Kennedy St Artistes on Manchesterbeat - the group and music scene of Manchester in the '60s

Kennedy Street Artistes/Kennedy Street Enterprises
Kennedy House, 14 Piccadilly

The big guns in the northern agency field.

Danny Betesh and Associates built the agency up with Manchester acts Herman's Hermits, Freddy and the Dreamers, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, etc, in the early 60s.

Later, they were still holding strong with a number of newer name acts including 10CC, Herd, Solomon King, Who (for a short time).

During the mid-late 60s local bands Life 'n 'Soul, Sunshine and my own band Phoenix City Smash prospered under this office, which also ran the Saturday night at New Century Hall (and the earlier Monday nights with the Mockingbirds).

Tony Fletcher was Phoenix's main booker, manager of Sunshine and a very pleasant guy. Sad to hear of his death - whilst managing Manchester band The Chameleons.

I also remember Rick Dixon who I always felt was extremely miserly in his strictness of the "no women in the dressing room" rule at New Century Hall. Rick has a major place in the history of Manchester bands, one of the earlier owners of the Oasis club.

Barry Perkins was another ex-Kennedy St booker, who set up his own organisation.

The Kennedy Street story would fill a book, as they say. Is there anyone out there who can add to my brief comments on this major Manchester music icon?

Sept 1963	Memories I was a temporary telephonist - as a student at Kennedy Street - I remember Danny Betesh. I can still remember Freddie Garrity and Peter Noone's mother calling me to check when their money was coming! I also remember - listening to 10CC's Donna for the first time...I didn't like it and said that it would not do well! But I also remember being in love with Eric Stewart. I was only 19! The house was enormous and the Telephone exchange was at the top. There was music playing throughout and it seemed like going up to heaven every day! Gosh - memories...and now 35 years on ...it still seems like yesterday and I was the wee blonde thing in hot pants and suede boots! Liz Leck Tony Fletcher ran a great football club called Kentmere Rangers. We were privileged enough to watch great acts such as Boney M, ABBA, Barry Manilow, 10cc, Sad Cafe, Rush and Doctor Hook. Noel Styles I worked for Jim O'Farrell in the 60s and remember Geoffrey Canter, Danny Betesh and Phil Science. They were all great bosses at Kennedy Street. Wayne Fontana used to chase me around the office. Freddy Garrity will never be forgotten, he was a great guy and all the Dreamers. Ian Crawford was the son of Crawford films in Australia but he never really made anything over here. Its great to know that Danny and his family are still promoting the best acts. I would really like to meet them all again. Hazel Jackson My group "The Mighty Avengers" were managed and represented by Kennedy Street from 1960-1965 ish. Our recording manager at that time was Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Only notable minor hit was the Jagger/Richard song "So much in love". Guesting on the Regent Sound recording were John Paul Jones (Piano) and Jimmy Page. Other Jagger/Richard tracks recorded were "Walking thro' the Sleepy City" and "When Blue Turns to Grey" (Before Cliff did it) Tony Campbell I was privileged to have had a good friend in the late Tony Fletcher. I used to help him run Kentmere Football team and he would also find me a job with many of the bands he represented - ABBA. 10cc, Barclay James Harvest, Gary Newman, Hawkwind, Boney M, and we always had a laugh with Bob Williamson Happy days. Peter Gaffney

NME 30/9/066


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