The Ladybirds
| Company type | Vocal harmony trio |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | Maureen Kennedy (leader of predecessor group) |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Backing vocals, session music |
The Ladybirds were a British female vocal harmony trio, widely recognized for their extensive involvement in over 60 episodes of The Benny Hill Show from 1968 through 1991. They gained prominence as backing vocalists for numerous well-known performers and were frequent faces on television.
Career
The Ladybirds emerged from the earlier ensemble known as the Vernons Girls. Following the disbandment of the original Vernons Girls in the early 1960s, a smaller group led by Maureen Kennedy branched off, giving rise to various duos and trios such as the Redmond Twins, the Breakaways, the Pearls, the DeLaine Sisters, and notably, the Ladybirds.
Initial members Maggie Stredder and Jean Ryder, performing as the Two Tones, toured United States Air Force bases across Germany before collaborating on stage with Max Bygraves. In 1962, after participating in a Val Doonican TV Special, Marian Davies replaced Ryder and Gloria George joined, completing the formation of The Ladybirds.
The group signed with Decca Records in August 1965 and contributed backing vocals to Marc Bolan's debut single "The Wizard," which was released in November that year.
Starting in 1966, The Ladybirds began providing vocal support on BBC's Top of the Pops, a role they maintained until August 1978 when they were succeeded by the Maggie Stredder Singers. Their television appearances also included several shows featuring Twiggy, and they lent their voices to the Mood Mosaic track "A Touch of Velvet – A Sting of Brass," later linked with DJ Dave Lee Travis.
They performed backing vocals on Sandie Shaw's 1967 UK chart-topping single "Puppet on a String" and appeared live in Vienna during its Eurovision Song Contest victory. Additionally, they recorded with artists such as Rolf Harris and Des O'Connor.
In 1969, Benny Hill enlisted them for his eponymous show. Their debut performance was of "Goin' Out of My Head". Although they did not appear in Hill's 1971 Top of the Tops parody of Top of the Pops, they delivered a distinctive Broadway medley featuring solo parts by each member prior to Gloria George’s departure.
On John Entwistle's 1973 album Rigor Mortis Sets In, The Ladybirds contributed backing vocals.
Up to 1973, the trio included George, Stredder, and Davies. Penny Lister briefly joined before a mid-1970s lineup consisted of Stredder, Ann Simmons (also formerly of Vernons Girls), and Laura Lee; Simmons later became part of the Pearls.
Their Eurovision involvement resumed in 1974 when they supported Olivia Newton-John’s "Long Live Love" at the contest held in Brighton.
Throughout their career, The Ladybirds featured on numerous UK light entertainment programs such as Cilla, Lulu's Back in Town, The Les Dawson Show, The Two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise, The Tommy Cooper Show, Little and Large, Shirley Bassey, The Paul Daniels Magic Show, The Generation Game, and Children in Need. They also made an appearance on the American program The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. By 1978, their participation on Top of the Pops ended, and they returned exclusively as backing vocalists on The Benny Hill Show.
In 1977, The Ladybirds recorded material for a budget covers album including songs like "Chanson D'Amour", "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie", and "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina." Occasionally augmented by Tracy Miller and Joan Baxter, they also provided backing vocals for Max Bygraves’ 1979 album Discolongamax along with several orchestral projects led by Benny Hill’s musical director Ronnie Aldrich.
In 2005, The Ladybirds appeared on Mark Wirtz’s Ear Theatre album Love Is Eggshaped: The Soundtrack, featuring vocals from Stredder, Kay Garner, and Vicki Robinson.
The Vernons Girls reunited as a trio during Cliff Richard’s 30th Anniversary Concert at Wembley Stadium; subsequently, Stredder, Sheila Bruce, and Penny Lister revived the Vernons Girls name once more.
Following her performing career, Stredder achieved success as an after-dinner speaker sharing her entertainment industry experiences before her passing on 9 March 2018 at age 82.
Personnel
- Maggie Stredder (born Margaret Elisabeth Stredder on 9 January 1936 in Birkenhead – passed away 9 March 2018). She married author Roy Tuvey on 1 October 1966.
- Marian Davies (born 23 November 1937 in Crynant, Wales – died 24 January 2008 in London), frequently mistaken as Marion Davies.
- Gloria George
- Penny Lister (originating from Huddersfield, later residing in Dorset). Featured as a vocalist in the 1977 Doctor Who episode The Talons of Weng-Chiang.
- Ann Simmons (née Ann O'Brien, born 20 November 19xx)
- Laura Lee (Isabella McIntyre, born 11 May 1937 in Musselburgh, Scotland – died July 2007 at her home in Musselburgh)
- Tracy Miller
- Barbara Moore (1932 – passed away 26 August 2021 in Bognor Regis)
- Joan Baxter
- Kay Garner (born 4 October 1943 in Hull, Yorkshire – died 16 July 2007)
- Vicki Robinson
- Sylvia King (birth name Sylvia Rosen)