'Spot-light On' Nev Wherry

[Len]

Welcome to the 'Spot-light On' series of discussions where we discuss literally anyone on the scene in a positive way, sharing interesting stories, records discovered etc. If you have someone in mind that you think interesting, please put the name forward and we'll add it to the list......First up is a name I know, but never met the man, and would be most interested in his background / what he discovered / where he DJed / what he was like / Photos would be good too. So let's start the ball rolling on what is hoped to be the start of some interesting discussions with the man 'Nev Wherry'..........over to you folks.....

All the best,

Len 

[Arthur Fenn]

I used to follow Nev at the Winter Gardens dayers & good fun it was too. He was, apart from being an all round great guy a very charismatic dj. One funny thing i'll never forget was whilst working for John Manship Nev was under strict instructions never to say where he'd been looking for records. When he turned up after a mystery buying trip wearing a loud colourful top with " i love LA"all over it i sorted of guessed he'd been on the west coast.    

[Russoul1]

hi len, like you I never met the man, but as a very young soulboy this guy was why.....I love the music....simply the "best"

 

[Len]

I first knew of his name through that L.P 'The Record Collector' on the Destiny label (Picture on the front of a guy in a cellar surrounded by records) This LP was part of a batch of records given to me when I was 15 years old, which started me record collecting, and was my first 'insight' to this strange world - I remember reading the notes.......'Discovered by'......It intrigued me, whilst I was absolutely mesmerized by the sounds I was hearing - Magic 

Len 

[Peter99]

Associate Arin Demain with Nev Wherry.  Tragic end to such a young life.

Peter

[Len]

Yes, I still want 'Arin Demain - Silent Treatment' because of that LP 

It's nice to read he was well thought of.

Len 

[Frankie Crocker]

58 minutes ago, LEN said:

I first knew of his name through that L.P 'The Record Collector' on the Destiny label (Picture on the front of a guy in a cellar surrounded by records) This LP was part of a batch of records given to me when I was 15 years old, which started me record collecting, and was my first 'insight' to this strange world - I remember reading the notes.......'Discovered by'......It intrigued me, whilst I was absolutely mesmerized by the sounds I was hearing - Magic 

Len 

Same here Len. The sleeve notes credited Nev Wherry (deceased) which gets you reflecting. One of too many young soulies gone too soon. Great LP by the way and easily one of the best to be released with loads of top tracks.

[22ndsoul]

I also have a vivid memory of Nev Wherry at Cleethorpes dayer's,with a tight black T shirt on with Hollywood written across the front.Said he found his next record amongst piles of rubbish,it was a beautiful copy of the Yum Yum's.

Happy day's,Howard 

[Mick Boyle]

I became a good friend of Nevs in 76 he used to take a group of us up and down the country to all-nighters in his Austin Morris 1100 until he upgraded to a Austin Maxi 1750. We used to carry his two long thin record boxes in for him so we got in for free. I was 16 and didn't appreciate how lucky I was to be involved in his circle of friends. Many road trips ended up not to plan - two spring to mind - once going through snakes pass on solid ice he span the car in two full circles and carried on like nothing had happened. Another time at around 5am a police car that passed us on the other side of the road did a u turn so Nev shot down a side street onto some random drive, switched his lights of and we all ducked down until the police had passed. I once went to his home and met his parents and they were vinyl mad I remember seeing every CBS demo ever released just for starters. Nev was used to close down Loughborough and St ives nighters he picked Charles Mann for his last record. He was a good freind of Phil Spector and shown us his monthly letters (Phil very rarely signed the letters he used a little stamp that looked like a Home Pride Man). Nev loved trebor mints and had a strange hand shake, he worked at a mens clothing shop Dunn & Co. By the time I was 17 he had met Christine and finally found love. Rip to them both and thanks for the memories 

Mick

 

My mistake - Not St Ives It was Wakefield

 

 

 

Edited May 26, 2016 by Mick Boyle

[Robbk]

5 hours ago, Arthur Fenn said:

I used to follow Nev at the Winter Gardens dayers & good fun it was too. He was, apart from being an all round great guy a very charismatic dj. One funny thing i'll never forget was whilst working for John Manship Nev was under strict instructions never to say where he'd been looking for records. When he turned up after a mystery buying trip wearing a loud colourful top with " i love LA"all over it i sorted of guessed he'd been on the west coast.    

I knew Nev while he lived in L.A, in the '80s.  I was shocked to hear about his death at such a young age.  Both he and Bob "Larry" Wagner lived in L.A. for long periods.

