User:NotAdele/The New Faces (UK group)

The New Faces were a British vocal trio that appeared on numerous British TV variety series during the 1960s and 1970s, alongside many major stars of the era.

The group was founded in Glasgow, Scotland by singer, guitarist and arranger Charles McKay in 1961, the other original members being vocalists Barry Greenway and Marie Gordon-Price. This line-up recorded 4 singles for Pye and 7 for Decca between 1965 and 1970, and appeared regularly on the London Weekend light entertainment series "The Saturday Crowd" alongside Leslie Crowther, Lonnie Donegan and Peter Gordeno. A budget compilation album The World of the New Faces, combining some of their Decca singles with contemporary cover versions, was released on Decca in 1970.

After Greenway and Gordon-Price married and left the group in the early 1970s, The New Faces continued under McKay's leadership with a variety of line-ups and adapted its stage act to include comic impressions of popular singers of the era such as Lulu, Cilla Black, The Osmonds and even one-man band Don Partridge, whom McKay would imitate by wearing a cap and using a kazoo on a harness in conjunction with his guitar. The New Faces' TV career continued with appearances on ATV's "The Des O'Connor Show" and the BBC TV children's series "We Want To Sing", which was presented by Rick Jones.

The trio made 2 singles for the independent British label Ember during 1973/74, before changing its name temporarily to Mahogany and entering the Thames Television talent series Opportunity Knocks in 1976. A re-recorded version of an earlier single "Where Would I Find Another You?" was released on Ember soon afterwards under their new name, and was followed by the single "Singer of Songs" on DJM in 1977. By now, the group consisted of McKay, Sue Morgan and Neil Grant.

Reverting to their previous group name, McKay, Morgan and Grant reached the pinnacle of their career in 1977 when they supported Liberace on a 6-week tour of the USA’s east coast. The following year, the trio appeared on Tom O'Connor's Thames Television variety series "London Night Out". By now, The New Faces’ live schedule included cruise liners such as the QE2.

With further personnel changes, the group continued to work steadily in cabaret all over the world throughout the 1980s; the final line-up, formed in 1987, consisted of McKay, Judy Raye and Paul Bennett.

The New Faces finally disbanded in 1991 when McKay retired from showbusiness in order to spend more time with his family. Sadly, he passed away on November 2, 2007 at the age of 63, leaving a wife, two grown-up children and three grandchildren.

Original New Face Marie Gordon-Price became a successful solo singer and actress, with numerous appearances on BBC Radio 2 and STV as a singer as well as acting roles in pantomimes, on BBC Radio 4 and in a handful of films and TV dramas She was a regular performer on London Weekend’s “Hi Summer” in 1977, her only notable foray into national British TV since leaving The New Faces. Marie has also branched out as a playwright, screenwriter, songwriter, painter and author of historical novels.

Marie's ex-husband and fellow founding New Face Barry Greenway died of leukaemia in 2005. Their daughter, Lara Greenway, is now a prolific TV and film producer, director, actress and screenwriter.

Neil Grant, who left the group in 1979, now resides in Blackpool and runs an entertainment agency.

External links

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Category:British vocal groups Category:British pop music groups Category:British comedy musical groups Category:Musical trios Category:Musical groups established in 1961 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1991