The Oceans
L/R Standing
Ivan Johnston,Bass Guitar & Vocals,Victor Mawhinney;Rhythm Guitar
& Vocals
Albert Craig,Drums,Paula ( Elizabeth ) Jameson,Vocals,Wee Harry
Whitley,Lead Guitar
Robert “Crocket” Magee, Tenor Sax & Comedian
Kneeling L/R
Alan Aston,Trombone & Vocals,Leslie Brooks,Trumpet,Joe Reid,Vocals
Crocket Robert Magee wrote a article
“Oceans Apart” for Irish showbands.net
Well I was the manager of the “Oceans” and what he said is true
I went on to manage several bands in the 60`s The
Scholars, The Dukes,
The Raydots & Flair
all Belfast based, all featured Lead Vocalist
Tom E King three featured Wee Harry Whitley on lead guitar.
from 1962 until 1971. Then I went to England and started another
band
Junior & the Jesters and played the Irish Circuit until 1978
when I retired from the scene.
Many Thanks and Kindest Regards.
Alan Jones
From Alan Jones collection
The Oceans Showband
Hello Ian ,the photo of the Oceans on your hompage was taken after
I’d left circa 1964/65.
Bottom 2nd from left Ivan Johnson (Bass), Elizabeth Jamison (Vocals)
to’her left’ Joe…..? male Vocals,between them the trumpet
player…..?
(sorry ), to ‘Joes left’Sammy….?(sorry again ,it’a long
time ago), Sammy played lead guitar.
Liz Jamison the female vocalist went to the same school as me
and as she sung in the school choir I asked her to join us in 1963.
‘Liz’ stage name was Paula ( she used to sing the duet ‘’Hey,Hey
Paul ‘’
that’s how she got her stage name).
Liz & I used to go to the same school as ‘George Best’
and Liz went steady with him for a short while,of course years before
he became well known.
Anyway can’t help with the names of the other guy on the photo they
joined after
I’d left,although it comes to mind now that the drummers name
was Albert
(the guy on Liz’s ‘right ‘ above Ivan).
Robert ‘Crocket’ Magee
Picture from John Bairds collection
bairdart@iol.ie
This is the photo previous to the one you show on your home
page,-
far right is Victor Mawhinney (rhythm guitar) who also played
with the first formation of the Oceans.
The original Oceans were formed about 1962/63 I played sax
with them from 1962 to 1964 or 65.
(sorry the old grey cells) .
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As you can see on the photo I sent you the other day Victor(rythm
guitat) was the last
of the original band still playing with them and as you can see
on the
latest photo which you already have on the site,all the original
members have gone.
The band was changed drastically when we went to England wee
Harry was replaced by Sammy
(lead guitar,and who incidently still owes me 10 quid for his echo
chamber bought in England)
Alan the trombone player(not on any of the photos)both these had
decent jobs
and I think the rest of us did'nt care if we lost our jobs
If you go to Francis Kennedys site you’ll find
more info on the Oceans on a piece I wrote
Titled “Oceans
apart”
All the best Robert Crocket’ Magee
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