Don Lang (born Gordon Langhorn, 18 January 1925, Halifax, Yorkshire - died 3 August 1992, Surrey was a trombone player and singer, who led his own British band called Don Lang & his Frantic Five. He appeared on the first BBC Television show for teenagers called Six-Five Special, for which he recorded the theme tune. In 1958 his cover version of "Witch Doctor" reached the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart, and he played trombone on The Beatles' famous White Album.

During the 1950s he lived in 'Denmark Avenue', Wimbledon, and could be seen driving his pink Vauxhall Cresta, Britain's answer to Elvis Presley's pink Cadillac, the 200 yards to Wimbledon village's upmarket grocer, Cullens. There he might buy what seemed to impoverished primary school children of the time extravagant luxuries, such as out of season strawberries.

He retired at the end of the 1980s, as his son, Brad Lang, became visible as a session bassist with the groups ABC, Jade Warrior, Wham!, and Wishbone Ash. Lang senior died of cancer during the summer of 1992, after a long illness. He was aged 67.

The Six-five special was the first attempt at a rock and roll programme, an innovation and much imitated, even today. It was called "Six-Five Special" because of the time it was broadcast - it went out live at five past six on Saturday evening. It began immediately after the abolition of the , which had seen television close between 6 and 7pm so children could be put to bed.

Jack Good was the producer and Pete Murray was its presenter, using the catchphrase "Time to jive on the old six five". Its resident band was Don Lang and his Frantic Five . The show opened with film of a steam train accompanied by the programme's theme song, played and sung by the Frantic Five, which began with the words "The Six-Five Special's comin' down the line, The Six-Five Special's right on time..."

BBC bosses originally wanted a magazine format; however, Good wanted a show with music and lots of movement. The original sets were dispensed with and the empty studio space filled with the milling audience and performers. Television at that time was completely live as recording technology was limited, so once the programme started everything ran in an impromptu way. The running order was sketched out on Friday morning, and then only one complete run-through happened immediately before transmission on Saturday evening.

The show was originally scheduled to last just six weeks but, as a result of its popularity, the series became open-ended. The BBC interfered with Good's vision of the show by including educational and information elements, which Good wanted to drop, as they diluted the music. The relationship between Good and the BBC became strained, and he resigned in early 1958.

DISC DETAILS

DON LANG AND HIS FRANTIC FIVE

UK HMV POP 350 10" 78rpm shellac

A SIDE :   SCHOOL DAY (Ring Ring, Goes the Bell)

ENTERED THE UK CHARTS 5 JULY 1957 REACHED #26 AND WAS IN THE CHARTS FOR 2 WEEKS

B SIDE:     SIX-FIVE SPECIAL

CONDITION - E-

some scuffs and marks but plays great

CLASSIC BRITISH ROCKING SKIFFLE 78

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