Johnny Worth (June 6, 1931 - August 6, 2021)

(Johnny Worth & Cristos)

You know the old saying that everything happens in threes? Well sometimes it does! 

Earlier this week we noted that guitarist Edd Carr had started a Thursday residency at the Milbourne Arms near Whitley Bay and yesterday, Chris Kilsby made reference to drummer John Hirst's involvement with the Mark Williams/Paul Susans' gig in Hexham.

Hirst and Carr were members of a jazz-rock trio HCW, named from their surname initials - the W referring to bass guitarist Christos Worsley.

I first heard the band in 2008 at the Side Café where I also met Christos' dad who had been a singer and a songwriter with a long and successful show biz career.

As a singer (Johnny Worth) he sang with the Oscar Rabin Band then later became part of a successful vocal group - The Raindrops. As a songwriter (Les Vandyke) he wrote hits for Engelbert Humperdink, Adam Faith, Eden Kane, Petula Clark, John Barry and many others. See also.

I only met him twice but he seemed a really nice, affable  guy and easy to chat with so it was with more than a tinge of sadness that I felt when I read that he'd died on August 6 - just a week ago.

John Worsley, Johnny Worth, Les Vandyke was 90 year old. May he rest in peace.

Lance

Daily Mail obituary.