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Allan Wilmot recalls "The Southlanders"Pop Group of the 1950/60s Famous for "The Mole in the Hole"
Allan Wilmot, founder member of a 1950/60s pop group, starred with Bob Hope, Cliff Richard, Don Lang and Tommy Steele. The group is best known for "The Mole in the Hole."
When Suite 101 met Allan Wilmot we talked about his arrival in Britain and his rise from hotel dish washer to super star. Suite 101: We've already talked about your arrival in Britain and the problems you faced, so tell me about your musical career - was there a musical tradition in your family? Wilmot: Yes, yes, we were always a singing family. There was Harry, my brother, he died and my sister, she's 90 and she's still singing in a choir. Suite 101: How did the Southlanders start? Wilmot: I started on my own, trying the West End clubs. A friend thought something local would be good so I got together with Harry, Frank Mannah and Vernon Nesbeth. We tried for a while but nothing happened so we disbanded. Then Edrick Connor [singer/songwriter] got a contract and asked us to do the backings for him and the Southlanders were born. Suite 101: I remember The Mole in the Hole but you must have had your favourites? Wilmot: Yes, my favourite is Ain't it a Shame and Have you Ever been Lonely? Another one was Earth Angel and then there was The Wedding of the Lucky Black Cat. Suite 101: So tell me about some of your gigs and the famous names you toured with. Wilmot: The most famous gigs were the Bob Hope Show and the Cliff Richard Show, and I was on the first pop programme, 6.5. Special, with Tommy Steel, Don Lang and Freddie Mills. Suite 101: When did you retire from the Southlanders? Wilmot: I had to get out because on my way up I saw people on the way down. Everything was fine until the clubs started to close down. That was our bread and butter. All the northern clubs, the factories and pits closed down, and even television started to get a bit thin. I realised that if the job isn't there you start to blame yourself. You say: I need new material, I need new this, new that, and the few pence that you have saved up goes and you finish up broke. I've seen it happen, I said, Allan, that isn't going to happen to you so I retired in 1974. The last person I worked with was Roy Hudd at the Bedford Theatre. Suite101: So have you done any acting since? Wilmot: No, I tried to keep away from it because when I retired then my interests changed, I became associated with the West Indian Ex-Servicemen Association and I've been President or Vice President for over 20 years. I also needed a little time for myself. I'm kept busy by the Association but after I left show business I also had a job at British Telecom and I did eighteen years there until 1990. Suite 101: Do you go back to Jamaica from time to time? Wilmot: No, I used to go, but I realised that when you're away from the country for a long time you’re a complete stranger. You don't expect things to be the same but when you go back you're treated as a foreigner. You're not treated as if you were born there. If you keep going back you live in limbo, you're here, you're there, you have two lives. I know people who go through life like that, mentally in limbo. Suite 101: Do you still sing for your own pleasure? Wilmot: Yes I do, but I don't let anybody hear me! Suite 101: Give me one final word: Wilmot: "If you don't have music in your soul, you don't have no soul at all" Additional information has been received from Wendy Nesbeth, Personal Assistant to Vernon Nesbeth and the Southlanders. Vernon Nesbeth is the founder member, owner and lead singer of the Southlanders. Alan Wilmot and his brother were with the Ken Hunter Quartet prior to joining Vernon.
The copyright of the article Allan Wilmot recalls "The Southlanders" in 50s - 60s Pop Music is owned by Frances Spiegel. Permission to republish Allan Wilmot recalls "The Southlanders" in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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