Legendary Gamblers
“Grease: The Movie” became another significant building block in the Sha Na Na story. The group appeared in the 1979 musical, as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers, and contributed to the music score with six Sha Na Na versions of rock classics and one original song, “Sandy,” co-written by Screamin’ Scott Simon for John Travolta to sing. HK movie fans will forever link actor Ng Man-tat with comedic actor-director Stephen Chow and it’s probably both a blessing and a curse for both.The legendary supporting actor passed away today in Hong Kong at the age of 70 years old, in the hospital since earlier in the month due to rapid deterioration from liver cancer that he had been battling for years.
'Rock 'n' roll has nothing to do with a generation gap any more.
Today, it's really a generation bridge.'
Donny York, co-founder, Sha Na Na
A Rock & Roll Celebration
SHA NA NA brings their rock & roll celebration to town in a dynamic, crowd pleasing show that includes highlights of their four decade journey from WOODSTOCK, the movie GREASE, THE SHA NA NA TV SHOW and their world wide concert touring. In an interactive show where the audience sings along, dances along and participates in a “Greaser Olympics, a good time is had by all ages. Hey all you greasers, teen angels and party dolls: twist, stroll and hand jive to the classics as performed by the crowned princes of doo-wop and rock & roll, Sha Na Na.
Sha Na Na bio…
Sha Na Na may not have invented rock nostalgia, but the group has successfully – very successfully – celebrated the music and the memories for the past four decades… in concert, in the movies and on TV, and on record.
Sha Na Na’s story is an all-encompassing one: they were in the original Woodstock Festival lineup, starred in “Grease”, hosted the “Sha Na Na” TV series for four years, and still play more than 50 concerts a year, from state fairs, performing art centers, casino showrooms to mega corporate functions world wide.
And through it all – flower power, hard rock, metal music, disco, hip hop, rap and more – Sha Na Na remains true to the original concept: rock & roll is here to stay!
The Sha Na Na story begins oddly for a group that, in appearance, runs the gamut from greaser to gold lame. Attired in turtleneck and blue blazers, the nucleus of Sha Na Na were undergraduate members of The Kingsmen, a glee club ensemble at New York’s Columbia University that used to perform a cappella versions of 50s rock songs as part of the performances.
These proved very popular and eventually rock & roll took over, instruments were added and Sha Na Na – the name comes from the 50s Silhouettes’ hit, “Get A Job” – was born.
Heard of Woodstock?...
If the original 1969 Woodstock Festival was a defining moment in rock history, it was also a defining moment in the history of Sha Na Na. The group’s appearance – only the eighth in Sha Na Na’s career, followed by the Woodstock album and movie, cemented their reputation and style. “We went on second to last, at sunrise on the final day, but, importantly, just before Jimi Hendrix,” recalls co-founder, drummer Jocko Marcellino. “We did 40 minutes and were paid $350…and the check bounced!”
Sha Na Na was the only group at Woodstock without a record deal. Immediately afterwards, they had one and today the group has released eighteen albums in total, with worldwide sales of more than 20 million.
TV was another important step for the group…
The group taped 97 episodes of the Sha Na Na music variety shows from 1977 to 1981 that were seen – and still can be – in worldwide syndication. The shows, which featured Sha Na Na’s music, plus the group in comedy skits with special guests, further established the group’s credentials as a part of the landscape of rock & roll America.
GREASE is still the word for Sha Na Na…
“Grease: The Movie” became another significant building block in the Sha Na Na story. The group appeared in the 1979 musical, as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers, and contributed to the music score with six Sha Na Na versions of rock classics and one original song, “Sandy,” co-written by Screamin’ Scott Simon for John Travolta to sing. (Between takes, Travolta also sang a little doo-wop with the group.)
The accompanying “Grease” soundtrack album was a major hit, Grammy-nominated and certified eight times platinum.
Recalls Marcellino: “Whole new generations get swept up in the nostalgia craze, effectively becoming our potential audience.”
For example, Sha Na Na played the immense Los Angeles County Fair in front of a special audience – 20,000 girl scouts! “They were too young to have seen our TV show, but they had seen ‘Grease’ on video. They knew the words to every song from the movie.”
Sha Na Na recently rocked The Hollywood Bowl at this year's Grease Sing –A-Long presented by The Los Angeles Philharmonic hosted by Didi “Frenchy” Conn with special guest drummer Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. A Hollywood Bowl tradition, the event celebrated the 35th Anniversary of the beloved Grease film, the highest grossing musical film of all time.
Live in concert….
Working for over four decades throughout the world Sha Na Na has performed worldwide: from Carnegie Hall to the Grand Ole Opry, in Asia and in Africa, London to Tokyo. They have had some interesting newcomers opening for their show, such as: Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin and Jay Leno!
