Funeral details for music icon
FUNERAL details have been released for Southport music legend Ted ‘Kingsize’ Taylor. Ted, a star of the 1960s Merseybeat era, died earlier this month aged 83.
Ted was a leading light of the 1960s Merseybeat era. Along with his band, The Dominoes, he was a contemporary of The Beatles, often sharing the bill with them in both Liverpool and Hamburg.
Cilla Black was their lead singer for a time, while in Hamburg they shared a stage with artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Fats Domino and the Everly Brothers.
He was also well known for owning a butcher’s shop for many years on Liverpool Road in Birkdale in Southport.
A statement from his family said: “The funeral for Dad, ‘Kingsize Ted Taylor ‘ will take place on Saturday, January 28 at 11.30am at West Lancs Crematorium, on Pippin Street in Burscough.
“This will be Dad’s last gig and he’ll go out on a high of good music, love and fond memories.
“The funeral will be an open house with no dress codes and pictures and video footage maybe taken.
“A venue for an after funeral get together is still being arranged and as soon as it’s sorted an announcement will be made.
“The family would like it that if people were considering buying flowers could they instead make a small donation to Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
“A live web feed will also be shown for those who cannot attend, again an announcement on those details will be forthcoming.
“Rip Kingsize.”
One of the first beat groups in the Merseyside area, Ted ‘Kingsize’ Taylor and Dominoes enjoyed commercial success mainly in Germany.
The Dominoes were originally formed in north Liverpool, in 1957, from a school skiffle group called the Sinners. The original members were Arthur Baker (vocals), George Watson (guitar), Charlie Flynn (guitar), Sam Hardie (piano) and Cliff Roberts (drums).
The following year, Ted Taylor, born on November 12, 1939, in Crosby, joined as lead vocalist and guitarist.
The band played local clubs, and Taylor developed a reputation as one of the best rock and roll singers in the Liverpool area as well as being noted for his vivid chequered jackets.
By summer 1960, the group were being billed as Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes. They first performed at The Cavern Club in January 1961, when they featured 17-year-old singer Cilla White, who was mistakenly renamed Cilla Black later that year by Bill Harry in an article in his magazine Mersey Beat.
At the beginning of 1962, the band were placed sixth in a Mersey Beat readers’ poll, topped by The Beatles. Cilla Black sang regularly with the group until 1962.
In the summer of 1962, the band, without Cilla Black, went to Hamburg, where they began making regular appearances at the Star Club.
Ringo Starr turned down the opportunity to join having been offered more money to join The Beatles.
In December 1962, Taylor recorded several performances by The Beatles at the Star Club, on reel—to—reel tape; the recordings were eventually released in 1977 as Live! At the Star Club in Hamburg.