| Origin | Luton, Bedfordshire, England |
|---|---|
| Genres | Pop music |
| Labels | EMI |
| Past members | Jeff Mudd Fred Mudd Mary Mudd David Lane |
The Mudlarks were an English pop vocal group of the late 1950s and early 1960s.[1] They had two Top 10 UK hit singles in 1958.[2]
Career[edit]
The Mudlarks were a family group from Luton, Bedfordshire, England,[1] originally comprising Jeff Mudd (born 1935), Fred Mudd (1937 – 2007),[3] and Mary Mudd (born 1939).[4] According to press releases at the time, they all had jobs at the Vauxhall motor plant in Luton, and spent their spare time singing together.[4] In 1958, they attracted the attention of BBC Radio music presenter David Jacobs,[1] who won them an appearance on the Six-Five SpecialTV show, and a recording contract with EMI's Columbia label.[4]
The Mudlarks' first release, 'Mutual Admiration Society', was unsuccessful but their second, a cover of the Americannoveltysong 'Lollipop', originally recorded by the duoRonald and Ruby, and more successfully by The Chordettes, rose to No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart.[2][4] They followed this with another UKTop 10hit, a cover of The Monotones' 'Book of Love'.[2][4] At the end of 1958, The Mudlarks were voted top British vocal group by readers of the New Musical Express.[4] Jeff Mudd then left the group as he was called to do National Service.[1] He was replaced by David Lane (born David Burgess, 1938 – 2010), a compere and entertainer on the Manchester club circuit. The Mudlarks continued to release records until 1964, but had only one more hit – 'The Love Game', a No. 30 hit in 1959.[2]
Fred Mudd married Leila Williams,[3] who was Miss Great Britain in 1957 and from 1958 until 1962 co-hosted the BBC children's programme Blue Peter. He died in Marbella, Spain in 2007,[3] leaving a widow, daughter and three grandsons.
In 1962, Mary Mudd and David Lane married in Newton Abbot. Lane died at his home in Hattersley in 2010; he had cancer for eight years previously.[5]
References[edit]
Mudlarksa Post Mortem Meaning
Mudlark, bird of the family Grallinidae. (order Passeriformes) that includes the mudlark, apostle bird, and white-winged chough. January 29, 2003: a day that will live in infamy in the annals of AGS history. Or it would, if anyone ever wrote an AGS history -but that's another topic. On this date I decided to stop lurking like some sort of creepy dude in the bushes and start participating in this community. This is a easier way for everyone to receive their Mudlark. Managing Director, LEEC Ltd. For services to Hospital Mortuaries and to Post-Mortem Facilities, particularly during the Covid-19 Response: Worksop: Nottinghamshire: Officer of the Order of the British Empire: Order of the British Empire: Officers of the Order of the British Empire: Jayne Mary: VERTKIN: Head of Early Help, Westminster City Council.
- ^ abcdColin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 301. ISBN1-85227-937-0.
- ^ abcdRoberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 382. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
- ^ abc'The Dead Rock Stars Club 2007 January to June'. Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ abcdef'The Mudlarks'. 45-rpm.org.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^Malyon, Mike (July 25, 2016). Seems Like a Nice Boy: The Story of Larry Grayson's Rise to Stardom. Andrews UK Limited. ISBN9781911476016 – via Google Books.
