By admin 
Introduction
**Billy Fury Tribute
Featuring Colin Paul & The Persuaders**
After a string of successful, sold-out performances in 2023 and 2024, Colin Paul and The Persuaders return once again for their annual celebration of Liverpool’s beloved rock ’n’ roll icon!
Doors: Midday
Showtime: 2:00 PM
Finish: 5:00 PM
BILLY FURY
Billy Fury was Liverpool’s first true rock & roll star—the man who proved to John, Paul, George, Ringo, and countless other young musicians that it was possible to break out of Liverpool and build a life in music. The Beatles famously auditioned for pop impresario Larry Parnes to become Billy’s backing band early in their career. They didn’t get the job, but they did end up supporting another Parnes artist, Johnny Gentle, on a tour of Scotland.
Born in Liverpool on 17 April 1940, Billy went on to equal The Beatles’ record of 24 hits in the 1960s, spending an extraordinary 332 weeks on the UK charts. His best-loved singles include Wondrous Place, Halfway to Paradise, and Jealousy. Widely regarded as Britain’s answer to Elvis, Billy appeared frequently on Jack Good’s television series Oh Boy, performing alongside Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, Joe Brown, and many other stars of the era.
In 1973, after a period of semi-retirement, Billy returned to the spotlight in the film That’ll Be the Day, playing the character “Stormy Tempest.” The movie—which also starred David Essex and Ringo Starr—drew inspiration from the early days of The Beatles, and Billy’s character was said to be based on Merseybeat legend Rory Storm, Ringo’s former bandleader.
Colin Paul’s Tribute to Billy Fury
When Billy passed away in January 1983, I was devastated. I could hardly believe it—another hero gone, and this time one who lived so much closer than Memphis. I had always hoped to meet him, but never got the chance. At the time, it felt like my connection to Billy had ended… but it hadn’t.
Throughout the 1980s, I continued to develop my career, and in 1988 I placed an advert looking for musicians to form a band. Things came together quickly, and before long The Stormbeats were on the road performing Billy Proud. We won Manchester Band of the Year several times.
Then, out of the blue, came a phone call from a man named Albert Wycherley. He had heard us on a radio show where we were promoting our new album, and he wanted us to appear at a special Billy Fury charity night at The Montrose Club in Liverpool. The name “Wycherley” immediately caught our attention—Billy’s real surname. When we asked if he was related, he replied, “Yes, I’m his brother, and I’ll be hosting the show.”
I was stunned. Not only were we going to meet a member of Billy’s family, but Albert—“Albie”—would also be performing Billy’s songs himself. He would be backed by The Dions, a well-known Liverpool band. Also on the bill were The Undertakers, and the evening would be compered by Radio Merseyside’s Frankie Conner. Albie asked us to perform numbers by other rock ’n’ roll artists of the era, and we couldn’t have been more thrilled.
Soon after, we were invited to play at the Billy Fury Tribute Weekend in Blackpool in February 1992. It was only the second event of its kind, held at the Carousel Hotel and hosted by Mrs. June Roth and her daughter Diane Wardle—who still organize Billy weekends today, now at The Savoy Hotel. The event was a tremendous success, as it continues to be.