The Joystrings

The Joystrings
OriginEngland
Genres
Years active1963–1969
Past members
  • Thelma Adams
  • Brenda Alexander
  • Lillian Boot
  • Peter Dalziel
  • Bill Davidson
  • Handle Everett
  • Sylvia Gair
  • Wycliffe Noble
  • Joy Webb
Websitehttps://www.salvationarmy.org.uk

The Joystrings (originally credited as The Joy Strings) were a 1960s British Christian music group led by classically trained keyboard player and singer Joy Webb, who was an officer in the Salvation Army.[1]

History

After appearing on Cliff Michelmore's BBC Tonight television show, they were given a recording contract by EMI Records.[1] In 1964, they became the first Salvation Army pop group to achieve chart success with "It's An Open Secret" and "A Starry Night".[1] The main members through the years were Joy Webb (who wrote the group's first hit), Peter and Sylvia Dalziel, Bill Davidson, and Wycliffe Noble. The group had a number of other singers drawn, at intervals, from cadets at the William Booth Memorial Training College, Denmark Hill in London.

They also recorded a version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem," using the music of The Animals' "The House of the Rising Sun" - an unusual blending.[2]

In September 2013, 50 years after the Joystrings' formation, group member Sylvia Dalziel published her memoir, The Joystrings: The Story of the Salvation Army Pop Group.[3]

Wycliffe Noble died on 1 April 2017, at the age of 91.[4] Joy Webb died on 1 October 2023, at the age of 91.[5]

Discography

Singles

  • "It's An Open Secret" (1964) – UK Number 32[6] (Regal Zonophone: RZ501)
  • "Million Songs" (1964)
  • "A Starry Night" (1964) – UK Number 34[6]
  • "All Alone" (1965)
  • "The Only One" (1965)
  • "No Time To Lose"/"Love That's All Around" (Epic Records (USA): 5-10195)
  • "Christmas Can Be Every Day For You" (1966)

EPs

  • The Joy Strings (1964)
  • Have Faith in God (1965)
  • Christmas with The Joy Strings (1965)
  • Joy Strings abroad (1966)
  • The song break (1967)

Albums

  • Well Seasoned (1966) Regal Zonophone, LRZ4016 mono; SLRZ4016 stereo, UK
  • Well Seasoned (1966) EPIC Records, US
  • Carols Around The World (1967)
  • Joystrings Restrung (2011)
  • Joystrings Christmas Collection (2012)[7]

Bibliography

  • Gilliard, A.J. (1967). Joy and the Joystrings: The Salvation Army's 'Pop Group'. Lutterworth Press.

References

  1. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1329. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ YouTube, "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
  3. ^ Dalziel, S. 2013 The Joystrings: The Story of the Salvation Army Pop Group, Shield Books, ISBN 978-0854129065 [1]
  4. ^ "Obituary: Salvation Army drummer was part of one of Britain's first Christian pop groups". The Salvation Army. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Promoted to Glory: Major Joy Webb (OF)". Southern Spirit Online. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 291. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ [2] [dead link‍]