Reviews & Quotes

60’s Tribute Act Mel Harris – Reviews and Quotes.

A COMPLETE ONE-MAN 60’S SHOW WHO JUST OOZES TALENT

The Beat Goes On (Sixties Magazine)

HIGHLY ORIGINAL AND ENTERTAINING SHOWMAN

Brian Poole (The Tremeloes)

I’D HIRE MEL HARRIS ANYTIME

Liz Mullen – The Stage & Television Today (Music Trade Paper)

MEL HELPS TO KEEP MERSEYBEAT ALIVE

Tony Crane (The Merseybeats)

A BARRAGE OF 60’S HITS ALL PLAYED AND SUNG BRILLIANTLY

Paul (Beaky) Bennett

MEL HARRIS IS ESTABLISHED & POPULAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Barbara Champion – The Stage & Television Today (Music Trade Paper)

A PERFORMER OF THE HIGHEST CLASS

The Beat Goes On (Sixties Magazine)

NASHVILLE TEENS and MEL HARRIS GIG REVIEW – THE BEAT GOES ON 60’S MAGAZINE

Deciding that the NASHVILLE TEENS had monopolised the stage with their own gear, MEL HARRIS chose to perform his two sets from the dance floor – and why not? There’s nothing like mixing with the crowd!
MEL plays covers of sixties numbers. Nothing special in that, although we did have good reason to believe, from the evidence of a recent cassette, that we were in for a treat. However – we didn’t reckon on him being a future “star” into the bargain.
The man has it all. He looks good and has an easy going rapport with the audience. His show is a non-stop onslaught of sixties classics ranging from Roy Orbison to The Searchers and Gene Pitney to Gerry & The Pacemakers. All were superbly performed with the help of some truly excellent guitar work and the aid of a sequencer. MEL’S vocals are both clear and powerful and certainly more than do justice to the original artists whose songs he now expertly reproduces.
A couple of chosen instrumentals gave another facet of MEL’S considerable talent to shine through and with several respected professional musicians in the audience giving their unanimous approval to the highly original and entertaining show, I beg to offer the opinion that we were witnessing a future headliner in action.
If you ever find yourself staging a Sixties show and want to provide first class entertainment but cannot afford a name band, I would suggest that MEL HARRIS could well be the answer. But be quick, before he finally gets discovered, and when he does, remember – I told you so.

Mike Neal, The Beat Goes On

THE STAGE & TELEVISION TODAY SHOWCASE REVIEWS

I’d hire MEL HARRIS anytime. Often found backing 50s and 60s groups, he’s terrific solo, playing guitar with a real swinging sixties feel, sounding vocally like a cross between Gerry Marsden and Paul McCartney. His wide repertoire for the showcase was good to listen or dance to.

Liz Mullen, The Stage

MEL HARRIS is established and popular across the country appearing solo with guitar plus the best and latest in technological backing. He covers famous sixties hits, performs a lot for Charringtons and enjoys his work. Yesterday Man, Lets Dance and Young Girl being a few of his well-arranged resurrections.

Barbara Champion, The Stage

MEL HARRIS, always early, always eager and ever young (!??? Mel) – specialises in presenting covers of famous sixties hits. Entirely looking the part, he plays great guitar reinforced by the latest computer technology. Ask for any number of the decade and he can twang it off – I’m A Believer, Lets Dance, How Do You Do It, and not surprisingly, he has a large following.

The Stage

THE BEAT REVIEWS, THE BEAT GOES ON 60’S MAGAZINE

We reckon that Londoner, MEL HARRIS, is, undoubtedly, a star of the future. The name may be new to you at the moment but we are predicting great things for this young man who is able to recapture the classic sounds of the sixties in his own complete one-man show. MEL has, in recent months, supported many of the countries top sixties acts, including The Troggs and The Swinging Blue Jeans, and is fast earning a a reputation as a performer of the highest class. Impressing fellow musicians is never an easy thing but many of out top sixties stars are in agreement that MEL HARRIS is a special talent. When someone attempts to re-create the great songs of the sixties they, more often than not, risk being compared unfavourably to the original artists. Very few people are able to recapture the authentic sound of the original recordings. MEL HARRIS is an exception. Whether, it’s Roy Orbison, Gene Pitney, The Shadows, Gerry & The Pacemakers or Bobby Vee – they all receive the same brilliant treatment from MEL. Close your eyes and listen – can you tell the difference from the original? MEL HARRIS, to date, has recorded two cassettes featuring some of the best loved songs from the golden decade of music. Chances are that at least one of his albums will be on sale wherever he is appearing. Watch out for the name of MEL HARRIS because one day very soon he will make it to the top, and when he does, remember – we told you so.

