
1970 * THIS IS LUCKY COUNTRY - Feat. COUNTRY FEVER  (Lucky LUS 3000)
1970 * LISTEN TO THE COUNTRY FEVER - COUNTRY FEVER  (Lucky LUS 3003)
1970 * A NEW DIMENSION - COUNTRY FEVER  (Lucky LUS 3013)
1970 * THE BEST OF LUCKY COUNTRY - Feat. COUNTRY FEVER  (Lucky LUS 3014)
1971 * COUNTRY CAROUSEL - Feat. COUNTRY FEVER  (Lucky LUS 3015)
1971 * LUCKY STARS IN CONCERT - Feat. COUNTRY FEVER  (Lucky LUS 3017)
1971 * COUNTRY STYLE - Feat. COUNTRY FEVER  (Peerless/Rediffusion DT 013)
1972 * MARVIN RAINWATER GETS COUNTRY FEVER - Feat. COUNTRY FEVER
           (Phillips 6414 110)  
1974 * THE WORLD OF COUNTRY MUSIC VOL.6 - Feat. JON DEREK'S COUNTRY FEVER
           (Decca SPA 370)
1975 * JIMMY PAYNE & FRIENDS LIVE AT BROADMOOR -
            Feat. JON DEREK & COUNTRY FEVER  (Ocean OCL 3001)
1976 * SONGS I HAVE WRITTEN...WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS - JON DEREK
           (Westwood WRS 098)
1976 * THE COUNTRY MUSIC TRAIL - JON DEREK & COUNTRY FEVER  (Maskerade FWS 3881)
 
 
CASSETTE ALBUMS  
 
1982 * LISTEN TO THE COUNTRY FEVER - COUNTRY FEVER
              (Silver Dollar SDC 001) *First released on Lucky Records*
1982 * SONGS I HAVE WRITTEN...WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS - JON DEREK
           (Silver Dollar SDC 002) *First released on Lucky Records*
1983 * TRADITIONAL COUNTRY FAVOURITES - JON DEREK & COUNTRY FEVER  (AIM 114)
1983 * PETERBOROUGH FESTIVAL OF COUNTRY MUSIC -
            Feat. JON DEREK & COUNTRY FEVER  (Image BHSS 0104)
1984 * GOIN' BACK  - JON DEREK & COUNTRY FEVER  (Look Records ECM 001)
1989 * MOVIN' ON - JON DEREK & COUNTRY FEVER  (ECM 213)
 
 
 
Although none of the above titles are still available to buy new, it is however still possible to find used copies in many collector's record shops, at record fares and via the internet on such websites as MusicStack and Ebay.  Popular searches would be; The Flintlocks, Jamie, Jon & Jerry, Country Fever & Jon Derek.  
 
What Goes On? (1966)Youve Still Got A Place In My Heart (1967)Listen To The Country Fever (1970)Songs I Have Written...With A Little Help From My Friends (1976)Five Hundred Miles (1976)The Country Music Trail (1976)Till The Rivers All Run Dry (1977)
 
 
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© Mark Derek 2010


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