Vipers Skiffle Group

:(For the similarly named Peel session band, see Vipers.)
The Vipers Skiffle Group – later known simply as The Vipers – were one of the leading British groups during the skiffle period of the mid to late 1950s, and were important in the careers of radio and television presenter Wally Whyton, coffee bar manager Johnny Martyn, wire salesman Jean Van den Bosch, instrument repairer Tony Tolhurst, journalist John Pilgrim, record producer George Martin, and several members of The Shadows.
The group formed in the spring of 1956 in central London, originally as a trio of singer-guitarists comprising Whyton, Johnny Martyn (born John Martyn Booker, 1934–2007), and Jean Van den Bosch, who was replaced in 1958 by Freddy Lloyd. Later that summer they added a rhythm section, Tony Tolhurst (bass) and John Pilgrim (washboard), and took up residency at the renowned Soho music venue, The 2i's Coffee Bar. There, they sometimes jammed with jazz musician Mike Pratt and singer Tommy Hicks, later known as Tommy Steele. In September 1956 they were offered an audition with George Martin at Parlophone Records, and won a recording contract.
Their second single, "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O", produced by Martin, reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart in early 1957. Although the songwriting credits were given to Whyton, the song is a variant of the folk standard "Sail Away Ladies", as recorded by Uncle Dave Macon in the 1920s. In the same year they released their version of "Maggie May", which was banned from BBC Radio because of its sexual content, despite the group's attempt to minimise the bawdiness of the lyrics.
The group came into direct competition with Lonnie Donegan on the rival Pye label, who imitated Whyton's arrangements but had the bigger hits, both with "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O" and with its follow-up "Cumberland Gap". However, the Vipers' version of the latter song again made the UK Top 10, and was followed by their last chart hit, "Streamline Train". The Vipers Skiffle Group continued to record, and for a time were one of the biggest stage attractions among British groups and were second only to Donegan in terms of their skiffle based success. However, by 1958 the skiffle craze was over, and the Vipers dropped the "Skiffle Group" designation from their name
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== Links to Peel ==
While Peel's favourite skiffle artist during his youth was Lonnie Donegan, he told John Walters during the series Peeling Back The Years that he also liked some of the Vipers' material. Much later, he chose their version of "Pick A Bale Of Cotton" as a Pig's Big 78 on the show of 21 May 2002.
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"Sail Away Ladies", the song they adapted for their biggest hit "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O", became a lifetime Peel favourite in a very different version from their skiffle rendition - the one recorded by John Fahey, accompanied on the Indian veena by Al Wilson of Canned Heat and included on Fahey's LP The Great San Bernardino Birthday Party And Other Excursions.
The Vipers' Wally Whyton went on to have a long broadcasting career on both radio and TV, as solo singer and programme host. His credits included the Country Meets Folk show in the early years of BBC Radio One, which sometimes had guests who also did sessions for Peel, but was usually a more middle-of-the-road programme. Wally Whyton's easy-listening folk style suited the show and his later radio career was mostly on BBC Radio Two, although he did also appear and sing on many children's TV programmes. 
== Festive Fifty Entries ==
None.
== Sessions ==
None.
== Other Shows Played ==
*25 March 1999: Streamline Train (album - Skiffling Along With The Vipers) Rollercoaster
*21 May 2002: Pick A Bale Of Cotton 
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== See Also ==
*Pig's Big 78 2002
== External Links ==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
* Other
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