Live performances remain at the heart of Sha Na Na. Whether it is those girl scouts or their baby boomer parents, the reaction to the group is the same – the discovery of a common joy in the music from a time when part of the world was “greased and ready to
rock.”
Sha Na Na Rocks with Symphony Orchestras…
As well as stints with MARVIN HAMLISCH conducting THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY, THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY, and THE MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY, Sha Na Na has made multiple appearances with PETER NERO & PHILLY POPS, THE COLUMBUS, LOUISVILLE, and PHOENIX symphonies.
Sha Na Na also appeared on The PBS Special A CAPITOL FOURTH with the National Symphony and Choir at the Capital Fourth Celebration in Washington, D.C. The special brought the sights and sounds of the symphony performance to a nationwide audience.
The arrangements for up to a seventy- six-piece orchestra range from the staccato strings of “Rhythm of the Rain”, a lush rhythm and blues “wall of sound” for “Soul and Inspiration” and a swinging arrangement of “Rock & Roll is Here to Stay”.
Of course Sha Na Na invites the orchestras to lose their tuxedo jackets, open their collars and roll up their sleeves. That, that is, to get greased and ready to rock & roll.
Sha Na Na recordings…
Their latest release, 'SHA NA NA GREASER HIGH SCHOOL HOP” features 25 signature songs perfect for an instant high school hop dance party. 'The Bop,' 'The Twist,' 'The Stroll,' 'The Hand Jive,' 'The Monkey,' 'The Jerk,' 'The Cha Cha' and even 'The Hokey Pokey' are amongst the great dances of the ‘50s and ‘60s celebrated by Sha Na Na in this collection. Also included are songs they sang in Grease ('Sandy', 'Rock & Roll is Here to Stay'), The Sha Na Na TV Show ('Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,' 'You Can’t Sit Down') and at Woodstock ('At The Hop').
Also in the Sha Na Na catalogue: SHA NA NA 40TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR’S EDITION, ROCK & ROLL DANCE PARTY, ROCKIN’ CHRISTMAS (with “Santa’s On A Diet”, “Blue Christmas” and “The Rockin’ Dreidel Song”) and Sha Na Na’s first completely original Rock & Roll and doo-wop c.d., ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT. Sha Na Na CDs are available at iTunes and Amazon.
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Jocko Jocko, now in his four decade with Sha Na Na, was the first to walk onstage “greased and ready to rock ‘n’ roll” in 1969. That same year, at age 19, he appeared with the group at the Woodstock Festival. Jocko holds the distinction along with fellow Sha Donny of performing in both the most successful music documentary ever (Woodstock) and the most successful rock and roll film musical ever (Grease). Juggling his schedule around his touring, Jocko earned both a B.A. from Columbia and a Masters in Drama from New York University.When not with Sha Na Na, Jocko is an actor, producer and a songwriter. His acting credits include television’s “Veronica Mars”, “NYPD Blue”, “Alley McBeal”, “The Tiger Woods Story”, “Herman’s Head”, “Good Advice”, ”18 Wheels of Justice”, “The Invisible Man”, “Amazing Stories” and the “Gary Shandling Show”. His film credits include: 'Rainman', 'National Security' and 'Hot To Trot'. Jocko has also written and performed songs for the films 'Rainman', 'That's Life' and 'The Night Of The Comet'; and television shows 'Golden Boy', 'Once Upon A Time', 'Save Me', “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, 'The Office', 'Terriers', 'Castle', 'Kath & Kim', 'Parks and Recreation” and ESPN's 'Monday Countdown' ('C'mon Man' theme song). In addition, he performed and produced an arrangement of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” for the motion picture 'Benchwarmers'. Jocko has produced Sha Na Na's last five CDs. Jocko has a rock ‘n’ roll/ rhythm and blues band: Jocko and the Rockets. He has released his original rock & roll children’s collection: 'KIDSVILLE' and an original blues and r&b c.d. entitled 'JOCKO- MAKE IT SIMPLE” available at iTunes, Amazon, Google and all other digital stores worldwide. For more information, go to www.jockomarcellino.com. Jocko was born in Quincy, Mass. and toured New England with his high school band, The Pilgrims. He now lives with his family in La Jolla, California. Raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Scott lives in Los Angeles, and has been seen around town performing as part of Art Fein’s Elvis birthday parties, Ronnie Mack’s Barn Dance, and as an occasional member of Chuck E. Weiss and the GD Liars, the hippest band in town. He is married and has two fabulous daughters. Donny has returned to his North West northwest roots, now living near the Idaho border in Spokane, Washington, where he enjoys skiing and camping in the nearby mountains. When not rockin’ with Sha Na NA, Ty drums for John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party, a tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper and with Mueller and Rockin’ Neil Morrow in A Night to Remember, a tribute to Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. While Ty cherishes all the places rock-n-roll has taken him over the years -- private parties drumming for Priscilla and Lisa Presley, and landing on an aircraft carrier to play with legendary drummer Doug