[Mick Boyle]

5 hours ago, RobbK said:

I knew Nev while he lived in L.A, in the '80s.  I was shocked to hear about his death at such a young age.  Both he and Bob "Larry" Wagner lived in L.A. for long periods.

Hi Rob, must be a different Nev as ours passed in 1980. I have looked for details to find the date but very sketchy.

I have try to work it out by where I was working at the time of the funeral and Im 99% sure it was 1980

[Ian Parker]

As a young whipper snapper,  i remember fondly a big grin on nevs face,  everytime i saw him!

 I also have vivid memory of a time him and his lady having a "slow dance" as a couple,  to the epotome of sound,  entrance end of dance floor,  Nottm palais

[Simon T]

 

Bedford 15 Feb 1980

Jimmy Thomas

Cheryl Gray

Gems

Little Hank- bang bang man

R Dean Taylor

Ellusions

Stella Star

Herbie Goins

Del Larks

Jon Ford

Joe Frasier

Jessica James

 (request for Liz & Gary from Lincoln getting married)

Blue Chips

Vibrations –surprise party

Samantha Jones-suddenly

Edited May 26, 2016 by simon t

[Robbk]

6 hours ago, Mick Boyle said:

Hi Rob, must be a different Nev as ours passed in 1980. I have looked for details to find the date but very sketchy.

I have try to work it out by where I was working at the time of the funeral and Im 99% sure it was 1980

Well, then, I knew Nev Wherry in the late '70s.  I'm good with record dates, but, at my age, trying to place the time of casual acquaintances often lead to inaccuracies.  Could there have been TWO Nev Wherry's, both of whom had been Northern Soul DJs, and both been living in L.A. looking for NS records, both selling them to John Manship, both who died (together with their girlfriends), at a young age, from asfixiation from gas from a stove?

Edited May 26, 2016 by RobbK

[Len]

Obviously the same Nev, just the timing out.

Len 

 

 

[Steve Foran]

You can add John Drevars to his playlist!

[Simon T]

5 minutes ago, Steve Foran said:

You can add John Drevars to his playlist!

That's the one I remember him for playing. The list above is for a tape of his spot following Brian Rea at Bedford 15/02/80

[Billy Jo Jim Bob]

Nev was a great guy. He had a regular spot during the week at Inkersall Social Club in Chesterfield and we would all gather on Wednesdays to hear him DJ. At the end of the evening he'd ask us if we were going up to the KGB Dance Centre warm up then all nighter in Sheffield on the Saturday night. We usually were so he asked what train we would arrive on and he'd be at the station waiting for us and drove us up to the venue. We'd do the warm up till about 11 or so then get kicked out, go for fish and chips and then go back for the nighter. He'd then take us back to the station in the morning. We were all around 15 and 16 years old so couldn't drive and really appreciated Nev's taxi's !!

 

Edited May 26, 2016 by Andy Mac

[Len]

Great stuff so far guys - Thanks for the input 

Don't forget if you have anyone in mind who you think would be of interest please PM me, and we'll feature them - There are new / young people joining 'our world', so what may seem trivial to you, will actually be interesting / even mind blowing at times! to others 

All the best,

Len 

[coops]

He'd always play his pritine polydor demo of I have faith in you for me and I always have to watch him queue up that label porn before getting on the floor. We once nearly convinced him that Mary Love was living in Market Seeping in Lincolnsire, nearly but not near enough, as always he saw the joke. Good man and so pleased to see his and Bub's photos on the wall at the last Winter Gardens in 2007 because I know they wouldn't have missed that x

[Tomangoes]

I think I have written this before on here about Nev, but its a good story so here goes...............Nev had just done his spot at the KGB Sheffield all nighter, and was putting all his records back in order when I happened to be passing. I said can I have a look through the boxes, and he very kindly said 'absolutely'. I remember one long box was full of UK 60s demos.

It would be hard to put a collective value on them, but suffice to say it would be almost impossible to put together so many rare records today.

I hope they went to a good home following his passing. RIP Nev, and thanks for the time and patience you showed.

Ed

 

[Russoul1]

14 minutes ago, tomangoes said:

I think I have written this before on here about Nev, but its a good story so here goes...............Nev had just done his spot at the KGB Sheffield all nighter, and was putting all his records back in order when I happened to be passing. I said can I have a look through the boxes, and he very kindly said 'absolutely'. I remember one long box was full of UK 60s demos.

It would be hard to put a collective value on them, but suffice to say it would be almost impossible to put together so many rare records today.

I hope they went to a good home following his passing. RIP Nev, and thanks for the time and patience you showed.

