Scottish beat music fan Angela McKenzie circa. Elgin,1969. Angela loved attending the Two Red Shoes dances and has been an advisor to historical content presented on Scotbeat.
Gillian Hills was cast in “Beat Girl” in 1959 and gained popularity as a recording artist by 1961 although UK “beat music” of the time took on another form. In the States, there were dozens of popular female vocalists and girl groups on the go through in the 1960s though boy bands dominated the UK’s charts as very few female vocalist/musicians scored a recording contract.
“Britain was the world’s undisputed centre of pop in the 1960s. Though male groups dominated the UK charts, each of the four main record labels had a girl singer to satisfy those teenagers in need of a heroine fix. Together the four girls – Sandie Shaw, Lulu, Dusty Springfield and Cilla Black – scored nearly 60 top 40 UK hits between 1963 and the end of the decade, including half a dozen number ones. Petula Clark, who was older and ended up with the unenviable ‘easy listening’ tag, added a further ten hits…” http://readysteadygirls.co.uk/british-girls/4520782524 
There were dozens of popular female vocalists through the jazz and beat era though weren’t many girl groups in the mix. In Scotland, one was hard pressed to find an all girl band. Besides the Cameron Sisters who sang lead in two boy bands, there were The McKinley Sisters and The Modelles who gained a following. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2019/11/08/the-modelles/ In the early 1960s most Scottish female vocalists were fronting jazz bands as beat music was just catching on. Several female vocalists sang jazz, beat, and show tunes. In 1961 and ’62, The Springfields had a good reception as did English girl groups like the Dale Sisters and the Allisons delighted appreciative youth when they appeared in the north of Scotland in 1963. By 1964, Dusty Springfield had already achieved stardom internationally when she returned as a single act [Aberdeen] and the following year when a 15 year old, Lulu from Glasgow came to perform Shout! with The Luvvers at Elgin’s Two Red Shoes in 1965, there was crowd lined up around the block to see her on stage.
To celebrate Winston Churchill’s birthday [30 November], a variety show was staged in Lossiemouth Town Hall in 1963. Beatles fans Muriel Murdoch, Elsie Henry, May Souter, and Frances Trantor mimed three Beatles songs for two consecutive nights. May said that the audience “went berserk with a deafening noise” as they watched the girls perform She Loves You and Twist and Shout. She commented that an elderly woman believing she saw the Beatles said: “good of the Liverpool lads to come to Lossiemouth”. British beat music had come into it’s own and The Beatles were leading the charge…
Cut/paste collages c. https://djdills.wordpress.com/
As was the case with most jazz bands in the UK, the TRS house-band featured several female vocalists through the 1960’s though backup musicians usually were men. When Dusty Springfield sang ballads and folk songs with her brother at the Two Red Shoes Ballroom, “beat” music was gaining popularity in the music industry though the BBC had limited airplay of new styles, catering more to adult tastes at the time. Pop radio airplay was limited as was television though the first BBC pop show was in 1957 with the Six Five Special. https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/february/start-of-six-five-special It wasn’t until January 1964 when BBC jumped on the bandwagon when competing with Ready Steady Go with Top Of The Pops. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_of_the_Pops. It wasn’t until September 1967 when they launched BBC Radio 1 featuring pop music. Fortunately, there was Radio Luxembourg and other pirate radio stations playing pop.https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/early-music-television-uk/
Two Red Shoes houseband, Alyson Armstrong, Alex. Sutherland, and Albert Bonici [far right]
TWO RED SHOES Album
Likewise, the emerging beat bands were predominantly male though there were a few girl groups as well as male/female bands on the go in the UK. http://www.readysteadygirls.eu/#/british-girls/4520782524 The Jacobeats with the Cameron sisters from Nairn, The Modelles from the Borders, and the Mckinley Sisters from Edinburgh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_McKinleys were amongst the popular groups in Scotland besides some of the soloist featured here. The McKinlay Sisters [below] and the Modelles were among the few Scottish girl groups to stake out a career in the entertainment industry. The shared the bill with bands including The Rolling Stones and The Hollies besides the Beatles Show co-produced by Albert Bonici and Brian Epstein. Here are recordings [1964] of the sisters from Edinburgh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY29MmNUswE “They released several singles. Some of them supposedly contain Jimmy Page and Big Jim Sullivan on guitar. They also toured under the different name of The McKinley Sisters. They were on the bill on The Beatles tour in 1964.”
http://musiciansolympus.blogspot.com/2012/12/sheilamckinley-vocals.html
After a while, they moved to Germany, where they enjoyed bigger success.
