Billy’s Heritage
On September 28th 2003 at the London home that Billy shared with his long time partner Lisa Voice, a Musical Heritage Blue plaque was unveiled in his honour. Fury’s Tornados & Colin Gold were invited to the ceremony and also to the celebration banquet that followed at the Park Lane Grosvenor Hotel where they perfomed three songs with Colin before later backing PJ Proby on the Billy classic ‘I Will’ and Peter Straker singing ‘Only Make Believe’ and ‘Jealousy’. Madeline Bell also performed a terrific soulful version of ‘Halfway To Paradise’ accompanied by Mike Moran on piano.
- As a finale, everyone joined Fury’s Tornados to sing a rousing version of ‘A Thousand Stars’, they included Frank Allen of The Searchers, Anita Harris, Vicki Michelle, Rose Marie and Lee John from Imagination amongst others.
- The party went on late into the night back at Billy and Lisa’s home where Charlie entertained on the piano with everyone singing Billy’s songs as well as few others. Everyone enjoyed themselves and Lisa even had a rock ‘n’ roll dance at one point!
- The band thanks Lisa for a truly memorable day, her wonderful hospitality and her continued support of their efforts to maintain the memory and music of Billy.
- The event was also attended by Hal Carter, Billy’s manager and friend. Hal was also a dear friend of Fury’s Tornados and became their manager in the 70s. Hal and Billy agreed on the name Fury’s Tornados and Hal famously produced ‘Telstar ‘74’ recorded by Fury’s Tornados in celebration of the original hit.
- The party was the last time that Fury’s Tornados saw Hal, who sadly passed away on his birthday in 2004. He is a character that will be sadly missed.
- Furys Tornados fondly recall his catch phrase “Leave It To Me Doll”. which he used on numerous occasions, but most memorably to great effect on the A1 back in 74 during the Rock ‘n’ Roll nationwide tour. The groups van (which Billy later noticed had the number plate PTO) had rolled over, the equipment and stage clothes were strewn everywhere across the road and everyone was at a loss what to do for the best. Hal pulled up in his car, hopped out, simply said “Leave it To Me Doll”, re-directed the traffic, took Charlie off to hospital and even arranged transportation on to York Theatre Royal, where the show went on as if nothing had happened (except Charlie had a bandaged head!).
- The pictures on this page are amongst the very last that Fury’s Tornados had taken with him.