Ed

 

i believe the vicar tony clayton had a fair few of his collection.....including a few big uk cbs demos

[Peter99]

1 hour ago, russoul1 said:

i believe the vicar tony clayton had a fair few of his collection.....including a few big uk cbs demos

[Professorturnups]

I can remember Nev taking over the decks at Kings Lynn All-Dayer. He had just returned from The States with a new discovery he was raving over, turned out to be Velvet Hammer.

His last ever spot was at a St-Ives All-Dayer and  the last record he ever played "out" was Love is like an itching in my heart - The Supremes.

Sadly, he died a few days later

 

Mark C

 

[Gilly]

Yes indeed, Nev was a super human being, I remember at the Painted Lady alldayer  one time my mate Kev Orton from Burton Upon Trent was flat out on the dance floor mainly due to the fact that The Mighty Bub was sat on him and Nev was mucking about trying to get Kevs trousers down, all good fun I guess

[St James]

2 hours ago, professorturnups said:

I can remember Nev taking over the decks at Kings Lynn All-Dayer. He had just returned from The States with a new discovery he was raving over, turned out to be Velvet Hammer.

His last ever spot was at a St-Ives All-Dayer and  the last record he ever played "out" was Love is like an itching in my heart - The Supremes.

Sadly, he died a few days later

 

Mark C

 

Hi Mark...was at that alldayer and had travelled on a bus from Boston getting picked up in Spalding...didn't know that many on the  board....any ways at the end realised I'd got left behind!!! so stranded at the St Ivo... Watched everyone leave, including Nev Wherry...me and me mate even helping him load his records in the boot. Actually skipped college to go to the funeral in Nottingham, thumbing it some of the way...a real friendly guy who I remember playing a request I'd asked for, even tho I was some young kid at his first allnighter in Bretton...as he announced it he looked at me and gestured to get on the dance floor the request? Gary Haines....if you're wondering...me dad turned out to pick us up lol

A great feature by the way

Ric F

 

[Soap]

spent many hours in the dunn & co canteen on lincoln high street where nev was manager.it was always my first port of call after getting off the train on my way home from samantha's alnighter.the two guys that worked there must have dreaded saturdays. there would always be a few people call in for a coffee and long chats about  records.nev was one of the nicest guys you could ever wish to meet. also had one of the best british collections i have ever seen.at that time on the opposite side of the road you could find a young roger banks working upstairs in burtons menswear.

[Ady Croasdell]

Nev bought a lot of the UKDemos off Pete Wid and I. We'd bought Radio 2 DJ David Gell's collection of mint demos off him via Vintage on the Calli Road. I remember a Bettye Swann CBS pic cover in particular. He was very knowledgeable, modest, a gentle giant. The Sun smeared his reputation with an utter pack of lies about his death just to titillate their readers. Most people would believe them in those days too, it was before they abused the war widow and Millie Dowling's memory

[Robbk]

59 minutes ago, ady croasdell said:

Nev bought a lot of the UKDemos off Pete Wid and I. We'd bought Radio 2 DJ David Gell's collection of mint demos off him via Vintage on the Calli Road. I remember a Bettye Swann CBS pic cover in particular. He was very knowledgeable, modest, a gentle giant. The Sun smeared his reputation with an utter pack of lies about his death just to titillate their readers. Most people would believe them in those days too, it was before they abused the war widow and Millie Dowling's memory

I heard it was just an accident with the stove gas.  Is that true, or was it some other way?

[Mick Boyle]

1 hour ago, RobbK said:

I heard it was just an accident with the stove gas.  Is that true, or was it some other way?

They fell asleep at Nevs grandmothers in front of a gas fire and suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning. 

[Robbk]

1 hour ago, Mick Boyle said:

They fell asleep at Nevs grandmothers in front of a gas fire and suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Yes, THAT'S what I was told.  I just remembered it wrongly.  It's been 36 years, after all.  Very tragic for young people like that to be taken at such a young age.

[Bento]

10 hours ago, Mick Boyle said:

They fell asleep at Nevs grandmothers in front of a gas fire and suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning. 

A very sad night indeed, remember on the night he was due to dj at the Beau Brummel in Chaddesden, Derby.

[Ady Croasdell]

14 hours ago, RobbK said:

I heard it was just an accident with the stove gas.  Is that true, or was it some other way?

It was but the Sun made it front page and put an untrue angle on it to make it sensational.

[Chalky]

this is all I can find online about the deaths.....

[Robbk]

2 hours ago, ady croasdell said:

It was but the Sun made it front page and put an untrue angle on it to make it sensational.