Around 1971, they dropped the name, although Jeanette and Sheila still worked together from time to time (for example, touring with Paice Ashton & Lord or with The Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra).
“The fab McKinleys, sisters Sheila and Jeanette, from Edinburgh, appear here on RSG!, with their terrific ’64 version of “Sweet & Tender Romance,” produced by Carter & Lewis, who’d previously recorded their own version. Sheila is on the left, Jeanette on the right. Sheila recalls the show’s attempt at that ‘split-screen’ effect: “We were on either side of the studio and couldn’t see each other – hysterical!” The girls issued four great 45s spanning ’64 and ’65, the first of which is held in high esteem by fans of the girl-group sound: the classic “Someone Cares For Me”. Later in the 60s, they moved to Germany and had more releases as the McKinlay Sisters, sung in German. Sheila also had several solo German 45s. She eventually became a long-standing member of the Les Humphries Singers, whilst Jeanette became half of the duo Windows, who had a No. 1 hit in Germany with “How Do You Do”. Sheila is married to Liverpool legend Howie Casey. (As an unhappy postscript to the above, Sheila sadly passed away in December 2012.” Ian Chapman Obituary: https://www.scotsman.com/news/singing-sister-dies-after-fight-against-cancer-1596047 Sweet and Tender Romance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rhn6mx8s_k
Evening Express beat columnist Nigel Benson proclaims Dusty Springfield as “Top Female Singer” of 1964 [January 18, 1965]. Dusty performed in NE Scotland two times with The Springfields [including Two Red Shoes, Elgin in 1961 and ’62] and as a single act when she appeared at the Capitol Theatre, Aberdeen in 1964.
Dusty Springfield was controversial in some circles as she was openly gay besides playing to mixed audiences when touring in South Africa http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11931105.1964_1988__pop_in_protest/
Albert Bonici managed various groups besides his boy bands. The Modelles were one of the groups he promoted whilst beat boy bands dominated the charts.
Albert Bonici was sure the Modells would chart that he said “I’ll eat my hat if their first record doesn’t make the charts”.
Albert Bonici actively managed and promoted the Modelles looking after their needs on the road. They worked with other acts under his care including The Copycats…
Besides TV and radio spots, The Modelles performed regularly around the UK including the Palais featured in the Kinks, “Come Dancing” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lgzc0axshc
The Modelles go mod – With a new look, the British had their answer to American girl groups.
Popular jazz singer, Jeannie Lambe performed several times with the Alex. Sutherland sextet at the Two Red Shoes. Several female vocalists got a contract through Albert Bonici’s LCB Agency. It would provide the artist steady work and experience beyond the joy of it. Albert Bonici set up engagements and got his halls filled and financed his business whilst the acts often worked for a modest sum. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/two-red-shoes-album-2/ Update: Jeanie Lambe passed away recently: “She suffered ill health following a stroke in July 2014 and died May 29, 2020. Poignantly, her husband, Danny Moss MBE, died on the same date, May 29, in 2008. “Jeanie was born on 23rd December 1940 in Glasgow. She was 79 when she died on 29th May 2020 in Australia and is survived by her two sons”
Danny and Jeanie Lambe
https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituary-jeanie-lambe-scottish-jazz-singer-who-found-global-fame-2893697 Jeanie Lambe, Scottish entertainer who served as jazz vocalist for several bands besides recording star, passed away in May 2020 RIP
Alyson Armstrong, recorded with the Two Red Shoes house bands and Terry Russell [vocalist on a Norco Records 7 inch] besides appearances on Aye Yours [Grampian Television 1964-5].
