The history of Flight 56 by Dinky Dawes

Flight 56, first formed in 1969 / 70 as 56 Flight Rock & Roll band the members were Dinky Dawes (Bass Guitar) Mick Burgin (Drums) Graham Constable (Rhythm Guitar) Mick Mills (Lead Guitar & Vocals) and John Peters (Piano).

After some of the members went down a new road, 1972 saw the line up as Dinky Dawes (Bass Guitar) Gary Cooper (Lead Guitar & Vocals) Mick Cousins (Drums) Graham Jones (Keyboard) and a very young Nick Barnes (Rhythm Guitar) This line up took us all around East Kent.

Then in 1973 the band took off with a top line up, plus the name change to Flight 56. The new line was, Dinky Dawes (Bass Guitar) Ralph Thompson (Tenor Saxophone) Jerry Kelk (Lead Guitar) Nick Barnes (Rhythm Guitar & backing vocals) Perry White (Piano) Keith Hedges (Alto Saxophone) Martin Wakefield & Steve Nichols (Drums) Les Wills (Vocals) Tina Dawes (Vocals)

At the end of 1974 Les Wills, Martin Wakefield & Keith Hedges left the band and a new boy to Rock & Roll became the vocalist, name Mal Gray (ha!) our first singles were called ‘Look out for love’ and ‘Ballroom queen’

In 1975 I had to call the band Little-T-and the Hotrods until I got Flight 56 registered (copyright) to myself, we then came back with Flight 56 and a new line up Dinky Dawes (Bass Guitar) Nick Barnes (Vocals) Jerry Kelk (Lead Guitar) Nick Walker (Drums) Steve Cameron (Piano) Tina Dawes (Vocals)

As you all know Flight 56 gigged all over the U.K, plus we got a good part in a rock & roll film just like ‘That'll be the Day’.

Today 2005 the name is still copyright to myself, and I'm now into writing songs, I'm a member of ISA (International Songwriters Association) and have got back with the boys, plus some new faces who are helping me to record my song's.

So the new line up for 2005 is Dinky Dawes (Bass Guitar) Jerry Kelk (Lead Guitar) Ralph Thompson (Tenor Saxophone) Holly Cook (Piano and Backing Vocals) John Punt (Drums) Nick Barnes (Recording Engineer & Vocals) Brandy Cook (Vocals) Danny Cotgrove (Guest Vocalist).