Popcorn to Rock 'n' Roll: Book One of Trilogy Life and Death of a Pirate, 2nd edition

by Susan Moore 

• Paperback 
• Signed by the author 

The extraordinary story of Reg and Dorothy Calvert. A biographical novel which follows their lives in post war England. An 'unknown' history of the early days of British Rock 'n' Roll, with many period photographs. This is Book One of the trilogy 'Life and Death of a Pirate'. Revised and enlarged.

Reg and Dorothy fall madly in love and ignoring advice, marry aged 18. They both had troubled childhoods and are glad to move from Huddersfield to make a new start in the South of England. With little money, they travel to Southampton and live in an old bus in an apple orchard at Hedge End. Too soon, they realise their mistake as their wings are clipped with the responsibility of having children.

Reg tries many ways to earn a living, including making popcorn and sweets, playing piano in clubs, compering ballroom dances, and becoming a Television and Radio Engineer.

Dorothy does her best to maintain some equilibrium in their erratic lives, while Reg, like Peter Pan, refuses to grow up as he follows his dreams. When he first hears Bill Haley's 'Rock Around the Clock', he gives up his job on a new quest, to bring Rock 'n' Roll to England.

From being quiet and shy, Dorothy develops into an astute business woman and does her best to guide her husband through his many ideas. No sooner has he made one venture successful, he would be onto the next, leaving Dorothy to pick up the pieces. Being married to Reg was like being on the Big Dipper, with many highs, lows, successes and failures.

Few big-band musicians knew how to 'rock'. Young boys, musicians and singers, join Reg as he trains them how to perform and pays them a regular wage. From his premises, the Band-Box in Southampton, he organises the first ever teenage entertainment and his fabulous 'Big Beat' Shows tour the country's dancehalls, often featuring famous (early) rock stars, including Billy Fury, Vince Taylor, Terry Dene, Screaming Lord Sutch, Gene Vincent, Johnny Kidd, and many others.

There is much fun and laughter, mad antics, crazy days, sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, but not in the way you would imagine.

Reg becomes a major influence with ground-breaking ideas which help to transform the 1950s music culture, ahead of the Swinging Sixties. Before long, others are copying Reg and the press are talking abut his 'School of Rock'.