(c’64-’70) Michael “Mike Raynor” Bigg (vocals), Bob Bigg (guitar), Keith Barnard (drums), Patrick ‘Paddy’ Lavelle (bass), and Laurie Jenkins (trumpet, saxophone, flute, and euphonium).
The Bigg brothers had been playing in local bands from an early age, forming Aldershot based Mike Raynor and The Condors at some point in ’64, originally calling the band The Strangers. On 1 March ’64, The Condors supported Dave Curtiss & The Tremors at New Central Ballroom, Aldershot. A few months later they were bottom of the bill at The Attic Club, Hounslow for the venues 26 July ’64’s ‘Special All Star Show’ with PJ Proby with The Diamonds, Rory Blackwell & His Monsters, Frankie Roy & The Soundcasters, The Sonics, and The Roosters. The Condors went on to play Silver Blades, Streatham on 18 November that year.
The band were soon on Bob Potter’s books and appearing across the Southern UK circuit. Initially there was some confusion as Johnny Milton & The Condors were already working the circuit, although they changed their name to The Symbols in ’65, and we’re hopeful we haven’t made the same error in this piece. Our Condors appeared at the 400 Ballroom, Torquay on 30 April ’65, locking in a weekend at the venue as Mike Raynor & The Condors on 19, 21, and 22 June ’65. Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays played the Potter run Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley on 15 August ’65, supported by The Condors. The following month the band supported Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers, on 12 September, at the Agincourt and returned to the 400 on 23 October ’65.
On 19 February ’66 the 400 hosted The Condors once again. On 6 March 66 the band appeared once more at the Agincourt, as just The Condors supporting The Pretty Things and three months later, on 12 June ’66, supporting The Loving Kind. Later in the year, there were back-to-back headliners, on 3 and 4 December ’66, at the Old Barn Club, Penzance. The band subsequently signed to Decca, releasing 1967’s 7″ single “Turn Your Head” [F 12605] backed by “Lazy Day” in the UK and Denmark.
The Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames booked The Condors for 4 February ’67, and according to Tony Bacon’s “London Live” the band supported The Sands at the Marquee, London on 17 February ’67. The band returned to The Playhouse on 28 February, then on 12 March ’67 they supported Pink Floyd at the Agincourt! Reportedly, Pink Floyd arrived late, smelled bad, appeared to be dressed in rags, and played really loud directly through the PA system. And they didn’t talk to each other… They barked. On the 9 April ’67 the band were in Denmark where we know they headlined at the Beat House Club held at Anlægspavillonen, Ringsted, supported by Shouts. A support slot with Jimmy James and The Vagabonds went down on 30 June ’67 at Tiles, London. In September that year Mike Raynor and The Condors played The Playhouse once again on 2 September ’67; then headed out on a tour of Denmark once more and supported Pink Floyd again, this time at the Boom Center, Aarhus on 9 September. Also, in ’67 Decca put out the “Is She a Woman Now” [ F 22 690] single in Denmark, with “My Shy Serenade” on the flipside.
The following year the band covered Lennon and McCartney’s “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” [F 22864], releasing it on Decca in Denmark as Mike Raynor and Sky with “I’m Going Down” on the B-side. While their vinyl was pushed in Scandinavia the band continued to appear in the UK at venues like The Barn, Penzance on 9 and 16 March ’68, squeezing a visit to Walton-on-Thames’ Playhouse on 12 March between the two and again on 13 July and 10 August ’68. Mike Raynor & The Condors returned to the 400 on 28 September, and The Cobweb, St. Leonards, were they performed on 19 October ’68 supported by The Inventive Mr. Jeff. Maintaining a live presence in Denmark the band were back in the country in late ’68, reportedly performing at both Ungdonklubberne, Roskilde, supported by Raws, and at the Beat House Club, Anlaegspavillonen, Slagelse on 7 December ’68. During ’68 the band started to go by Sky, for whom ex-Skeleton Skiffle band member Mike Betts roadied, appearing at their regular haunt, The Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames as The Sky (formerly Mike Raynor & The Condors) on 28 December ’68.
Jump forward 42 years to 2010 and the Spred Music label issued “On Our Way” [001CD] by Sky2010 featuring Mike Raynor and The Condors. As of 2020 Barnard and Bob Bigg were still playing the odd gig under the original The Strangers name, joined by Mike Bigg occasionally.
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