A legend in their own lounge, Telephone Bill & the Smooth Operators' first performance was part of the Last Arrow Concert given in aid of American Indian reservations in the Mumford Theatre, Cambridge on October 25, 1975. The rest of the concert consisted of the town/gown group Duke Duke & the Dukes (actually their last performance) featuring amongst others Chris Cox and The Grand Old Opry Roadshow featuring Nick Barraclough, Anne Baker and Gerry Hale. TB & the SOs were billed as Nick Nick & the Nickettes (I wonder where the idea for that name came from...) but Nick Barraclough, leader of said group, announced the new improved name during the concert. The line up of the group for this concert was Nick (vocals, guitar, banjo & bass), Anne Baker (vocals, guitar, mandolin & bass), Chris Cox (mandolin & bass), Gerry Hale (fiddle & mandolin), Robb Appleton (mouth harp or harmonica) and Lynne Eynon (backing vocals). Lynne, although a member of Nick Nick & the Nickettes, was never a full time member of Telephone Bill.
Early publicity flyer with the original lineup:
Chris Cox, Gerry Hale, Nick Barraclough, Anne Baker, Robb Appleton
NEW RELEASE:
"Final Reminder"
(CD compilation KSCD926
released by Kissing Spell Records)