Tommy Born Thomas William Hicks on the 17 December 1936 in Mason Street, Bermondsey, He played the guitar and banjo and was the frontman of ‘The Steelmen’. His single ‘Singing the Blues’ reached number one in 1957 and he became a rock and roll star, as well as acting in films and stage tour.
Colin was in the British ROCK N ROLL scene in the late fifties with a group called the Cabin Boys. He had minor success in England but took a lot of stick from Tommy’s fans, who at the time didn’t want another Tommy Steele, that’s life we all have our favourites, it had nothing to do with lack of talent. At this time, the late 50s Colin decided to go to ITALY, I believe in a show with Marty Wilde. He was quite a success in ITALY and had several hit records made a couple of films one being EUROPE BY NIGHT. His records also sold well in FRANCE where he had quite a big following. In the early 1960s Colin became ill and lost is voice and by the late 60s due to bad management his career I believe fizzled out. I can recall back in England, well into the eighties if there was a ROCK N ROLL GIG with Teddy boys, you could bet sometime during the night you would hear COLIN HICKS name mentioned.
TOMMY AND COLIN both did their bit for BERMONDSEY. I did know both Tommy and Colin, admittedly not that well but they were both down to earth people and both Talented in their own right.
Do you believe it

A local rumour still surfaces every so often regarding the possibility that Tommy Steele, "The Bermondsey Boy" singer and actor, was born in Little Thurrock 1936. Little Thurrock electoral role shows a Charles Hicks in residence at 93 Rectory Road, Little Thurrock, with his wife Ellen at that time.
