ADRIAN Pallett was one of many fans who enjoyed the music of singer Mal Ryder and his backing groups.

However, there was one member of his family who was not so impressed.

His father, Albert, brought one of the band’s rehearsals to an abrupt halt, complaining about the “loud music”.

Adrian was reminded of the incident in the late 1950s by reader David Brown’s memories and pictures of the singer (Memory Lane, August 20).

He writes: “Mal Ryder and the Spirits frequently used the stage at the Morris Motors’ Club in Crescent Road, Cowley, for rehearsals in their early years.

“I lived in the club at that time as the teenage son of the steward, Albert Pallett.

“I was enthralled by their new, very loud and different music. To assist them for greater effect, both during their rehearsals and live ‘gigs’ at the club’s Saturday social evenings, I introduced the flashing lights which were quite novel at that time.

“I’m sure the group will remember those early days.

“I remember one particular rehearsal evening when my father marched on to the stage, complaining in no uncertain terms about the ‘loud music’ and throwing the master electric cut-off switch, so ending the session and causing me great embarrassment.”

As we recalled, Mal (real name, Paul Couling) lived at Wolvercote and worked as a Southern Electricity apprentice electrician earning £2 12s 6d a week.

His introduction to the music industry came at a wedding where a group called the Meteors was playing.

He later recalled: “I was egged on by my workmates to sing a song with the group as I was always singing at work.

“I chose the Gene Vincent song, Say Mama, but they played a joke on me by giving me the wrong key. Luckily, we were all a bit drunk so nobody really noticed.”

The Meteors were impressed and invited him to join the band. They performed at Oxford pubs and clubs and at local American bases.

After the Meteors, Mal joined the Spirits, twice visiting Germany, and then the Primitives, another semi-professional Oxford group, touring Norway, France and Italy.

As we recalled, the Italians fell in love with the band, particularly Mal, who later went solo and became a huge star.

Italian girls regarded him as the country’s answer to Engelbert Humperdinck and worshipped him, bombarding him with fan mail.

The Oxford Mail reported: “He keeps having to change his telephone number, dares not go out without dark glasses and receives 700 letters from his fans every day. He has become the heart-throb of Italian mothers and their daughters.”

Mal was quoted as saying: “The girls love me, but their boyfriends hate me. I can guarantee on a one-nighter to lose a shirt, all the buttons on my jacket or half my hair. As for the boys, I don’t leave my car where it can be spotted. I’ve collected a few scratches and had some tyres slashed.”

By the early 1970s, he was earning at least £1,000 a night for concerts and up to £30,000 appearing in films.

Italian journalists labelled him “the beautiful boy with the romantic voice”.

p Mal Ryder is one of many local stars who feature in Rocking Oxford, A Personal History of the 1960s and 1970s Music Scene, by Trevor Hayward, published by Chris Andrews Publications, of Curtis Yard, North Hinksey Lane, Oxford

p Any more memories of Mal Ryder to share with readers? Write and let me know