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by John Warburg:
Just Five
were a powerhouse R & B act and one of Belfast's hottest R & B
acts. The band was founded by pork butcher Sam Mahood (born in 1946,
in Banbridge on the River Bann, Co Down, Northern Ireland), who had
long wild red hair, staring eyes, and a voice steeped in gospel, who
lived in University Street with John Cox, brother of Mick Cox later
of Eire Apparent. Promising guitar player John Cox nearly joined The
Just Five. The band included Frank Connolly vocals; Billy McCoy
guitar and Mervyn Crawford guitar. Just Five also played a Friday
night dance at the Annadale Boat Club and played the Maritime Hotel.
Just Five, which also
included another two of today’s top musicians Billy McCoy and Mervyn
Crawford, were a powerhouse R & B act and one of Belfast's hottest
acts. The band was founded by Sam Mahood, who had long wild red
hair, staring eyes, and a voice steeped in gospel, which lived in
University Street with John Cox, brother of Mick Cox later of Eire
Apparent. Promising guitar player John Cox nearly joined Just
Five.Sam was also ‘solely’ responsible for introducing his ‘protégé’
and now rising star in his own right onto Ireland’s music scene Lee
Hedley (Belfast City Blues).
Their repertoire
featured blues classics and the latest Rolling Stones songs like
'Paint It, Black' and as a tribute to Them they regularly included a
version of 'Baby Please Don't Go'. Among their rivals were
up-and-coming group the Few, a quintet of hip schoolboys. Just Five
appeared on a package recording released as 'Ireland's Greatest
Sounds - Five Top Groups From Belfast's Maritime Club' on Emerald
Records established by Mervyn Soloman. Several
groups include on the package were The Alleykats, The Bats, The
Luvin Kind and The People. |
