Graham Wyvill
1950. Born in Cleethorpes at a very early age. In 1962 Graham’s family moved to Nottingham where his brother Bob formed a school pop group called the Houndogs. Another member of that band was Rik Kenton, who went on to become bassist for Roxy Music! “If you play bass you can join!” So Dad advanced £34 for a Rosetti Bass 9 and at the age of 14 started his musical career. He turned professional in 1973 to form “Highly Likely” the band that promoted the hit record “Whatever Happened to You?” from the BBC comedy “Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads.” After Billy stopped touring Graham continued working with John in a band called The Ritz which was signed to Polydor. Billy took a great interest in the band and their original songs, giving much of his time during sessions in the recording studios. As it was then the “punk” era, he (unsuccessfully) suggested they should be renamed “The Machine Guns.” Another former member of Ritz was Dave Williams, whose current exploits can be seen here. One of Daves early bands was The New Opposition and they had Queens’ John Deacon on bass.
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In 1993 Graham returned to full-time study to follow a life-long interest in furniture making and after 4 years acheived a BA (hons) in Applied Furniture Studies. During the course he received a national award for his work. You can view his own website HERE. Graham was brought out of semi-retirement to reform Fury’s Tornados and now says, ” I am enjoying every single moment recreating the music and the genius of Billy Fury.”
John Raynor
John Raynor (no relation to Chris) was born in Nottingham on 29th Jan 1951. He started playing the drums and annoying the neighbours at the tender age of 13. Other school pals joined forces with him to form his first group called “The Bloodhounds”. After a line-up change they became “The Intruders”, He worked his way through more experienced bands and turned professional at the age of 17. Tours around the world followed with all the stars of the time finally finding stability working with Billy.
He looks back with deep affection for that time. He recalls a quiet, shy but humorous man whose typical Liverpudlian streak lead to many a funny story. “Billy treated us more as a part of his family rather than just paid musicians” he relates… “I remember once in a dressing room I could here a tiny voice saying ‘John?’ - ‘John?’ … a hunt around the room revealed Billy hiding in a wardrobe, hidden away from the ladies who would have loved to have got hold of him. The only thing was, he’d been crouching in there for over two hours, too scared to come out!”
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These days, away from the rigours of touring, he ‘relaxes’ at his Nottingham home, quote “Being an old Grandad” to his seven grandchildren.
Charlie Elston
Charlie Elston was Billy Fury’s Musical Director throughout the ’70s firstly with Milky Way and subsequently with Fury’s Tornados. Prior to Charlie, Billy had John Miles and Georgie Fame on keyboards / direction so Charlie continued a long line of excellent musical pedigree.
His own career following his time with Billy included ‘The Enid’ a major recording band with several albums to their credit. Quite diversley, after The Enid and brief spell with ‘The Casuals (Jesamine), he joined Leeds based comedy band ‘Black Onyx’. The reformation of Fury’s Tornados had taken place initially without Charlie appearing live due to his other commitments. Charlie re-joined on a full time basis in 2000.
A major highlight of the show is his own personal classical arrangement of a selection of Billy’s songs titled ‘Billisa’, which leaves the audience spellbound.
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One of Charlies many memories of the seventies includes the time he visited Billy at his St. Johns Wood home just after Billy had undergone major heart surgery. He recalls… I was talking to Billy when Lisa came into the room and said Paul was at the door. Billy said….. “Ask him if he’ll come back later…. I’m talking to Charlie.” The Paul in question was none other than Paul McCartney! Billy could make you feel so special.
Two other recollections. During the 1972 Rock ‘n’ Roll Wembley gig backing Billy, they shared a dressing room with Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry… some line up! - and - during the promotion of the movie “That’ll Be The Day” we performed at a London nightspot where Keith Moon came up to me and asked if he could play with the band. John had grave concerns for his drum kit!
Chris Raynor
On hearing a fellow pupil friend play the Shadows’ “Geronimo” on lead guitar at a school concert aged 14, Chris was hooked by its sound. Fate was to play its part at the bank in which he worked after leaving school - he was to work alongside a guitarist from a local band. Quick to seize the opportunity he picked his fellow workers brains and within 18 months turned professional. He formed his first band called “Colours of Love” in 1968. After a stint of doing airforce bases in Germany with Derby based vocal harmony band “Our Dog Winston” , Chris was offered the job playing lead guitar for Billy. His memories of those golden years prompted him to write and dedicate a song to “My old boss and friend”. Aptly titled “The Paradise Song”, it is a heartfelt piece which sums up perfectly the loss felt at losing his dear friend.
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Chris’s guitars include a 1970 Gretch Nashville, a 1967 Fender Telecaster, a very fetching pink paisley Fender Stratocaster and a Variax Semi-acoustic. Amplification is the trusty Vox AC30.
Colin Gold
Colin Gold was born in May ‘62 at Ashford Middlesex. He attended at Barbara Speak stage school in Acton from the age of 11 and soon joined forces with his brother Mark on keyboards with himself on drums, performing for many years as the “2 g’s” around the club circuit. At the age of 12 they appeared with Frank Carson and Jim Davidson and also starred at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green.
After many years of gigging, Colin threw the towel in on the drums and focused on lead vocal. Then in 1996 he appeared on TV’s “Stars In Their Eyes” as Billy Fury. Two week after the show, he received a phone call, asking if he would like to help keep the music and the memory alive by performing with Fury’s Tornados. He originally thought that it was one of his friends winding him up, so he hung up. Sure enough the phone rang again and it was Chris Raynor .The rest, as they say is HISTORY.
“Over the past years there are a lot of fond memories and I’ve made a lot of new friends along the way, especially Chris “Chumley” Raynor, John “Raggster” Raynor, Charlie Elston, Graham Wyvill, Steve Nelson and of course Mr. Paul Vine. Oh yes how could I forget our tour photographer, Steve “Shammy” Forward. Who not only drives me to the venues, but comes round my house, sleeps on my sofa, drinks my beer and even now comes on bloody holiday with me and my family”.
Colin would like to thank his wife Beverley June for all the love and support she has provided. They have been married for 20 years and have 3 children, Ricky (21), Danny (19) and Reece (11). Ricky can be seen all round the country working with super group the Hollies as a stage technician. He is a multi-talented musician in his own right, able to play, rhythm, lead and bass guitar. Danny (the noisiest member of the family), is one of the top 40 drummers in the U.K. and as well as playing in his own band “My Mate Kate“, also works with the Billy Fury Story as Raggy’s drum technician. Then there’s Reece, many people say a clone of Colin, but Reece say’s he has the better voice.
“I have enjoyed the past 10 plus years touring the country, and wish to carry on keeping the memory and the music of the great man himself alive with his very own band “Fury’s Tornados.”
Many thanks, Good luck, God bless.
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