As a young lad in Hebburn he got permission to run an 'Old Fashioned Revival Hour' at the local Methodist Chapel. He heard an American Old Fashioned Revival Hour on Radio Luxembourg and admired greatly the organ and piano playing of the Americans, he envisaged doing the same at the Local Chapel. The organist was shocked 'You will need the permission of the Leaders and Trustees to do something like that' - he said. He got permission but at rehearsals a Baptist member of the Choir stood up in shocked amazement as if the organ and piano had started mating - 'if you're going to play that JAZZ' he yelled - 'we'll walk out'. The pianist to keep the peace walked away from the piano. That night unperturbed Frank went ahead with the Revival Meeting and there was a packed Chapel and Frank was asked to stage another Revival Hour at another Church. Next time, he found an organist who loved rhythmic playing and his pianist was delighted - It was such a success the organist and pianist were asked to record it.
After joining the BBC. in January 1971, his listeners soon discovered his base in the East End of Newcastle and Sunday Services and Saturday Dance nights attracted capacity houses. BBC Radio Newcastle did most of their outside recordings there and as a music producer with the BBC Frank recorded virtually all of the local talent. His house pianist was Allan Robson, husband of June Barry and accompanist to the Tyneside Singing Group The Barry Sisters.
When they moved to a new building he took with him his guitarist/organist David Venus who was the longest serving musician to work with Frank. His drummer was his 16 year old son, Paul who began playing at the age of - 13. He was a professionally trained drummer and a confident player - because of his youth and enthusiasm he often got carried away with the tempo - he appeared on many of his Dad's Shows at the Newcastle City Hall playing to capacity audiences.
Following the death of Frank's BBC house pianist Allan Robson, Frank hired another professional musician Johnny Sampson. Johnny was a talented musician who was a fine exponent of many instruments including, Piano, Accordeon, Organ. This three piece aggregation played for services and backed Frank on outside broadcasts and public appearances.
He continued to use his musical director Johnny Sampson (Piano) and David Venus (organ) but replaced his son Paul with Ron Clark a trained drummer and percussionist. An excellent reader he had worked with Johnny for twenty years - they had a tremendous musical rapport
Pipe Organ
The new base boasted a magnificent pipe organ made in 1909 by a local firm, Nicholson-Newbegin.
This meant that the Sunday Services (and the B.B.C.) had a quartet consisting of John Hepple - Pipe Organ/ David Venus - Hammond Organ/Rhythm Guitar and String Base/Johnny Sampson - Piano and Ronnie Clark - Drums, at their disposal, and this aggregate became the 'House' Band for B.B.C. Radio Newcastle.
Due to other commitments John Hepple gave up playing with the outfit and Alan Dorward from Newcastle applied. Alan was a very gifted and talented Pipe Organist and in Frank's opinion the best exponent of the Hammond C3 in the area for the purpose which Frank wanted.
Frank had always been a great admirer of 'The Organ, The Dance Band and Me' and, because of the poor recording quality on their records was determined to improve upon his favourite group by re-recording in their style with the latest stereo and digital quality. This gave Frank the idea of forming an easy listening ensemble similar to the Pipe Organ and piano of Thorburn's Group. Pianist Johnny Sampson said such a group 'couldn't work'. You can't expect a Church Pipe Organ with a two second delay to play in tempo with Piano, Bass, Drums, etc." Frank refused to accept Johnny's views and pursued his idea, calling the ensemble "THE PIPE DREAMERS".
The Group comprising Sampson/Clark/Dorward (Dave Venus had left by this time to follow his career in TV) was often enhanced with additional musicians to broaden the sound concept. Alan Hartley - Electric Bass and Tony Bowler - Electric Guitar were added. Peter Johnson was an enthusiast of the Pipe dreamers and recent addition to the ensemble where he was used on occasions on the String Synth. Unlike the rest of the Band he was not a full time musician and his love of the Band was evident in the fact he gave up his lunch breaks to rehearse with them. By 1984 Derek Dixon (Electric/String Bass) had joined the Band on a regular basis, and for all of its sessions including the Sunday Night Services. Derek was one of the best bass players in the North of England and won a Jazz award for his skill.
Then North Tyneside Council placed double yellow lines around the church, and made the open parking a Resident Parking Area - thereby killing attendance's at the church which plummeted from around 1,000 to 100. Sadly, there was no longer the finance available to pay the Band Members and this marked the end of the group playing regularly together for services and there were no more recordings of this aggregation 'The Original Pipe dreamers'
Kevin Morgan studied music at Durham University - he was a first class classical church organist and a proficient pianist. Ron Curtis was a popular figure on the organ scene with a great following, and he was a popular recording artist with several albums to his credit. Derek Dixon was used on this session and having previously played as part of the original Pipedreamers knew the sound and style required.
In 1993 the Pipe-Organ was damaged beyond repair when the central heating was left on for a week, shrinking the wooden air control boxes and other vital pieces of the organs essentials. The church was forced to close a year later.
In 2000 Frank was offered the use of a real Wurlitzer Pipe Organ. He was due to front a BBC show at Newcastle's Theatre Royal and the Pipe dreamers reformed were first on the artist list from the listeners.
The session held on 18th April 2000 was a disaster. Frank personally hired and paid a BBC Engineer to record the session. A whole days work of 15 titles had to be scrapped and re-done the following day. Once again the Engineer had to be hired and paid - and the musicians - and a new drummer Paul Smith hired to replace Johnny Graham. 16 tracks were recorded. Imbalances, retakes, etc took their toll.
A band which had been the most requested of all bands on Frank's shows failed to click with the listeners with its new personnel. The only track ever requested from that session was a guitar solo by Terry Gavaghan 'Maria Elena'- and to add to the lack of continuity in the new line up - the guitarist had to be replaced at short notice for the theatre royal show on 28 may 2000. The comedian on the night took twice the allocation of time given to him, denying the band their full spot as 'top of the bill'. angry, tired and disillusioned, it was not their best performance. it was however - their last, and the end of a legend - the Pipe dreamers.
