Singer-songwriter and guitarist born Andrew Esmond Sheridan McGinnity in Norwich, Norfolk, England, whose parents influenced him through their classical music interests. He studied the violin, being able to perform by the time he was seven. He went on to learn the guitar and in 1956 he formed his first band and at 18 he appeared on the BBC television programme Oh Boy!
Following on from this he was offered a contract to perform in Hamburg, Germany and while there he met up with The Beatles who worked with him on his second tour. They recorded together at the suggestion of Bert Kaempfert and subsequently made the Hit Parade chart with “My Bonnie”.
The Beatles were referred to as the The Beat Brothers while making recordings in Germany as The Beatles sounded too similar to the German slang for the word penis. The group’s name was changed back when their work was re-released in Britain and Tony is the only non-Beatle to sing lead vocals on a single by them which charted.
In 1967 he performed for the allied troops in Vietnam and his group was fired on, with one member killed. He was later made an honorary Captain of the United States Army in recognition of his work.
During the 1970s he had his own blues show on German radio and after the re-opening of the famous Star Club he performed there with the TCB Band, which were the band of Elvis Presley.
In 2002 he released an album of his own material called Vagabond.
In February 2013 he underwent heart surgery but passed away following the procedure.
Tony Sheridan and The Beatles recordings
Cry For a Shadow (George Harrison/John Lennon)
Why (Tony Sheridan/Bill Crompton)
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