Sad to share that my friend Michael Hill has passed away. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew that everyone he knew had been told. His daughter let me know last week that he had died.
I had the honour and pleasure to edit and publish his great book, “John Lennon: The Boy Who Became A Legend”, about his friendship with John through both Dovedale School and Quarry Bank. It was Michael who introduced John to the music of Little Richard, through “Long Tall Sally”, the record Michael had bought in Holland. When John heard it in Michael’s house, he said it was so great that he couldn’t speak. It changed John’s life.
Michael had lived in Australia for many years, so it was great to catch up with him when he visited Liverpool.
We filmed him for our “Looking for Lennon” documentary film, and excerpt of which is shown in the Strawberry Field Liverpool experience. Michael’s book has been sold there with the profits going to Strawberry Field.
His best friend at school, Don Beattie, is the last remaining of the four friends who listened to records at Michael’s house, along with John and Pete Shotton.
His book is still for sale at The Beatles Bookstore if you haven’t got a copy. The last few signed copies are left.
Michael Hill is one of the few people to have been friends with John Lennon from the age of five, through Dovedale School and Quarry Bank too. It was Michael who introduced John Lennon to rock ‘n’ roll – the moment John said changed his life. This is the story of how that happened.
The author’s perspective of his motivations for writing this book:
“After nearly 35 years thinking about whether to do so or not, I have finally put pen to paper to tell the story about the events that, after eleven years of friendship, made me come to realise what a lovely man George Harrison was. I hope that this book will be of great interest to people interested in George Harrison, George Formby, Banjo Ukes, and Ukuleles. I not only had the good fortune to know George, but I was lucky in getting to know him the unusual perspective of being just an ordinary man with no connections whatsoever to the kind of world that he inhabited. Enjoy the photos below.”
The author, John Croft’s comment about the front cover photograph of his book:
“The front cover photo (below) shows George Harrison collecting his newly restored Ludwig Banjo Uke from me in April 1991.”
The Uke The Beatle and Me
Back cover of the book:
The author was so kind in signing my copy of the book:
THE AUTHOR’S DESCRIPTION OF HIS BOOK and READER’S COMMENTS:
“I’ve always loved the sound of the banjo uke and the ukulele, and the brilliant playing (and songs) of George Formby. Completely unknown to me, so did one of the most famous musicians in the world – George Harrison.”
This book tells the story of how, over the decades, a series of events led to a phone-call in November 1990 that was to change my life. It also tells how George’s initial contact with me developed into an eleven-year friendship that lasted until his death in 2001. Much more importantly and putting his fame and fortune completely to one side, this friendship enabled me, from a very unusual perspective and from a whole series of events and experiences, to discover what kind of man George Harrison really was. This book tells that story.”
Readers comments about the book:
“This small book written by John Croft is a gem. It describes how a serendipitous telephone conversation acted as a catalyst for an unlikely but enduring friendship between a secondary school geography teacher and a world-renowned musician who just happened to have been a member of a 1960’s pop group: The Beatles. A unique story that is beautifully told with honesty and an endearing humility. Miss reading it at your peril.” (CK)
“Thanks for the book. Absolutely great and a wonderful tribute to George.” (SM)
“I loved the book. Heartwarming and full of insight.” (MJ)
“Well John, I’m a dreadfully slow reader. However I couldn’t put the book down. It was beautifully and sensitively written. I loved it. I think George was very lucky indeed to have you and Mary as friends. Hope to meet you soon. Best wishes and thanks for writing the book.” (IP)
“I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your book. I read it over two days straight after you gave it to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is such a lovely warm and genuine story of your friendship with George Harrison. I lent it to my sister and she also thoroughly enjoyed it.” (ES)
* Foreword by written by Actor, Musician, and Author, Jimmy Nail.
* Contains photographs never seen before
Love to add books like this to the collection. Independently published. It helps to show another facet and interest of a very talented and spiritual man…THE UKULELE AND GEORGE HARRISON
A FEW SAMPLE PHOTOS AND PAGES FROM THE JOHN CROFT BOOK:
Another wonderful sample page from the book:
Friar Park and John’s first visit:
The foreword to the book by Jimmy Nail:
I love the way George crosses out the name Formby and replaces it with Harrison. in this note to John Croft sent from Hawaii!
