Tony Sheridan, the singer on the first ever singer credited to The Beatles, has died at the age of 72.
The Beatles with Tony Sheridan
Sheridan died in Hamburg, Germany. Details of his death have yet to be released.
On his early 60s recording, Sheridan’s backing band was The Beatles.
English-born Sheridan met the then The Beatles John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best during their first visit to Hamburg in 1960. They would back him at his shows when they first left England before they were famous.
German producer Bert Kaempfert saw them live and suggested they record together. Kaempfert thought Sheridan was the star and placed The Beatles as his backing band on his recordings.
In total, they recorded seven songs together but only two with all four members. (Ringo had not joined the band at this time). John Lennon once said that more than seven songs were recorded but they have never been found.
Of these recordings, ‘My Bonnie’ backed with ‘The Saints’ was released as a single on Polydor Records. The sessions also produced ‘Ain’t She Sweet’ and ‘Cry For A Shadow’, as well as three other songs.
Ringo Starr also played as a member of Sheridan’s band at one-time but not as a Beatle.
Tony Sheridan is one of only two people to share a credit on a Beatles record. The other was Billy Preston.
In a Facebook post, the original Beatles drummer Pete Best said, “My friend Tony Sherdian passed away this morning. Great guy and great memories I will miss you Tony. RIP”.
