Tony Jo: Wonderful tributes to former Grumbleweed
The late Tony Jo, a member of award-winning British comedy band The Grumbleweeds, received a great send-off, says Jimmy Cricket.
Tony, who joined the popular group in 1997, died in January following an 18-month battle with cancer.
His funeral took place earlier this month.
Fellow entertainer and friend Jimmy said: “Some wonderful tributes to Tony Jo today during his humanist funeral, staged @Grand_Theatre in Blackpool.
“It was great to meet up with some old and some new colleagues in the world of showbusiness ðŸŽ.”
The Grumbleweeds story began in Leeds in 1962, when the group was first formed by Robin Colvill.
They spent the next few years performing in clubs and pubs in their native Yorkshire and and also overseas, playing alongside bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
The group turned fully professional in 1967 following an appearance on BBC TV’s Opportunity Knocks.
Tony was also a celebrated after-dinner comedian.
His work meant he rubbed shoulders with sporting legends like George Best, Bobby Charlton, Geoff Hurst and Alan Ball.
He was a winner of the After Dinner Speaker of The Year Award three times.
In addition, he wrote for shows including You’ve Been Framed and Stars in Their Eyes.
Read more about Tony on the Blackpool Gazette website here.
Also read: Frankie Whittle: A great friend for over half a century