Mike Richardson, of 60s band Forever Amber, has arranged a charity concert in memory of his friend Dave Parker, another well-known Cambridge musician, who recently died.
The gig, which is to be held at the Cambridge United Supporters Club on 17 May, is a celebration of Dave and his late wife Valerie’s life together and all of the proceeds from it will go to the respiratory unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, which cared for Dave in his final days.
Mike, 78, has put together a new band called Mike & the Detours to perform at the event. He notes that Dave – who went under the name ‘Dean Parker’ – sang in a “very good band in the 60s called The Redcaps”.
“We thought we’d have a celebratory gig for him,” explains Mike, “it’s a celebration of his and his wife’s lives together.
“Her name was Val and they were a lovely couple… and the money that we make we’re going to send to the respiratory unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.”
Mike called on some more old friends to help him out on stage – “some very, very good musicians from Cambridge”, as he puts it.
Mike added: “I’ve known them all for many years, we’ve all been in different bands over the years, and we’re going to do some old 50s, 60s and 70s music.”
As a key part of the 60s music scene in Cambridge, Mike was friends with some faces very familiar to Pink Floyd fans.
“I knew Syd [Barrett] really well and I know Dave Gilmour really well,” he reveals. “We all grew up in the same music scene, I suppose.
“We all used to meet down the Mill Pond – well, all the kids did in the summer – and then we’d all meet up at the different youth clubs.
“There were various youth clubs in Cambridge and we’d go to the different dance halls, so I still keep in contact with Dave occasionally.”
He reveals that Dave Gilmour’s brother Peter, “a lovely guy” who is also a musician, may attend the gig on 17 May.
In 1969, Forever Amber made a psychedelic pop LP titled The Love Cycle, copies of which now sell for a rather substantial amount.
“We made 99 copies; if we’d made 100 we’d have had to pay taxes,” recalls Mike, “so we made 99 copies, and apparently I’ve just heard that one of the albums sold for £7,000 – although I sold my copy for £200 about 15 years ago when I was broke!
“So I kick myself on that, but that’s in hindsight. We’ve all moved on since then.”
Dave Parker’s son Rob said: “Dean Parker and the Redcaps were signed by Decca Records, releasing a record where all the proceeds went to the Earl Haig Fund, now the Poppy Appeal.
“Decca that year turned down The Beatles, which my dad always found amusing.
“Dad was great friends with David Gilmour and also knew Syd Barrett. In fact, Syd jammed in my grandparents’ pub, The Crown, later The Flying Pig, on Hills Road, Cambridge.”
A night of 50s and 60s Classics to celebrate the lives of Dave and Val Parker takes place at Cambridge United Supporters Club at the Cledara Abbey Stadium on Friday, 17 May. Tickets are £10 and there will also be a raffle.
For more on Cambridge United Supporters Club, visit cambridgeunitedsupportersclub.co.uk.
