1957 EP cover

The Vipers Skiffle Group – later known simply as The Vipers - were one of the leading British groups during the skiffle period of the mid to late 1950s, and were important in the careers of radio and television presenter Wally Whyton, record producer George Martin, and several members of The Shadows.

History

The group formed in the spring of 1956 in central London, originally as a trio of singer-guitarists comprising Whyton, Johnny Martyn (born John Martyn Booker, 1934 - 2007), and Jean Van den Bosch. Later that summer they added a rhythm section, Tony Tolhurst (bass) and John Pilgrim (washboard), and took up residency at the renowned Soho music venue, the 2i's Coffee Bar. There, they sometimes jammed with singer Tommy Hicks, later known as Tommy Steele. In September 1956 they were offered an audition with George Martin at Parlophone Records, and won a recording contract.

Their second single, Whyton’s original song "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O", produced by George Martin, reached the Top Ten in the UK Singles Chart in early 1957. The group came into direct competition with Lonnie Donegan on the rival Pye label, who imitated Whyton’s arrangements but had the bigger hits, both with "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O" and with its follow-up "Cumberland Gap". However, the Vipers’ version of the latter song again made the UK Top Ten, and was followed by their last chart hit, "Streamline Train". Significantly, Martin later commented that working with the Vipers gave him important experience in working with an untrained but enthusiastic group of musicians.

While the Vipers Skiffle Group continued to record, and for a time were one of the biggest stage attractions among British groups, Whyton and Booker also made an album released in the U.S. called The Original Soho Skiffle Group, a showcase for traditional folk and blues music, with sleeve notes by Nat Hentoff. However, by 1958 the skiffle craze was over, and the Vipers dropped the "Skiffle Group" designation from their name.

As The Vipers, the group at one point added Hank Marvin, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan, who would go on to form The Drifters, later The Shadows. However, the group finally disintegrated when their recording contract ran out in 1960. Whyton later moved on to a successful career as a radio and television presenter.

External link

• All Music Guide entry