Active from 1950 | Genre Rock | |
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Albums We, Chant et danses de l'île de la Trinité (Mono Version) Record labels Silverword Music Group, BNF Collection Similar Edric Connor, Lord Rockingham's XI, Terry Dene, Tony Crombie, Wee Willie Harris |
The southlanders the mole in the hole
The Southlanders were a Jamaican / British vocal group formed in 1950 by Edric Connor and Vernon Nesbeth (died 6 March 2017, Torrevieja, Spain). The group went through a variety of names, including The Caribbeans, South Londoners, and Southerners, before settling on The Southlanders. Nesbeth remains with old members of the group to this day, and they continue to perform on cruise ships and in hotels. Allan Wilmot has since retired and resides at home in South London.
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While their biggest commercial hit was 1958's cover version of "Alone", which sold over one million copies; the song they are most identified with is "I am a Mole and I Live in a Hole" (also known as "Mole", "The Mole" and "The Mole in a Hole"). The unforgettable title line from the song was spoken by the group's bass voice Harry Wilmot, father of Gary Wilmot. Harry Wilmot died in 1961, when his son was six years old. The song failed to make the UK Singles Chart in 1958, but has been performed at every Southlanders' event since its release. Group founder Vernon Nesbeth said that the group tried to take the song out of their set but that club managers and audiences insisted upon hearing it. "It's become protected. Untouchable. We've even sung it in Japanese", said Nesbeth.
"Alone" was released by Decca, and entered the UK Singles Chart in November 1957. It was the group's only appearance in the chart, in which they spent ten weeks and peaked at #17.
The mole in a hole the southlanders 1958 45rpm
Songs
The Mole In The Hole2009
I Am a Mole and I Live In a HoleWe · 1998
Make It TonightWe · 1998