The article said that the fire used up the room's oxygen.  There was nothing about an investigation, or any implication of dual suicide.  So, what is the "untrue angle"? It seems to me as merely sensationalism.  Perhaps the size of the title's lettering implies to the reader that there is a sensational angle (possibly lovers' dual suicide, or murder).  And after one has read the article, we see that is is couched as a warning regarding safety, and for readers to use caution with gas appliances.

[snooky]

I met Nev many times and bought records from him really great bloke,he had a great knowledge...

snooky

[Chalky]

3 minutes ago, RobbK said:

The article said that the fire used up the room's oxygen.  There was nothing about an investigation, or any implication of dual suicide.  So, what is the "untrue angle"? It seems to me as merely sensationalism.  Perhaps the size of the title's lettering implies to the reader that there is a sensational angle (possibly lovers' dual suicide, or murder).  And after one has read the article, we see that is is couched as a warning regarding safety, and for readers to use caution with gas appliances.

"never let the truth get in the way of a good story"

[Jules]

If I remember, didnt his collection get auctioned, I`m sure I had a listing ?? and I think it was not long after his death

[nksouldude]

Nevs records did get auctioned and most went to Tony Clayton Tony passed away recently and the remaining records went to a collector in Peterbourgh

[Harrythedog]

I got a few records from the auction list, and if my memory serves me right it was his dad I dealt with regards the sale of the records.

[Guest Mike Gott]

Memories of one Winter Gardens all-dayer when a group of us including Nev and, I think, Ian Dewhurst, took some time out during the afternoon and walked down the promenade to "Wonderland" where we all went on the dodgems.

Mike

 

[dthedrug]

HI ALL   Nev was a really good geezer, he loved collecting soul 45s especially UK issues & demos he was at home when looking through record boxes that belonged to Pete Wid,  Ady & Mick Smiths & mine sometimes, he often would pay high prices just to get a record, I have good recollection selling him 20 TAML MOTOWN DEMOS at the KGB, Sadly I learnt about his death while I was in one Her Majesty's Hotel, it was a big shock, RIP NEV.

[Tai-pan]

On 5/27/2016 at 17:59, professorturnups said:

I can remember Nev taking over the decks at Kings Lynn All-Dayer. He had just returned from The States with a new discovery he was raving over, turned out to be Velvet Hammer.

His last ever spot was at a St-Ives All-Dayer and  the last record he ever played "out" was Love is like an itching in my heart - The Supremes.

Sadly, he died a few days later

 

Mark C

 

Now you see how time clouds the memory! I was at that All-Dayer, and could have sworn that the last record he played was Lainie Hill "Time Marches On"

Kev Draper may have been there also, Kev, any recollection?

Andy K

Edited May 31, 2016 by Tai-Pan

[macca]

Lovely bloke. Always ready to share knowledge with budding collectors like me. You could always spot him from way off as he was so tall and if I remember well, had a liking for big woolly cardies and polo-neck jumpers. When he worked for JM it was a pleasure when he picked up the phone as he'd let you down easy if a record had gone and even congratulated your taste and asked you if there was anything else you were after. I'm sure his warm attitude with punters helped JM snare quite a few extra sales. We've all bought and sold countless 45s at niters over the years but I'll always remember selling my Otis Smith on Perception to him one night at the Sheffield KGB. A sweet guy and as Arthur says, charismatic on the decks, even though some of his selections would turn me off, lol. Ben Zine!! 

 

 

[Len]

Has anyone got a photo of Nev Wherry? 

Len 

[Mick Boyle]

Nev at the decks 

 

 

 

Looks like I cant load from my old computer at work - I will try at home tonight

Mick 

[Chris Turnbull]

14 hours ago, LEN said:

Has anyone got a photo of Nev Wherry? 

[Mick Boyle]

This should be Nev at the decks November 78 at Inkersal

second part to follow

01 Track 01 9.mp3

[Len]

Thanks Mick, listening to the man himself on that was the first time for me (ever). Magical  (23.33)......."I think we gotta find room for two more newies".....

Folks, I'm getting some really interesting names put forward - as in people I just don't know. We will be featuring some more obvious choices of course, because their stories are also interesting, but I'm also very interested in getting to know about people who are not the obvious 'Spot-light on' types.

Thanks again for your input so far guys 

Len 

[dthedrug]

Hi All, I was looking through a box of stuff that I have kept for many years, and found a small note book that I used as a sort of address book, back then it was common to get names of collectors. of Rare Soul.

on one page is Nev, I think this some him up, as he always assumed I got records cheap from Mick Ady & Pete Wid,. 

What do you think? KTF DAVE K.