THE appearance of P J Proby at the New Theatre, Oxford, next Sunday brings back memories of earlier shows featuring the veteran American singer.

He is taking part in the 50th anniversary ‘Sixties Gold’ tour which promises to transport audiences back to the swinging sixties and the music of Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Searchers and many more.

In 1965, girls turned up in their hundreds to welcome their American hero to the Oxford theatre. There were chaotic scenes outside before and after his two shows and plenty of hysteria inside while he was on stage.

The Oxford Mail reported: “The screams began when the compere walked on from the wings carrying a pair of size nine white shoes with silver buckles. Then came the build-up (‘the man you’ve all been waiting for’), accompanied by more screams and an 11-piece band.

“Eventually, in white satin, shirt and trousers, his long black hair tied with a white Tom Jones bow and his feet in those shoes, the man himself stood on the stage.

“He worked his pelvis as hard as his voice during a 35-minute act.”

PJ embarked on his singing career after winning a radio song contest in Houston aged 13 in 1951, but despite appearing at Texas clubs with up-and-coming stars such as Elvis Presley, it was a long road to success.

Ron Tennant, who helps run the PJ Proby fan club, tells me: “In 1964, TV pop producer Jack Good needed an unknown but classy singer to be one of the guests on the UK satellite TV show he was making entitled Around The Beatles.

“The Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein, liked what he heard, PJ did the show in London and he became an overnight success. He went on to spend a total of 91 weeks in the British charts.”

PJ became notorious for splitting his trousers at the knee during performances, sending his fans into a frenzy but causing consternation among theatre proprietors.

Mr Tennant, who lives in Belgium, first met the star in Bolton in the 1980s.

He said: “I am a huge fan of PJ and have been for many years. I absolutely love the man and his music – he could easily have been as big as Elvis.

“His unique personality and rare talent combined to make him a world star. He is a perfectionist and this is very clear in his performances – they are always flawless.”

He is keen to hear from anyone who attended the 1965 shows and has any memories of the star.

He writes: “PJ was last at The New Theatre in 2010 as part of the ‘Sixties Gold’ tour of that year, but I am not sure if he appeared in Oxford in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s. I would be interested to know if he did.”

Contact Memory Lane at the usual address. Follow PJ Proby at pjproby.net or on Facebook.