Clifford of CCR to the delight of USO Troops -- it is his love for the music that keeps him coming back for more. He drums likes somebody who loves what he does, and it shows. And he’s sentimental about it too – for years Ty has been cruising his Red and White ‘57 Chevy with big fins and filled to the gills with drums and music. Subsequently throughout his four decade career (working for a lot more than snacks) he has performed and recorded with an array of national and international artists: The Pointer Sisters, Rick James, Stephen Stills, Johnny Hallyday, Veronique Sanson, The Ohio Express and now Sha Na Na. When not touring, Randy works as a producer/ engineer/ guitarist/ bassist at Shut Up & Play studio in California’s San Fernando Valley. He also works with The Rescue Riders, an organization he founded that transports and fosters homeless animals. Michael A regular on the Las Vegas and national touring scene, he has performed with the likes of, Buckwheat Zydeco, The Platters, Lil’ Elmo and the Cosmos, Shake Rattle and Roll, Launi Kristopher, Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88’s, the house band at Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce Club inside Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, and now Sha Na Na. When not rocking, he is the Coola Suncare Education Ambassador, the Executive Director for the Melanoma Education Foundation Nevada chapter and part time Racecar driver. Michael has a solo c.d.: WITH ALL MY HEART, an original eclectic blend of music from Pop-rock to Jazz-funk, punctuated by a ballad dedicated to melanoma awareness and the memory of his wife Amanda. It is available on CD Baby. Michael’s book “FINDING N-E-D: NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE” is now available from Tate Publishing. It is a heartfelt true story of love, loss, and hope. Diagnosed with malignant melanoma, Amanda Faye Brown started on a long, difficult journey through the disease, and had the wisdom and foresight to gather her thoughts into a journal. Compiling these journal entries and interspersing them with his own thoughts, telling their story from first meeting through marriage to tearful days at the hospital, Michael Brown shares the struggles and sorrows that came with his wife's cancer. Their beautiful, poignant story is a treasure. You can order it from Tate Publishing HERE. |
This list was originally published in January 2010, last update was January 2020, let is know in the comments if you think anyone should be added.
Phil Bull
Phil Bull made a massive amount of money from betting, but not only was he a successful gambler he was also a breeder, owner, writer and publisher. It is estimated he made millions during his career.
In 1948 he launched the now internationally renowned organisation Timeform.
Phil had a shrewd attitude towards betting. He looked at the season as a whole and his form study was the same for every race.
How To Make A Book by Phil Bull
Phil Bull: The Biography by Howard Wright
JP McManus
Multi millionaire JP McManus is a renowned gambler and race horse owner.
Originally from Limerick in Ireland, McManus started betting as a schoolboy before working in his family’s plant hire business. He had his own betting stand for a while at Limerick’s greyhound track and it wasn’t long before he moved into owning horses as well as betting and laying. These days JP owns the largest number of National Hunt’s horses.
His first ‘big’ win (rumoured to be around £250,000) was at Cheltenham with a horse called Mister Donovan who was 2nd favourite but ended up winning the race. He also won over £1 million from famous Scottish bookie Freddie Williams in 2006 at Cheltenham.
Although McManus is a high level gambler a large part of his wealth is said to have come from international financing and money dealing which he overseas from his base in Geneva.
Still a big player and maybe he should be at the top of this list as he is still very active. If there is a book to read about JP let me know in the comments, I’d love to read it.
Alex Bird
The late Alex Bird made a considerable amount of money from betting after the war. It is estimated he had an annual turnover of £2 million from gambling.
His interest in gambling began when he was a child. He learned a lot from his father who was a bookmaker. However, he decided there was more money to be made from the other side and he become one of Britain’s most well known professional punters of all time.
Bird had several methods for getting one over on the bookies but his most famous was probably his success on betting on photo finishes which in those days took about 5 minutes to develop. This process earned him a fortune over a period of around 20 years and only stopped when the modernisation of technology meant there was no longer the delay in photo developing.
Alex Bird made his own mind up when it come to betting and rarely listened to anyone – he stuck to his rules and systems. Even now, almost 30 years after his death, there are current systems available that are based on the practices he used.
His biggest bet was on the well known horse Mill Reef at Gimcrack. The season after this Mill Reef won the Derby, again backed by Bird who had by then backed 7 Derby winners in 8 years.
One of his last bets was on a horse called Final Shot in 1990 when it won the Ayr Gold Cup.