Another personal note from George Harrison to John Croft expressing the desire to go binge shopping for more books about ukuleles!
A signed photo for John Croft highlighting George’s friendship and appreciation of his friend and their common interest!
Another Harrison treasure from George to John:
Thank you, John Croft for adding to and expanding to our knowledgebase about George Harrison and the world of ukuleles!
George Harrison was to do his own version of this song by George Formby at a Blackpool George Formby convention back in 1991. John Croft played a prominent role in organizing that surprise appearance!
Hope you have enjoyed notification of this new book. Thank you, Geoff Clode, for providing the information about this new title!
Recently acquired this collectible magazine from eBay. Was intrigued by the cover presentation of the magazine. It is hard to fathom that this magazine is already 16 years old! Time certainly does fly!
This is the eBay description of the item!
“This is a rare issue of The Antique Trader Weekly from October 2010, featuring an article on John Lennon and the Beatlemania era.
A long time ago I posted this European Danish magazine that I am looking for in my collection. It must be a difficult one to find as I never received any replies about it, so I am being persistent in trying again.
Anyone that has this magazine and wishes to discuss a trade or is willing to sell their copy, please leave a comment in the comments section. Thank you!
LEON RUSSELL AND THE LADY THAT INSPIRED THE SONG, CHRIS O’DELL!
Chris O’Dell has so many stories to tell about her illustrious and notable career in music. The list of musical artists that she has worked for is probably longer than your arm and the musical figures include many giants in the field. The purpose of this particular blog post is to highlight what two very famous and legendary musicians thought of her in song! Chris was very fortunate and genuinely pleased to have had three songs written for her by very notable music legends Leon Russell and George Harrison. The three tracks I am referring to are Pisces Apple Lady and Hummingbird by Leon Russell, and of course, Miss O’Dell by George Harrison!
Here is a fabulous What If story about a special track written for Chris O’Dell by musician, Leon Russsell
Chris O’Dell had what could be described as a tenuous or fragile romantic relationship with Leon Russell, which never worked out for a number of reasons, but Leon Russell did write two songs about her!
Listen to this link to hear a few fascinating stories about the tracks we have mentioned:
Ringo and George did play on the Pisces Apple Lady track and that is confirmed by the Bill Janovitz book that is featured below. You heard the link above where Chris verified that both George and Ringo were on the track. John and Yoko were in the studio booth watching the Pisces session and Chris O’Dell eventually was to ask John Lennon why he didn’t play on the track, and he because he wasn’t asked. When Chris asked Leon why he did not ask John to play on it, his startled reply was that he didn’t think that John would have wanted to!
Being an amateur psychologist. I believe John was always hesitant to be a session player on other artist’s recordings. He was extremely insecure about his guitar playing and technical abilities and was possibly fearful of being judged negatively by his peers or the other respective musicians. With the Beatles he had the security of the others to help him with any lack of technical know-how or guitar prowess. John himself always called himself a primitive musician technically. Another reason Leon may not have asked John to play on the track was to avoid John’s reputation of being very sharp-tongued and critical. Perhaps Leon feared John’s judgement or a possible confrontation. We’ll never know, but it is very interesting to speculate!
Ironically a few years later when John was on his so-called infamous Lost Weekend, Phil Spector had asked Leon Russell to play on a few Lennon sessions. One confirmed session was Bony Maronie which was confirmed to Lennon expert Chip Madinger by another well-known session guitarist that played on the track named, Larry Carlton. Another track featuring a possible Leon involvement was Be My Baby. Chip Madinger has informed me of the following:
“Leon was not a documented (meaning he wasn’t on the AFM contracts) to two of the RNR sessions.“
“Leon Russell lasted only two sessions.” [Robert Hilburn 12/30/73 LAT]
If we take this to mean the first two sessions, that would have been ‘Bony Moronie’ and ‘Be My Baby’.
The bottom line is that Leon did play on the Lennon sessions and that has been confirmed and it has been confirmed by multiple sources!
Tucky Buzzard is the second studio album by British hard rock band Tucky Buzzard and their first for Capitol Records. It was produced by the Rolling Stones’ bass player Bill Wyman. The album was featured on the band’s 2005 compilation album Time Will Be Your Doctor – Rare Recordings 1971-1972 in its entirety. Time Will Be Your Doctor is on the other side of this recording.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY: (Check out Chris O’Dell’s fabulous stories about her career in music)
Chris O’Dell’s DVD which presents many of the highlights of her career in music: The DVD was directed by Simon Weitzman!
