Wally Whyton (born Wallace Victor Whyton, 23 September 1929, London - died 22 January 1997, London), was a British musician, songwriter and radio and TV personality.

He grew up listening to jazz, blues and folk music, and learned to play first the piano, then trombone, and finally guitar. In 1956, while working in advertising [1], he formed the Vipers Skiffle Group, which became the resident band at the 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho. After a number of hit records produced by George Martin, including Whyton's song "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O", the group split up in 1960, and Whyton moved into television work.

Very photogenic and with a soft spoken voice, Wally Whyton normally wore a cardigan as he presented the children's programmes Small Time, Lucky Dip, Tuesday Rendezvous (on which The Beatles made their second TV appearance, performing Love Me Do), Five O'Clock Club, Ollie and Fred's Five O'Clock Club and Five O'Clock Funfair for Associated-Rediffusion and Rediffusion London, appearing with the puppet characters Pussy Cat Willum, Ollie Beak and Fred Barker (the latter two of which he created himself) and often with Muriel Young and Bert Weedon. Wally Whyton normally performed a song while playing his guitar on the children's shows.

Subsequently, many will remember him as the host of Granada TV's 'Time For A Laugh', a teatime collection of cartoon capers. From the 1960s to the 1990s he was a presenter on BBC Radio 2, mainly fronting folk and country music programmes. One of these was called "Country Club" and on once a week in the evening. He always finished it by saying in his very recognisable way: "Goodnight".

Despite his busy schedule as a broadcaster, Whyton continued to find time to record. As well as recording an album of Woody Guthrie songs, Children's Songs of Woody Guthrie, he wrote and recorded the conservation anthem, "Leave Them a Flower".

External link

• All Music Guide entry

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