Licorice Soul Records

Dave Anthony was born David Anthony Hutchinson and first met with drummer Freddy Shawcross whilst gigging at Ashton-in-Makerfield baths during the early 1960s. Freddie had been playing gigs in the Len Howard orchestra, which comprised off-duty members of the prestigious BBC Northern Dance Orchestra. Dave Anthony was on the same bill with his vibraphone set and the pair got to know each other.

After pursuing a career in journalism in London, Freddy returned to the North West and resumed his part-time drumming exploits and as the 1970s began, a call came out of the blue from Dave, having turned to keyboards, suggesting that they get together as a duo to fill a slot secured at a local restaurant. The pair immediately hit it off musically and developed their own unique sound. Dave was always experimenting with new ways of obtaining sounds from his equipment, building his own speakers and effects boxes of electronics, including assembling his own four-track home studio. Using only a Lowrey Organ, Dave had developed his own range of effects to make his sound like no other.

Freddy recalls that the "Popsie" LP (Dave's third) was almost completely down to Dave Anthony's skill, drive and enthusiasm for making music, and remembers their time as a duo as one of great enjoyment. The pair gigged regularly throughout the Warrington area for some time, with a residency at The Fir Grove Inn at Grappenhall drawing a large audience.

After a few years the duo went their separate ways and Dave went on to become Musical Director at Liverpool's Shakespeare Theatre where top stars such as Bob Monkhouse, Tommy Cooper and Mike & Bernie Winters would perform. This and a similarly high-profile spell at Bolton Casino were mixed in with dinner dances at the Fir Grove and the Rheingold at Acton Bridge in Cheshire for many years.

Freddy resumed his journalistic career and is now a columnist for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, but still regularly appears behind the kit in a combo called Geriatric Jazz. Dave Anthony is currently 81 years old and retired from the music industry.