The Migil Five

Its members at that time included pianist Gil Lucas (born Gilbert James Lucas, 20 September 1936, Kensington, South West London) and bass player Lenny Blanche (born Leonard Frederick Arthur Blanche, 1 June 1936, Woolwich, South East London).

They then added tenor saxophonist Alan "Earl" Watson (born Alan Michael Watson, 8 July 1940, Forest Gate, East London), formerly a member of Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, so becoming The Migil 5, and won a residency at the Tottenham Royal dance hall, replacing the Dave Clark Five.

Expanding their repertoire to cater for a younger audience, they recorded their second single, "Mockin' Bird Hill"[2] - a country song which had been a US hit for Les Paul and Mary Ford - in a style then known as "bluebeat" and later as ska.

[2] It was released the same week as Millie Small's ska hit "My Boy Lollipop", and entered the UK Singles Chart in March 1964, rising to No.

Subsequent singles and an EP, Meet the Migil Five, failed to make the British chart,[2] although the group remained popular in Ireland.

[4] Mike Felix later worked as a comedian, after dinner speaker and actor, appearing in the TV series Widows and The Bill.