Back cover of the DVD case:
The book and the DVD will serve as two great companion pieces to highlight the extraordinary life of Chris O’Dell. Seek them out and marvel at the stories that she has to tell!
Make sure you check out Chris’s great YouTube channel and podcasts; Here are a few sample programs:
THE RENAISSANCE OF INTEREST ABOUT BEATLES MANAGER BRIAN EPSTEIN – TWO NEW BOOKS!
THIS ONE IS OUT NOW:
ISSUED ON JUNE 16, 2026
The career and life of Beatles manager Brian Epstein is experiencing a resurgence of interest with two new books, one written by Philip Norman released in June of 2026 and the other one to be released in the UK in the fall of 2026 and in the US in January of 2027. It will be interesting to see if the two volumes can unearth previously unknown information about the manager who died at a very young age and whose death John Lennon once said signaled the true beginning of the end of the group!
“Captivating . . . . tells a great story . . . . a rip-roaring yet empathic rock history.”–Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The definitive, comprehensive biography of Brian Epstein—the man who built the Beatles—by eminent Beatles biographer Philip Norman
There will never be another pop manager like Brian Epstein, the young record retailer from Liverpool behind the 20th century’s greatest romance. Having achieved his much-derided aim of making the Beatles “bigger than Elvis,” Brian went on to make them bigger than any earthly instrument could measure. Only a handful of years older, he nonetheless referred them as “The Boys,” protecting and pampering them like the children he could never hope to have.
Brian’s achievement in a profession in which he had no experience, and for which nor rulebook existed, remains jaw-dropping. A devout classical music fan, he was nonetheless solely responsible for a new genre of pop that was to change its course, and Britain’s international image, forever—yet, disgracefully, earn him no public honor nor even thanks.
Mr. Moonlight draws on a cache of exclusive interviews with those closest to Brain, including his mother, Queenie, and brother, Clive, to tell the story of this hugely complex, self-contradictory, and ultimately tragic character. This revelatory narrative explores the unplumbed depths of Brian’s many trials and tribulations—how he almost lost the Beatles to organized crime, the antisemitism and homophobia he had to face even at the height of his success, his complex relationship with John Lennon that led to their reckless “Spanish Honeymoon”—and sheds new light on Brian’s mysterious, lonely death in the throes of the so-called Summer of Love.“
ON THE HORIZON:
THE SECOND BOOK – BRIAN EPSTEIN’S ADDRESS BOOK:IN THE UK- AN OCT. 2026 RELEASE IS ON TAP. JANUARY 2027, IN THE US!
1967 – The World of Brian Epstein and The Beatles: The address book that defined an era – a must-have for 2026 by Gary Kemp (Author), Simon Halfon (Author)
AMAZON BOOK DESCRIPTION:
“When I first saw Brian Epstein’s black Twin lock binder, I was struck by how small and unassuming it was – just 160 by 100 millimeters, the kind of thing you could slip into a coat pocket. But inside, it held a universe. The book felt alive, buzzing, ready and waiting to be explored. So I dug deeper.
1967 – The World of Brian Epstein and the Beatles is a remarkable fusion of biography and detective story, offering a vivid portrait of The Beatles’ inner circle and the cultural energy of the 1960s. This engaging work delves into the extraordinary cast of characters – from Mick Jagger to David Bailey – a dazzling mix of celebrities, musicians, icons, power players and the occasional shady character. Everyone who was anyone in the 1960s found their way into its pages.
When Gary first acquired the book, he was seized by an irresistible curiosity. Who was Brian Epstein, really? And who were all these fascinating names? This project offers an intimate and unprecedented exploration of the connections he forged and the figures who helped define a generation.
More than just an address book, it is a time capsule of one of the most electrifying years in modern culture: 1967.
Perfect for Beatles fans, music historians, and anyone curious about the electric culture and untold stories of the 1960s.”
The books will never cease about the four men from Liverpool and how they impacted and changed so many lives. In addition, the people that were important to their success and magical story will also continue to be studied and analyzed as the years go by!
