Terence ‘Jet’ Harris (6 July 1939, Kingsbury, Middlesex, England; guitar) and Tony Meehan (b. Daniel Joseph Anthony Meehan, 2 March 1943, Hampstead, London, England, d. 28 November 2005, London, England; drums) began their partnership in 1959 as members of the Shadows. Meehan left the group in October 1961 to take up an A&R position at Decca Records, and the following year Harris began a solo career with ‘Besame Mucho’. ‘The Man With The Golden Arm’ gave the guitarist a UK Top 20 hit prior to reuniting with Meehan in 1963. The duo’s debut single, ‘Diamonds’, was a startling instrumental composition which topped the UK charts, while two ensuing releases, ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ and ‘Applejack’, also reached the Top 5. Each performance matched Harris’ low-tuned Fender Jaguar guitar with Meehan’s punchy drum interjections, and although a bright future was predicted, a serious car crash undermined Harris’ confidence and the pair split up. Existing contracts were fulfilled by the Tony Meehan Combo, although Harris did resume recording with ‘Big Bad Bass’. His subsequent career was blighted by personal and professional problems, and successive attempts at rekindling former glories fell flat. Meehan, meanwhile, enjoyed an increasingly backroom role as a producer and arranger. Harris did record a new album in 2002 with session drummer Bobby Graham. The new versions of his previous hits added little to the originals. Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze. |
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