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1960's
In April 1965 Eddie was appearing every evening at the Paul Raymond Revuebar. customers having enjoyed the girls in the main show could relax with a drink in the 'Golden City' Room and be entertained by Jean Francine - 'The Girl in the Golden Fish Tank' and Eddie's Golden Trumpet. Eddie had always said that his breath control was due to the number of lengths he could swim underwater as a child.
On April 16th that talent was called upon when Jean got into difficulties in the tank. The audience thought it was part of the act but Paul and Eddie knew differently and both jumped in to save her. She was unconscious when they got her out and her husband gave her the kiss of life until a doctor arrived. Talking to the Daily Express she said "I still don't know what happened. I suddenly blacked out and the next I knew I was in the arms of my husband. I feel terrible - but I shall continue to do the act. Ironically Eddie at the time was working on an album called 'All in the april Evening' and other songs of faith, which included the sailors hymn 'Eternal Father Strong To Save'.
On April 17th 'Doddy's Here' opened at the Palladium, were Eddie once again worked alongside orchestra director Billy Ternent, the man who had done so much to influence his early career. On July 4th Eddie appeared in two shows at the Blackpool Opera House for the inclusive fee of £150. This was exactly the same amount he had been paid for two similiar shows in May 1959. With little record royalties and the taxman never to far away, Eddie joked that the only way he would afford to buy a plane was to win the Premium Bonds.
In August he appeared on ITV's 'Lucky Stars' show with Cliff Richard and Georgie Fame and in October he was back at the Palladium with Michael Bentine.
In 1966 after appearing with Winifred Atwell and Mark Wynter at the Central Pier Blackpool, Eddie found himself facing a divorce. The marriage had been in trouble for a while and he was already in a relationship with a young women called Rae Southern, who he had met the previous year at Raymond's Revuebar. 'You Go To My Head' and other 1930 classic song titles featured on his next album 'The Golden Trumpet'. Accompanied by Peter yorke and the Norrie Paramor Orchestras, Eddie's tone and lyrical playing could be heard to full effect.
By 1967 things were coming apart. Eddie had made and lost a great deal of money. He still owed the Inland Revenue money and several business ventures were failing. Drink had caused its own problems and he had two failed marriages behind him. The only way out as he saw it, was to emigrate to a country that had charmed him some years before - South Africa.
He headed for Johannesburg and ploughed his money into a nightclub called 'The Golden Horn'. It failed after four months and he was left in debt. The next fifteen months were the leanest of his life. Touring the Platteland in the middle of winter proved to be a flop. The halls were so cold that those brave enough to attend brought blankets and hot water bottles. He also teamed up with Werner Krupski and his Orchestra to record his next album 'A Rambler On Safari'. The tracks were inspired by Nico Carstens who had penned 'Zambesi' back in 1956. Though life was tough, Eddie was determined he was not going back to England.
In a later interview he said "When I was on top of the world I existed, but it was when I was broke and starving that I started to live. It was a nightmare life I am pleased to have left behind me". Having hit rock bottom there was hopefully only one way to go.
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