Patrick Veitch
Patrick Veitch is one of Britain’s most successful gamblers who has won over £10 million from betting.
At just 15 years of age this mathematical genius got a place at Cambridge although he never completed his degree, instead he turned to gambling and started his own tipping line.
By his mid 20s Patrick Veitch was already making a lot of money but then came a turning point in his life. He become the target of a criminal and was forced to live in hiding for many months putting his career on hold and leaving him broke. However, following this episode he become more successful than ever and was soon making £1 million a year from his strategic betting methods.
Veitch is a strong believer that there is no short cut when it comes to betting – the only way to win is by working hard at it to get it right.
It is very rare to see Patrick at the races. He uses agents to place his bets and spends most of his time watching and analysing events from his computer.
Harry Findlay
Harry Findlay is a larger than life gambler who has not only made a fortune but also lost a fortune from gambling over the years.
Most Legendary Gamblers
He has always had a love for greyhounds and worked with them for a while after leaving school. Then aged just 20 Findlay spent 11 months in prison convicted of credit card fraud.
These days bets from his home office which is fully equipped with a number of TV screens and monitors often with different sporting events on at the same time.
As well as being a professional gambler Harry is also an owner. He jointly owns the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Denman who also won two Hennessy Gold Cups. Big Fella Thanks was another of his co-owned horses who he named after his beloved greyhound 1999 Coursing Derby winning Big Fella.
Barney Curley
Barney Curley is a professional gambler and trainer from Northern Ireland who has a reputation for being one of racing’s most colourful characters.
During his childhood he watched his Father run up huge gambling debts but still took up betting himself.
In 1975 he famously organised one of the biggest betting scams of all time – Yellow Sam which made him over £300,000. He has also appeared in court for illegal lottery after raffling his mansion for £1.5 million.
More recently Barney organised big coups in 2010 and 2014 and 2016.
Terry Ramsden
Terry Ramsden originally made his fortune from investment company Glen International in the 80s. He was worth millions and, amongst other things, owned a string of race horses.
He was also well known for his betting and in 1985 won £2 million on one horse. The following year he had another big win on Motivator in the 1986 Coral Golden Hurdle Final.
Towards the end of the 80s however, Ramsden’s company collapsed and he started losing massive amounts on bets – he reportedly lost £1 million on one bet alone. This lead to him going bust at which time he fled to America. He had won but also lost millions of pounds.
In the late 1990s he was jailed for concealing assets during his bankruptcy – one of which was rumoured to be a £70,000 plus win on the horses.
Despite returning to public life a few years later Ramsden has failed to recreate his earlier success and has since been involved in a number of arguments over money.
Famous Gamblers Quotes
Pro gambler or rich man who lost it all on the horses? Many think the latter but he was a big player all the same.
Dave Nevison
Dave Nevison became a professional gambler in 1993 after he lost his job working as a currency trader in the City.
He now has an estimated six figure income made up largely from gambling but also from journalism columns he writes. Dave has also written 2 books and has his own horse racing tipping service.
A Bloody Good Winner: Life As A Professional Gambler by Dave Nevison
No Easy Money: A Gambler’s Diary by Dave Nevison
Alan Potts
At the age of just 14 Alan Potts started betting on horse racing and become a full time professional gambler after being made redundant from his office job in 1991.
He has admitted it took him many years to become a regular winner and despite making an estimated £50,000 a year from betting in the past, he has also suffered losing runs. Although he is also an owner, author and pundit Potts’ main source of income is from gambling.
In 1999 he jointly formed The Golden Anorak Partnership and this is the banner under which his horses now run.
Alan has written 2 books and also wrote for the betting exchange WBX until it closed in 2015.
Against The Crowd by Alan Potts
The Inside Track by Alan Potts
Clive Holt
Legendary punter Clive Holt was first shown that money could be made from betting by his father who kept a couple of greyhounds during the 1960s.
In the early part of 1975 Clive decided he was ready to quit his job working for the Electricity Board and take up gambling on a full time basis.
Famous Gamblers In Movies
He started out using a fairly random approach dictated by his finances and he kept no proper records of bets he had placed. He soon made the decision to start recording his bets and this was the first of two business methods he implemented in order to make a better profit. The second was to setup a betting bank.
His first bet was £67 to £30 on Western Jewel who won comfortably and within 6 weeks he had made more money than he was earning in a year working in electricity. Over the years, although rarely winning more than £1,000 at a time, Holt’s profits from betting provided a lifestyle of luxury cars, exotic holidays and a listed country house with acres of land.
A number of books have been written by Clive Holt who was also the man behind Fineform.
Profitable Winners Always Back Winners
Be A Successful Punter
Fineform Winners Guide
Profitable Betting Strategies
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