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Hi I'm Luke, I interviewed my Granddad Ronnie Carroll
And in this story he tells us about his time working as an EMI Representative in the 1960s
And all the famous people he got to meet whilst working there
I hope you enjoy his story...
Well, you know my name - Ronnie Carroll, and I live in Warton here
And I have done for quite a while
And so, yes I'm getting on a bit now - I know I don't look my age but I'm 92.
I started working in Kendal Mills, it's called something else now...
You know, Kendal Mills in Manchester, Deansgate - big departmental store, and I was working in there.
When this friend of mine, Arthur, he was working for British Pathe - film company
And he came in and he said, "Oh", - you know we'd met and had a good chat....
He said, "How long have you been in hear?", - I said only, not long.
He said, "There's a job going with us", British Pathe Pictures, you know
He said, "A Rep like I'm doing", he said, "All you have to do is go round all the cinemas...
"and get them to hire the films, all the news reels" - so I went and applied and I got the job.
After about I think 18 months with them I met this other friend of mine, Tom.
And I said, "I'm with British Pathé", he said, "Look I'm with a record place called EMI Records...
"And they want a Rep", He said, "Now this is good because you're meeting all the artists and you're bringing them into the studio...
"and it's good pay, and you get a car free, you know - and all that"
So I applied for that and I got the job... So I was an EMI Rep for about how long?
20 years, more - aye... more than that.
The Beatles I used to take out quite a lot, cause I lived in Manchester then.
And I used to take them out round different places
Because then we did it for advertisement for the records, you know - a lot of publicity.
You know, we'd put it in the paper or the... "The Beatles are appearing at Saint Louis' in Manchester....
"So come and have your record signed by them", you know - they used to queue up to buy a record...
And then have it signed by them - same with all of them.
Well, of course we did Liverpool and Manchester, Preston - all of the big towns, yeah.
I used to just phone the place up and ask them if they wanted to have some artist there
To bring people into their shop to buy things, you know....
Oh Frankie, oh Frankie Vaughan, yes - oh aye.
I took Frankie out quite a lot, we went round quite a lot - to different apartments
While he signed his records, you know. We used to do all that after, you know.
One day, and I said, "I tell you what I've got to do Frank, it's my daughter's birthday...
"And I must just go back and see her, because I've got some things for her...
I said, "So if you want to wait her or stay there...."
He said, "What do you mean?!" he said, "I'm coming to your house to see her..."
So Frankie got in the car where we were and on the way he said, "Eh, pull up!"
And he pulled up outside the store, I said "Where you going?" - he said, "Wait there..."
And he went in and when he came back he had a doll, do you remember? (Yeah...) The big doll...
And I took him home, and your mum came to the door - "Hello Frankie" - "Hello, come in..."
And he came in and he gave her the doll...
And this is the funny part about it, we were there and your mother had made some sandwiches and tea and all that
She said, "Do you want a sandwich Frank?", he said, "Yes please" - so he took one...
He said, "Are you trying to hurt me?", I said, "No, why?" - he said, "Do you know what's in these sandwiches?"
He said, "Ham!" he said, "We're Jews we don't eat ham!"
Oh yes, Shirley, I had to go to Cardiff and bring her to the studio...
And at the same time also, another man - and who'd you think? - Ronnie Carroll.
He was from Ireland, and he was just brought in the same time as Shirley.
And during, in between sessions, or when we were there for a while, he and I used to take Shirley out at night.
I got her an apartment over a grocers' shop in Tottenham Court Road - a little tiny apartment.
Oh she loved it, and when we'd come out she'd say, "Oh, isn't the traffic... oh..."
Because she hadn't been to London then, you know - and all the traffic and all the people.
And Ronnie was near in an apartment as well and we used to take her out for quite a while in the evenings, you know....
I have been in touch with her... Not just of late, you know.
I used to go on the phone and drop in and see her, you know.
"Any particular memories you've got about Shirley Bassey..." - Yeah but I can't tell then you!
Oh no, I'll just tell you one because it's not rude...
She was on the stage you know and I used to take her from theatre to theatre
From town to town sometimes, and then she'd get a place...
But during the show, I used to have to stand at the side of the stage
With a small glass of water, cold water...
And d'ya know when she's singing and suddenly she'd, "Laalalalalaadeedi"...
And she'd walk off the stage wouldn't she, while she was singing, you see...
And as soon as she'd walk off, I'd be there, "Go on..."
And she'd drink the water, cause to help her mouth, help her throat, you know...
And then she'd come back singing, and I used to be there doing that, and nobody knew that...
The one thing about being a Representative for EMI Records
I had a new car every year - I never paid for a car...
And never paid for petrol, never paid for oil....
I've never worked in my life! I haven't, it's always been enjoyment....