Description
Johnny Kidd Autograph for sale
Johnny Kidd Autograph for sale [1939 – 1966]. Mounted with original advertisement poster for Shakin’ All Over and also with the original 45rpm single as well. Autograph reads: Love Johnny Kidd xx. Measurements: 26 1/2″ x 11 1/2″
Frederick Albert “Freddie” Heath was born in 1935 in Willesden, North London. He began playing guitar in a skiffle group in about 1956. The group, known as “The Frantic Four” and later as “The Nutters”. Covered primarily skiffle, pop and rockabilly. Simultaneously Heath was proving to be a prolific writer; penning most of 30 songs in over three months. Heath’s 31st song would prove to be the group’s break.
In 1959 Heath and his band were given a recording test for their first single. A rocker titled “Please Don’t Touch”. A contract with HMV quickly followed and the group were then informed during the session that their name “Freddie Heath and the Nutters” would be changed to Johnny Kidd & the Pirates. “Please Don’t Touch” would reach the low twenties of the music charts. Although it is not as well known as Kidd’s later song “Shakin’ All Over”. It is a stand-out among other British rock songs of the time. Unlike Billy Fury or Marty Wilde, Kidd does not sing in an imitation voice of Elvis Presley or one of his American contemporaries. The song also bears a smooth harmony and contains no clear references to the rockabilly style.
