The Joystrings (originally credited as The Joy Strings) were a 1960s British

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

music group led by classically trained keyboard player and singer Joy Webb, who was an officer in

the Salvation Army The Salvation Army (TSA) is a Protestantism, Protestant Christian church and an international charitable organisation headquartered in London, England. It is aligned with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. The organisation reports a worldwide m ...

History

After appearing on

Cliff Michelmore Arthur Clifford Michelmore (11 December 1919 – 16 March 2016) was an English television presenter and producer. He is best known for the BBC Television programme ''Tonight'', which he presented from 1957 to 1965. He also hosted the BBC's tel ...

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Tonight Tonight may refer to: Television * ''Tonight'' (1957 TV programme), a 1957–1965 British current events television programme hosted by Cliff Michelmore that was broadcast on BBC * ''Tonight'' (1975 TV programme), a 1975–1979 British current ...

'' television show, they were given a recording contract by

EMI Records EMI Records (formerly EMI Records Ltd.) is a British multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was originally founded as a British flagship label by the music company EMI in 1972, and launched in January 1973 as the succes ...

. In 1964, they became the first Salvation Army

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop! (British group), a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Album ...

group to achieve

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success with "It's An Open Secret" and "A Starry Night". The main members through the years were Joy Webb (who wrote the group's first hit), Peter and Sylvia Dalziel, Bill Davidson, and Wycliffe Noble. The group had a number of other singers drawn, at intervals, from cadets at the

William Booth William Booth (10 April 1829 – 20 August 1912) was an English Methodist preacher who, along with his wife, Catherine, founded the Salvation Army and became its first General (1878–1912). This Christian movement, founded in 1865, has a qu ...

Memorial Training College,

Denmark Hill Denmark Hill is an area and road in Camberwell, in the London Borough of Southwark, London, England. It is a sub-section of the western flank of the Norwood Ridge, centred on the long, curved Ruskin Park slope of the ridge. The road is part of ...

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. They also recorded a version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem," using the music of The Animals' "

The House of the Rising Sun "The House of the Rising Sun" is an American traditional folk music, folk song, sometimes called "Rising Sun Blues". It tells of a person's life gone wrong in the city of New Orleans. Many versions also urge a sibling or parents and children t ...

" - an unusual blending. In September 2013, 50 years after the Joystrings' formation, group member Sylvia Dalziel published her memoir, ''The Joystrings: The Story of the Salvation Army Pop Group''. Wycliffe Noble died on 1 April 2017, at the age of 91. Joy Webb died on 1 October 2023, at the age of 91.

Discography

Singles

*"It's An Open Secret" (1964) – UK Number 32 (

Regal Zonophone Regal may refer to: Companies * Regal Beloit, usually referred to as Regal, an American manufacturer of electric motors * Regal Cinema (disambiguation), several cinemas of that name * Regal Cinemas, a major American theater chain * Regal Cinem ...

: RZ501) *"Million Songs" (1964) *"A Starry Night" (1964) – UK Number 34 *"All Alone" (1965) *"The Only One" (1965) *"No Time To Lose"/"Love That's All Around" (

Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), cong ...

(USA): 5-10195) *"Christmas Can Be Every Day For You" (1966)

EPs

* ''The Joy Strings'' (1964) * ''Have Faith in God'' (1965) * ''Christmas with The Joy Strings'' (1965) * Joy Strings abroad (1966) * The song break (1967)

Albums

*''Well Seasoned'' (1966) Regal Zonophone, LRZ4016 mono; SLRZ4016 stereo, UK *''Well Seasoned'' (1966) EPIC Records, US *''Carols Around The World'' (1967) *''Joystrings Restrung'' (2011) *''Joystrings Christmas Collection'' (2012)

Bibliography

* * *

References

External links

Rhythm Finds Its Groove: History of the JoystringsJoystrings tribute sitePage at Cross RhythmsPathé News report of the Joystrings performing "It's an Open Secret"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joystrings, The English pop music groups English Christian musical groups English Salvationists Musical groups established in 1963 Musical groups disestablished in 1969 1963 establishments in England 1969 disestablishments in England British gospel music groups