music.wikisort.org - Musician

Frank Allen (born Francis Renaud McNeice; 14 December 1943, in Hayes, Middlesex, England) is an English bass guitarist who was a long-time member of The Searchers.

Frank Allen
Allen performing with The Searchers in 2015
Background information
Birth name	Francis Renaud McNeice
Born	(1943-12-14) 14 December 1943 (age 78) Hayes, Middlesex, England
Years active	1960s–present

Career

Frank Allen played bass guitar with Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers and The Searchers (since 1964 when he replaced original bass guitarist Tony Jackson), and remained with them until they played their final gig in 2019. Allen joined Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers as rhythm guitarist in 1961, and changed over to bass guitar in early 1962, following the departure of Ben Jordan.[1]

When Tony Jackson left the Searchers in August 1964 after a string of hits (including "Sweets for My Sweet", "Sugar and Spice" and "Needles and Pins"), Allen was asked to join the group. They then recorded "When You Walk in the Room", with Mike Pender and Frank Allen singing a dual lead line.[2]

Allen wrote a book of touring recollections called Travelling Man in 1999.[3] His definitive and detailed biography of the Searchers entitled The Searchers And Me - A History of the Legendary Sixties Hitmakers was published in April 2009.[4]

The Searchers retired the band in March 2019.[5]

Further reading

• Frank Allen: The Searchers and Me - A history of the Legendary Sixties Hitmakers ISBN 1-899750-41-X[6]
• Frank Allen: Travelling Man - On the Road with The Searchers ISBN 1-899750-290[7]
• The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll – Third Edition ISBN 0-743201-20-5
• The 1000 UK Number One Hits ISBN 1-844492-83-4

  

Discography

Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (Singles)

• July 1961: "You've Got What I Like" / "I'm in Love With You"
• October 1961: "That's What I Said" / "When I Get Paid"
• March 1962: "Poor Joe" / "Hurtin' Inside"
• July 1963: "Everybody Loves A Lover" / "My Old Stand By"
• November 1963: "You Really Got A Hold on Me" / "Alright"
• March 1964: "Got My Mojo Working" / "Beautiful Dreamer" [8]

Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (EPs)

• 1964 'She said Yeah'/ 'Doctor Feelgood' / 'You Make Me Happy' / 'Stupidity' [9]

The Searchers (Albums)

• 1965 – Sounds Like Searchers
• 1965 – Take Me for What I'm Worth
• 1972 – Second Take
• 1979 – Searchers
• 1981 – Play for Today
• 1988 – Hungry Hearts[10]

References

External links

• Searchers website
• The Searchers Records

---