The Migil Five
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1960 in North London, England |
| Headquarters | North London , England |
| Products | Pop, rhythm and blues, jazz music |
The Migil Five (occasionally referred to as The Migil 5) were a British ensemble known for their blend of pop, rhythm and blues, and initially jazz, active during the early to mid-1960s. They gained recognition primarily for their bluebeat adaptation of "Mockin' Bird Hill".
Career
Formed in North London in 1960, the group originally served as the backing band for club vocalist Lennie Peters. Early members included pianist Gil Lucas (born 1936) and bassist Lenny Blanche (born 1936). After several temporary drummers, Mike Felix (born 1940) became the permanent drummer. When Peters left to pursue a solo path, Felix stepped up as lead singer, and guitarist Stan "Red" Lambert joined, creating The Migil Four—a name derived from combining Mike Felix and Gilbert Lucas.
Performing a mixture of pop, R&B, and jazz on the cabaret circuit, they attracted the interest of traditional jazz leader Kenny Ball, who introduced them to Pye Records. Their debut single "Maybe" came out in 1963. With the addition of tenor saxophonist Alan "Earl" Watson (born 1940), previously with Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, they evolved into The Migil 5 and secured a residency at Tottenham Royal dance hall, taking over from the Dave Clark Five.
Aiming to connect with younger listeners, they recorded a bluebeat/ska version of the country song "Mockin' Bird Hill." Released in 1964 alongside Millie Small's "My Boy Lollipop", it climbed to No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart and topped the charts in Ireland.
Bruce Eder from AllMusic characterized them as seasoned musicians who fused jazz, R&B, blues, folk, and pop elements—captivating teenage audiences despite their mature image. Their next single "Near You" reached No. 31 in the UK; they also issued the album Mockin' Bird Hill (1964) and made appearances on television and in films including Swinging U.K. and U.K. Swings Again. Although later releases such as the EP Meet the Migil Five did not chart, they retained a strong following in Ireland.
By 1965, The Migil Five had become the resident band on BBC Radio's Easy Beat. Subsequent singles met with limited chart success; Felix departed in 1966 to launch a solo career while Watson took over lead vocals. Watson left in 1969 and was succeeded by Norman Langford. The band ultimately dissolved in 1971.
Following the group's breakup, Mike Felix transitioned into comedy and acting, featuring in television series like Widows and The Bill. Gil Lucas moved into pub management but continued performing locally until his passing in the 1990s. Both Watson and Blanche also shifted into managing pubs and restaurants.
In 1998, Sequel Records issued a compilation CD of their work.