The ALLISONS

Despite never claiming victory at the Eurovision Song Contest, the Allisons remain among Britain's most fondly remembered entrants after placing second in 1961. The duo originally consisted of Brian Alford and John White and emerged from the remnants of a southwest London youth club band also called the Shadows, unrelated to the well-known instrumental group. Performing first as the Shadows Brothers, they earned a spot on the 1958 television talent program Television Discoveries. White left in early 1959, after which Alford launched a solo attempt. Late that summer, however, Alford joined Colin Day; the pair adopted the Allisons name and altered their surnames accordingly.

By 1960 they were appearing at the Bread Basket coffee bar. A demo of Alford's compositions later reached Fontana Records, which entered the song "Are You Sure" in the U.K. Eurovision heats. The duo had turned professional only a month earlier, yet the track won the regional contest decisively and is still regarded as one of Eurovision's most deserving runners-up. The single climbed to number two on the U.K. chart in spring 1961, while follow-ups "Words" and "Lessons in Love" only grazed the Top 40. The original lineup disbanded by the mid-'60s. Alford kept writing songs and periodically revived the Allisons with new members, sometimes alongside Day and at other times with vocalists such as Mike Allison and Tony Allison.