Beginnings

Originally a duo consisting of Rikki Alan (real name Alan Smith, guitar/bass/ vocals), and his brother Gerry Alan (real name Gerald Smith, piano/guitar/vocals), playing local dances and working men's clubs in the area surrounding their home town of Newport, South Wales.

With the addition of Mark Goodwin (drums) they became the Rikki Allen Trio, playing ballroom dates throughout Wales, as well as occasional concert appearances on package shows topped by artists such as Billy Fury, Marry Wilde, and Johnny Kidd.

The London Years

In 1961, the band turned fully professional, and headed for London. They made their European mainland debut in Germany, May 1963, at the Star Club in Hamburg. Here they shared billings with Ray Charles

Ray Charles

Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...

, The Searchers and (Gerry Allen’s hero) Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...

. Returning to London, Gerry played piano on singer Paul Raven's (later Gary Glitter

Gary Glitter

Gary Glitter is an English former glam rock singer-songwriter and musician.Glitter first came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s...

) Parlophone disc, "Walk On, Boy". in August 1963, the Rikki Allen Trio band released “The First One” on the Decca label. Also in 1963, the band supported the Rolling Stones on their November–December UK tour , and Vince Hill at the California Ballroom in Dunstable .

In 1964, under the guidance of musical instrument entrepreneur Ivor Arbiter, they morphed into The Interns, picking up another guitarist, Mike Parker (from Walthamstow), which gave the impetus for a name change (1). The group was managed by the Tito Burns Agency who also managed, Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield

Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...

 and The Searchers, amongst others, and recorded for the Philips record label . As a result, the band often appeared on the same bill as these artists. For example, on Sunday 23 August 1964, The Interns appeared on the third and last of three Sunday concerts organised by Promoter Arthur Howes . Dusty Springfield topped the bill, which also featured Eden Kayne as well as The High Numbers, who would soon become The Who.

In 1964, the Interns released “Don 't You Dare” and “Cry To Me” a cover version of an American record by Brenda Holloway, both singles were produced by Bill Landis (1). “Don’t You Dare” featured lyrics written by the wives of Rikki and Gerry Allen. The single was advertised in the New Musical Express on 20 March 1964 . During this period, the group had some television success, appearing regularly on two of the big pop music shows of the time, Thank Your Lucky Stars

Thank Your Lucky Stars

Thank Your Lucky Stars may refer to:*Thank Your Lucky Stars , a 1943 film*Thank Your Lucky Stars , a British television program*Thank Your Lucky Stars , a 1990 album by the British band Whitehouse....

 (e.g., on 11 March 1964) and Ready Steady Go!

Ready Steady Go!

Ready Steady Go! or simply RSG! was one of the UK's first rock/pop music TV programmes. It was conceived by Elkan Allan, head of Rediffusion TV. Allan was assisted by record producer/talent manager Vicki Wickham, who became the producer. It was broadcast from August 1963 until December 1966...

  (e.g., on July 17). Also in 1964, The Interns appeared in the final part of Ted Willis

Ted Willis

Edward Henry Willis, Baron Willis , commonly known as Ted Willis, was a British television dramatist who was also politically active in support of the Labour Party.-Political life:...

’ “The Four Seasons of Rosie Carr”, playing the band at the pub where Rosie worked.

Later Careers

After splitting from drummer Mark Goodwin and Guitarist Mike Parker in 1966, brothers Rikki and Gerry returned to South Wales, where they continued to perform as a four-piece with a new guitarist and drummer. The new Interns line-up released two more records, “Ray of Sunshine” and “Is It Really (What you want me to do)” on George Martin

George Martin

Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...

's Parlophone label. Both were recorded at Rockfield Studios

Rockfield Studios

Rockfield Studios, near Monmouth in Wales and just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire are where many of British rock music’s most successful recordings have been made.-History:...

 , on the outskirts of Monmouth . "is it Really (What you want me to do)" is considered particularly collectable as it also features Dale Griffin

Dale Griffin

Dale "Buffin" Griffin is an English drummer and founding member of 1970s rock band, Mott the Hoople....

on drums .

Remaining in London, Mark Goodwin took up a number of club residencies before joining the Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group. Goodwin stayed with the Donegan band into the mid-70s before leaving to join the newly-formed CBS/Arbiter Ltd Musical Instrument Manufacturer and Distributors as Drum Clinician and Promotions Manager .

Rikki Allen Trio Discography

• The First One/I’ll Pretend You’re Happy When You’re Gone, Decca, F11726, 1963

The Interns Discography

• Don't You Dare / Here There Everywhere, Philips, BF1320, 1964
• Cry To Me / There's Love For You, Philips, BF1345, 1964
• Is It really What You Want / Just Like Me, Parlophone, R5479, 1966
• Ray Of Sunshine / Please Say Something Nice, Parlophone, R5586, 1967

Links

• Interns Drummer Mark Goodwin's Flickr page Flickr: MarkieG's Photostream