The Chosen Few

Info courtesy Keith Fairhurst

Line Up 1964

• Ray Todd - Vocals
• Bill Shedwick - Bass and vocals
• Brian Tomlinson - Drums
• John Shedwick - Rhythm guitar
• Nigel Blanshard - Lead guitar

Line Up - October1964

• Keith Fairhurst - Vocals/Harmonica
• Bill Shedwick - Bass and vocals
• Brian Tomlinson - Drums
• John Shedwick - Rhythm guitar
• Nigel Blanshard - Lead guitar

The group now started to become more ‘Blues’ orientated and started to jettison the standard pop covers of the day for more up tempo blues numbers.

The group played most Manchester clubs of the day and was never scared to venture all over the North, we also played a short Saturday residential period at the ‘Cad’ on Regent Road, Salford. ‘The Chasers’ played the Thursday residency at the same time.

Line Up - July 1965

• Keith Fairhurst - Vocals/Harmonica
• Bill Shedwick - Bass
• Paul Jones - Drums
• John Shedwick - Rhythm guitar
• Nigel Blanshard - Lead guitar

In early 1965, Brian the drummer decided to leave, bit of a bugger really as he had aquired a car. Enter Paul Jones, great image, even betcter drummer.

The group now started to include more early ’Tamla Motown’, early soul type stuff e.g Contours, Temptations, Impressions, Sam and Dave etc. Played every where we could get a gig.

The Chosen Few Saga rolls onto its final and best line up. As 1965 rolled on Bill decided to call it a day and Paul moved on. John decided to play Bass guitar ( and what a good bass player he turned out to be) so the hunt was on for a new drummer and rhythm guitarist. Auditions were held at ‘The Gaytime Club, Broad Street, Salford At the end of the day it was easy to decide, enter Kenny Anders on rhythm guitar and Phil Quigley on drums.

Line Up - November 1965

• Keith Fairhurst - Vocals
• John Shedwick - Bass guitar
• Phil Quigley - Drums
• Kenny Anders - Rhythm guitar
• Nigel Blanshard - Lead guitar

The group was now well into ‘ rave up’ type music, heavily influenced by the better ‘Mod’ type London groups The Birds, The Action, 4+1/Incrowd, Small Faces etc. This opened up the opportunity to play gigs in London and we loved the scene there.

We became very close friends of ‘The Birds’, Nigel swapped his foot volume control for Ronnie Woods first “Fuzz Box”, a foot volume pedal made a primitive “ Wah Wah “ pedal if you could control it.

In August 1966 ‘The Chosen Few’ moved to London permanently.

Under new management the decision was made to change the name of the group to suit a newer image, ‘The Hush’ was the new name chosen.

The group played all the major venues in and around London, The Marquee, Tiles, Blaises, Speakeasy to name a few, and supported many of the bigger acts around at the time, a favorite being ‘The Who’, always a good gig.

The Hush October 1966 

• Keith Fairhurst - Vocals
• John Shedwick - Bass guitar
• Phil Quigley - Drums
• Kenny Anders - Rhythm guitar
• Nigel Blanshard - Lead guitar

Early 1967 saw Nigel call it a day and return to Manchester, a new lead guitarist turned up, a 16 year old called Dennis, and boy could this kid play. Dennis stayed until the group called it a day in August 1967.

The Hush April 1967

•  Keith Fairhurst - Vocals
• John Shedwick - Bass guitar
• Phil Quigley - Drums
• Kenny Anders - Rhythm guitar
• Denis ? - Lead guitar

The Chosen Few images

 The Hush images