Julie (nee Lewis) Rutledge: A friendship across time

May 05, 2025

Julie (nee Lewis) Rutledge: A friendship across time

Julie: I want to begin this interview on the Holland Road, Shepherd's Bush, London, 1971.

What were you doing at that time?

Julie: I was working with the Mike Holly band at the Empire Ballroom in London

Janice: Tell me about the repertoire you did with the Mike Holly Band?

Julie: We did all covers! I remember doing Tears of a Clown and Rescue Me and my Sweet Lord! Oh the memories! It was a regular Saturday afternoon at the Empire Ballroom.

Janice: We go back before London to Sydney, Australia where we were both doing gigs with Tony Gaha''s The In People' at Chequer's Nite Club .

Can you expand on that for me? How that gig came about for you?

Julie: My agent got me a gig opening for Oliver at Chequers and also with Sammy Davis Jnr and sharing the opening with you and also with Billy Preston.

I also worked with Barry Crocker on variety shows. Also did the Don Lane Tonight Show as well as Graham Kennedy Show in Melbourne.

Meeting you was the best thing! Still friends after all these years!

Janice: It's incredible to reconnect after all of this time; I'd like you to go back further in time. Who were your early musical influences?

Julie: I was listening to Nancy Wilson in my early years along with The Beatles and the irst album I ever bought was Mario Lanza! I loved his voice! Weird eclectic taste eh?

Janice: My mother loved the movies and she loved Mario Lanza and took us to see The Student Prince probably in town, She would occasionally sing a bar or two from Íf I Loved You' possibly while she was doing housework or such....Mum & I loved this song and his voice! Julie whilst we're talking back in time; what was your first gig in the UK?

Julie: My first gig with a band was in Hartlepool in my teenage years! Every Saturday night at the ballroom with the resident band. We opened for bands up from London. The Yardbirds and I'm sure Clapton was with them but what did I know? Many others!

Janice: Amazing! We 'Bones' 'did a week long residency with Cliff (Richard) there...in the early '70's. It was at a working men's club. Interesting how when you look back you would have come across all of these extraordinary musicians but just taken it in your stride.

Julie: After that I got a permanent gig at the Riviera Nightclub in Hartlepool with Tony Hicks, Reg Powell and Laurie the bass player.

Janice: Just to clarify, for the reader; this is the late, Tony Hicks drummer par excellence of the innovative UK Jazz trio, Backdoor not Tony Hicks lead guitarist of the Hollies.

Julie: After that I went to the Fiesta Nightclub in Stockton and sang with resident band there and worked with Billy Eckstein!

Then the Maori Castaways invited me go to Australia as their lead singer. I said yeeees!.

It certainly took some convincing from my family. My brothers' thought I should stay home but my Mam knew I ad to go and she gave her consent!

Janice:....and how did you meet the Maori Castaways?

Julie; I also met the Castaways at the Riviera Nightclub. What a journey I've had eh!

Janice: You certainly have Julie. Just a few more questions before we end this interview; did you go to New Zealand ?

Julie: Yes I went to New Zealand and worked there for six weeks at Logan Park. One Tree Hill. I fell in love with Auckland nd there were many wonderful musicians there. I remember a band called The Dallas Four! So good! It was hard to leave.

Janice: Another connection for you and I is that I recorded my first single on Phillips with the Maori Hi Fives; who I only just learnt were one and the same band, the Castaways! Julie, there's so much more regarding our connections but for now we'll leave it here and hopefully follow up in the near future.

Thanks for your generous heart my friend.