The Four Pennies

Originating under the name Lionel Morton Four, the ensemble took its designation from lead vocalist Lionel Morton, who had performed as a choirboy inside a cathedral in his native Blackburn, Lancashire, England, as a youngster. Alongside the singer, who also handled rhythm guitar duties, the lineup featured pianist Mike Wilsh from Stoke-on-Trent, lead guitarist Fritz Fryer from Oldham, and drummer Alan Buck from Brierfield. The quartet, unrelated to any American act sharing the identical moniker, counted among Buck’s earlier affiliations outfits fronted by Joe Brown and Johnny Kidd. Their strongest commercial impact arrived via sentimental ballads, most notably “Juliet,” which displaced the Searchers from the summit of the British charts during spring 1964. Initially issued as the B-side to the group’s second single, the track received A-side promotion once radio attention shifted away from its flip, “Tell Me Girl.” Although the debut release “Do You Want Me To” had already registered on the charts, the band remained largely unnoticed until “Juliet” surfaced. Their follow-up, the lachrymose “I Found Out the Hard Way,” secured a respectable Top 20 berth in Great Britain without matching the prior hit’s stature. Two additional entries, Buffy Sainte-Marie’s “Until It’s Time for You to Go” and Leadbelly’s “Black Girl,” also appeared on the listings. Retaining their founding roster, the Four Pennies issued one further single, “No Sad Songs for Me,” before dissolving in autumn 1966. Morton, married to British actress Julia Foster, attempted a solo career before transitioning into television work. Buck remained active in entertainment through assorted roles that encompassed production duties at Radio Luxembourg. Fryer later formed Fritz, Mike & Mo and subsequently produced recordings for Clannad, Horslips, Motörhead, and Stackridge, among other acts. Wilsh continues to lead an ensemble that performs under the Four Pennies banner.