Coventry Buskers

I knew two Coventry buskers in the 60s, one was Mick Cullen, a happy go lucky guy who could make anyone laugh. I only remember the surname of the other it was 'Kenny', I got on well with him too.

Was there a busker from Coventry who appeared on a talent show some time ago, I seem to recall one???

I don't know those mentioned above, but there's one busker I recall from the late 1980s who was extremely talented and played a 6-string electric violin, usually over an amplified backing track. He would draw large audiences around the M&S part of the Precinct and I think his name was Pete Hartley. Anyone else remember him?

Hi Rob I remember him, very good he was too, there was also a foreign woman for a short while who was absolute pants who kept being moved on, I think she ended up by the rail station. LOL

Over the years Coventry has had many buskers (even me for a short while, though I wasn't very good). Some have gone on to have recording contracts and commercial success such as 'Jimmy, Jimmy' who returned to busking, although for most it is an enjoyable way to make a little extra cash. My favourite one at the moment is an electric guitarist who occasionally plays at the bottom of Hertford Street. Buskers certainly liven a place up and make a change from piped music.

A few years ago I met a friend busking in the covered part of Hertford St., he asked if I could look after his guitar while he went to relieve himself. While sitting there I thought I may as well play and try and earn him a bit more money. As I was playing a gang of about 10 young lads came up to me and asked me to play a rhythmic riff - they then took it in turns to rap over the top - and they were bloody great ! As my mate came back, all he saw was a tough looking gang wearing hoodies standing round me looking like they were about to cause trouble - imagine his and my surprise when before moving off, they each chucked a 50p into his hat. I often wondered who they were!

Yes, he had a ponytail in the mid 80s. VERY good player that drew crowds, and had the foresight to produce cassettes of him playing to sell. He was the 'top end' of buskers, like the good 'uns you see in London. I also recall a rotund character called Doc Mustard in the mid-80s as well. Always had a mangy dog with him. Relocated to Cornwall in the early 90's I believe.

Ace, you are correct. Doc Mustard is in Cornwall and here he is live from the Fire Engine in Cornwall

Does anyone remember the two lads who used to busk in Coventry town centre during the '80s? I think they called themselves 'Jimmy Jimmy'. I thought their harmonies where fantastic, they used to do Everly Brothers numbers and Beatles stuff among others. I wonder what became of them. I heard they got signed to a record label.

Last summer my brother and sister in law had a garden party for their joint 60's birthday, and they booked one of the Jimmys to entertain us, we had a lovely afternoon with him singing lots of the songs from our "younger" days.

One of them is married with children and lives near me in the Green Lane area of the city. The other one can still be seen busking in the city centre, quite often by Waterstones bookstore.