50 Years Ago...
Mel, Mel & Julian began their career in 1965, they had just recorded their first Lp "Songs about mines, people, places & one train" as a Mel & Mel project, and when it had been judged "bloody good" a second contract at the Edward Hotel was offered to the duo, who then asked Julian to join the band! So they went pro as a trio, performing at various hotel residencies around South Africa, repeating marathon musical and comedy performances which were sensational and drew turn-away audiences. Their frequent gigs at Johannesburg's Troubadour and their long-running club residencies in Durban, East London and Cape Town were known for drawing full houses during the heady times that were the mid-60s. How they began is another story... part good luck, very good timing and a perfect example of "being in the right place at the right time!"
So, here's the"short" version of how it all happened!
The 60s difference: While Beatle- and Rolling Stones- influenced bands were common, Mel, Mel & Julian grew up in that era, and when they got together, the "folk boom" had also begun, so instead of becoming another Mersey-beat wannabe band, they stood out with their simple vocal/acoustic guitar set up, singing and playing for attentive, hushed audiences, who were alternately rolling helplessly in their seats, convulsed with helpless laughter at the high jinks of Mel Miller's jokes and stories. They were different, and good!
Mel, Mel & Julian were mostly employed working at their residencies in large hotels around the country, and occasionally headlined shows at University concerts in Cape Town, Grahamstown, Durban and Johannesburg... when they were in-between these long-term gigs, they would be doing shows at local coffeehouses like The Troubadour, or performing at the occasional folk festival (where Julian would conduct guitar workshops).
They kept busy all the time adding to repertoire and playing out when the new material was ready for a live audience. These "breaks" between long gigs had them returning to their homes in Johannesburg and were also when their recording company would schedule the band to go into the Gallo recording studio, where their three distinctive LPs were produced.
Their reputation grew and over time critics and audiences would describe their combination of well-played folk music, mixed with comedy and social commentary as a cross between The Kingston Trio and the Smothers Brothers ... but then South Africans were always compared to overseas acts. In fact they were actually unique on the folk scene in South Africa and proved to be something of a phenomenon, and yet their sound was unique, combining the tight harmony vocals of Big Mel and Little Mel with the brilliant, innovative guitar picking of Julian Laxton, who stood head and shoulders above most guitarists in South Africa.
Their repertoire included music from all over the Globe, and they earned face-to-face compliments from the Everly Brothers, the Seekers, The Ivy League and other internationally known stars. One of their biggest fans was the famous South African country & western singer, Billy Forrest, who became their manager, and who promoted them into the top layer of South African show biz.
They recorded ground-breaking LPs that turned the local folk music scene on its head, and which were standard setters for musical entertainment. All within a short span of a little less than five years! Read on about how these three different characters met, and coalesced into a tight musical unit and became a wonderfully consistent band.