Strand Showband

Line-up included 

• Billy Hamilton aka Yorke Hammill - vocals,valve trombone, percussion
• George Hamilton - Valve trombone, vocals, percussion.
• Edmund Hutton - lead guitar,vocals
• Steve Green ?? - guitar
• Ray Millar - bass
• Roy Bingham - drums
• George Hamilton - trombone
• Burt Robinson - vocals, trombone, flute, percussion
• Jim Bingham - trumpet
• Maxton G Beesley - drums, replaced RB 

One of the most popular and successful showbands to come out of Ireland were the Strand Showband. In the mid-60s/70s, they were the first showband to work in nightclubs in England, as opposed to ballrooms. Managed originally by George Downing (Liverpool) who introduced them to Maurice King (London) who also managed the Walker Brothers, Dusty Springfield, Rocking Berries etc. They were based in and around Manchester, but worked all over the UK and Europe, and recorded with Philips Records. They topped the bill in all the top venues in Manchester, and were amazing crowd-pullers.

Line-up was Billy Hamilton, lead singer, sax, valve trombone, percussion. Burt Robinson, vocals, trombone, flute, percussion. Jim Bingham, trumpet, percussion. George Hamilton, Valve trombone, vocals, percussion. Ray Miller, bass guitar, vocals. Edmund Hutton, lead guitar, vocals. Maxton G Beesley: Drummer, impressionist (Manchester born!) Does anyone remember seeing them?

Burt Robinson - 31/12/12

Saw them many times, mainly Offerton Palace, great entertainers!!

Dave Garnett - 4/1/13

I remember seeing The Strand Showband a few times at THe Club Royale in Preston. Great sounding band and fabulous live show. 

Alan Letts - 17/3/13

Used to see The Strand Showband at "The Wishing Well" in Swinton lots of really good memories they were a good crowd puller. Had many a Good Friday night in "The Well"

Margaret Parkes - 1/7/13

George Hamilton is my Dad and Billy Hamilton is my uncle! It is lovely to hear that people still remember them it makes me proud!

Joanne Wallace -3/10/13

My uncle is Edmund Hutton. The band lived with my family back in the 60's and the address on the picture, Derbyshire Road in Sale is where they lived whilst in the Uk. My mum, Elizabeth Cragg (nee Hutton) looked after them and my dad, Tony Cragg managed them for a while. Great memories!

Alison Cragg -27/1/14

The name Steve Green keeps appearing on this info, as a guitarist for The Strand Showband. He was never a member of the band while it was popular. I don't think that I ever met him.
Sadly Edmund Hutton who was our guitarist has recently passed away.

Ray Millar - 1/3/14