Christine Neal, The Beat Goes On

Mel has been booked by most of the top Agencies and Promoters on the UK 60’s music scene. He has appeared in Cabaret & Theatre Shows with the following Top line Acts…

FROM THE 60’s

  • The Searchers
  • Marty Wilde and the Wild Cats
  • Dave Berry
  • Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
  • The Troggs
  • The Tornados
  • Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
  • Brian Poole and Electrix
  • Edwin Starr
  • Marmalade
  • Hedgehoppers Anonymous
  • Tony Jackson and the Vibrations
  • Twinkle
  • Chip Hawkes Band (Ex Tremeloes)
  • Freddie and the Dreamers
  • The Merseybeats
  • Swinging Blue Jeans
  • The Fortunes
  • The Ivy League
  • The Casuals
  • Rockin’ Berries
  • The Dreamers
  • Mike Pender’s Searchers
  • Herman’s Hermits
  • The Fourmost
  • Clem Curtis
  • The Nashville Teens
  • Vanity Fare
  • The Four Pennies
  • Ricky Valance
  • Mike Berry and the Outlaws
  • Eric Haydock Band (Ex Hollies)
  • The Cufflinks
  • The Foundations
  • The Easybeats
  • The Dakotas
  • The Animals
  • The Undertakers
  • Jess Conrad
  • Susan Maughan
  • Keith West
  • Dave Dee
  • Mike D’Abo
  • Jet Harris
  • Billie Davis
  • Tommy Bruce
  • Malcolm Roberts
  • Carl Wayne
  • The Drifters
  • Helen Shapiro
  • Craig Douglas
  • The Tremeloes
  • The Barron Knights
  • Peter Sarstedt
  • Chris Farlowe

FROM THE 70’s & 80’s

  • Shakin’ Stevens
  • ELO Pt ll
  • Toyah Wilcox
  • Sister Sledge
  • Heatwave
  • Bucks Fizz
  • Bay City Rollers
  • Odyssey
  • Chicory Tip
  • Paper Lace
  • The Mixtures
  • The Flirtations
  • Medicine Head
  • Gidea Park
  • Sinitta
  • Liverpool Express
  • Brotherhood Of Man
  • Chas Hodges (Ex Chas & Dave)

Mel has been introduced on stage by top DJ’s including:

  • Mike Read
  • Keith Skewes
  • Diddy David Hamilton
  • Brian Matthew

Mel has appeared in many top venues throughout the UK including:

  • Aberdeen Music Hall
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach Arena
  • The Brighton Centre
  • Bournemouth International Centre
  • Fairfield Halls, Croydon
  • Lakeside Country Club
  • Fort Regent, Jersey
  • Wembley Conference Centre… & The Jackdaw and Stump, Hackney!!!!! (Thanks Mike)

Along The Way…

  • 1990  First Mel Harris 60’s Show gig at East London Rugby Club
  • 1991  First 60’s support gig – The Nashville Teens, Colchester
  • 1991  First review in ‘The Beat Goes On’ 60’s Magazine
  • 1992  First 60’s theatre concert – Fairfield Halls, Croydon
  • 1992  First UK Tours supporting 60’s Bands
  • 1992  Ian Boasmans Bistro, Preston. Booked by Jack Walker for Blackburn Rovers function
  • 1994  Fort Regent, Jersey. Flown out for a 15 minute spot opening a 60’s Show
  • 1995  Performed at the wedding of footballer George Best to Alex Pursey
  • 2000  Introduced on stage at the Brighton Centre by Brian Matthew, 60’s DJ legend!
  • 2010  20 years of the 60s Show!!
  • 2013  Gerry Marsden Tribute
  • 2014  Mersey Show
  • 2015  Mod Show
Contact Mel Harris – click to email or call 07899 804675