(c’47-50) William “Bill” Martin (guitar/vocals) Bob McGowan (?/vocals) and George Martin (accordion/vocals).
Prior to The Martin Brothers, George was an accordion player and singer known as “The Boy Baritone”. He also played in the cine-variety group The Tango Trio, performing at The Ritz, Aldershot. George formed The Martin Brothers, shortly after de-mob, with his younger brother Bill and McGowan; who he’d met in the RAF and who became his brother-in-law.
This Aldershot based close harmony trio auditioned for Vivian Van Damm at the Windmill Theatre, London; successfully turning professional with a six-week season. This was followed by a tour of Scotland, then a place in the touring production Buttons and Bows. While touring Germany, George broke his leg, and the act disbanded.
McGowan would later play double bass in The Mickey Kennedy Band and, with wife Joyce, ran The Owls Club, Aldershot. George later became known as “The Casual Comedian” and did stand-up tours and appeared on TV. He also became the licensee of The Bricklayer’s Arms, Ash, but a musician, composer, and wrote scripts, notably for Basil Brush. He died on 4 November 1991.
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