According to a newspaper journalist at the time, Alyson dated Rob Larson of the Copy Cats. “My mother, Alyson Sinclair (nee Armstrong)…met Rob Larson later, after the Two Red Shoes days, and they discussed the fact they’d been wrongly associated in this way. I think they found it amusing.” Rory Sinclair
Besides, Alyson, vocalist Eithne Alexander, was another popular vocalist in the north of Scotland, and went on tour with the Copy Cats [aka My Dear Watson] in Germany. She was among the acts managed/promoted by Albert Bonici.
Beat girl bands were more of a novelty in the UK music scene though there were some who toured England and Scotland with receptive audiences. I came these photos of girl bands in stacks of photos of guy bands though couldn’t identify them without writing on the back. They were British bands of the beat era though not sure where they hailed from.
When ’60s groups like the Ronettes and Supremes were getting radio play in the USA, there were some girl groups and soloist [including Dusty and Lulu] on the go in the UK though boy bands continued to dominate the beat scene. Here’s a bit of footage of The Shangri-Las singing their hit “Leader of the Pack” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8UKf65NOzM&list=PLmYYokLIfdRSXQGMA89JKVg639p0arM8T
The north of Scotland became a tour destination under Albert Bonici’s plan that hired musicians for ten day tours in relatively small communities. Popular female vocalist who performed in the north of Scotland in the 1960s includes Lulu, Dusty Springfield, Sandy Shaw, Anita Harris, and Marianne Faithfull.
In 1965, The modelles were Vicki, Magi, and Franki. Lori Stevens [seated in front] worked with the group for three years before taking on a solo career.
Above: Shangra Las https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM9orBt3ZWY&list=PL407E816CAD591DE8
There were also dozens of female vocalists on the go doing gigs between London and Scotland besides many who were hired as house band vocalists. Albert Bonici took advantage of the available talent, hiring several young women to do long term gigs around the north of Scotland. His Two Red Shoes Ballroom [Elgin, Scotland] featured several talented vocalists who were backed by their popular house band through the 1960s. First in a succession of the versital vocalists who helped set the mood at the popular venue was Jeannie Lambe. The various singers below represent a variety of musical styles including pop, jazz, and folk…
Jazz singer, Jeannie Lambe on swing [Bonici Archives] more photos at: A popular jazz singer, Jeannie Lambe performed several times with the Alex. Sutherland sextet at the Two Red Shoes. Several female vocalists got a contract through Albert Bonici’s LCB Agency. It would provide the artist steady work and experience beyond the joy of it. Albert Bonici set up engagements and got his halls filled and financed his business whilst the acts often worked for a modest sum
Jeannie Lambe went on to have an international following and was featured various music periodicals.
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Above: Marianne Faithfull began as a folk singer who had a troubled time during her early career. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2420327/Marianne-Faithfull-Red-Army-rapists-aborted-baby-hate-sex. Interview: html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR1QaQWwYQA
Marianne Faithful began her career as a teenager and early recording was released Apple Records on a 7 inch “45” vinyl disc which also featured James Taylor and others.
Whilst there were several popular British female vocalists including Dusty Springfield, Sandy Shaw, Lulu, and Marianne Faithfull , it was hard to get recognition unless fortunate enough to get airplay on BBC television or radio besides connections in London.
Anna Bright – dancer
Dilys Watling
Kamara Sisters
Love-in Feeling
SCOTBEAT and http://bonici.wordpress.com includes photos and documents from the Bonici Archives with permission from the Bonici family [PC Holding Co]. You may contact me at dillsdavid@yahoo.co.uk for consent in using images for media projects. Am currently updating http://djdills.wordpress.com with original new collages. #collageart #beatmusic #popmusic #1960smusic
scotbeat 
[…] were rushed at Elgin’s Town Hall complaining about having to stay inside their hotel room: https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2016/01/22/beat-girls-of-the-60s/ Elgin scene: […]
Just a tiny note:
My mother, Alyson Sinclair (nee Armstrong) says the following is factually inaccurate:
“Alyson Armstrong, who dated Copycat star Rob Larson as a teenager,”
She says in fact she only met Rob Larson later, after the Two Red Shoes days, and they discussed the fact they’d been wrongly associated in this way. I think they found it amusing.
Thank you Rory for correcting the inaccuracy. I am hoping to record the real history though it can be a bit tricky at times. I should have sited the news article who created the rumour but am glad that you caught it. cheers,David