Johnny originally sang skiffle music, but changed to rock and roll when the genre started to emerge.
He soon befriended Bernard Jewry, who became a roadie for them and occasionally sang on stage with Johnny Theakstone.
Johnny Theakstone subsequently fell severely ill and was rushed to hospital, where he died two days later.
Jewry later recalled: "I found him sitting on the settee in the lounge, with blankets wrapped all around him, very ill and too weak to stand.
[3] Because BBC had given the group a slot on the Saturday Club radio show (and presumably under contract), they were unable to disband, and continued with Jewry on lead vocals.