Anyone Remember Mike Rolo ?

[Marc Forrest]

I was visiting a very good friend of mine and regular punter at the Hip City...in fact our oldest "punter" and heavy long time Soul collector. Not only did he back in the sixties tape "Bernadine" from German based AFN radio he also went to the US and UK already back then in the 6ts and 7ts.On one on these trips (to the Casino) he made friendship with Mike Rolo and was later on invited back (and to stay at his place) . So while we were doing what we usually do every two weeks..listening to records...he went thru some old memorabilia he has and came uo with these two very nice photographs. As at least I never read about this Mike Rollo I just wondered if any members on here do remember this Casino DJ and can tell some stories about or related with him ? Mike Rolo sadly passed away still at a very young age in the seventies due to a stroke.

Edited March 25, 2011 by Marc Forrest

[Gilly]

Yes i remember him DJ early Wigan,sadly left us too young

[Wiganer1]

IVE GOT A 50 MINUTE MR Mms SPOT FROM MR ROLO AT THE CASINO....VERY POSH TALKING DJ.......PROBABLY THE POSHEST!

SOUNDED LIKE A GREAT BLOKE!

[Marc Forrest]

IVE GOT A 50 MINUTE MR Mms SPOT FROM MR ROLO AT THE CASINO....VERY POSH TALKING DJ.......PROBABLY THE POSHEST!

SOUNDED LIKE A GREAT BLOKE!

can you post it please ? or send ? would be highly appreciated !

TIA

Marc

[Eamesy]

I have a photo of Mike when he played at an all dayer in Reading, would have been mid 70s, will try & scan & post. Good laugh!!

Alan

[Paul R]

He wasn't one of the main DJs for the nighters, but did quite a bit on the other nights wed,s fri & early session Saturday. Nice bloke.

Don't remeber him as in those phots, I remember a large curly Kevin Keegan style perm.

Paul

Edited March 26, 2011 by Paul r

[Marc Forrest]

I have a photo of Mike when he played at an all dayer in Reading, would have been mid 70s, will try & scan & post. Good laugh!!

Alan

would appreciate that alan, I will forward everything to my mate who is not a member on here. TIA

Marc

[Marc Forrest]

I have a photo of Mike when he played at an all dayer in Reading, would have been mid 70s, will try & scan & post. Good laugh!!

Alan

would appreciate that alan, I will forward everything to my mate who is not a member on here. TIA

Marc

[Steve G]

He wasn't one of the main DJs for the nighters, but did quite a bit on the other nights wed,s fri & early session Saturday. Nice bloke.

Don't remeber him as in those phots, I remember a large curly Kevin Keegan style perm.

Paul

Yes that is also how I remember him as well. He did Ms a bit too as I recall.

PS: No one should ever underestimate the impact that "Jason King" has on early 70s fashion - as the before and after shots of Mike above clearly show.

And that is a serious comment.....despite the smiley

Edited March 28, 2011 by Steve G

[Marc Forrest]

know where you are coming from

LOL

[Guest Hindley Soulboy]

Hi Mark. You wanted information about Michael Rawlinson (DJ) well hear goes. Michael was born in Hindley behind St Peter's Church in 1952 he would have been 59 this year (where's the time gone???) he went to St Peter's infant school in Hindley which is opposite the church this is now a childrens nursery. While he was at St Peter's he got his nickname as we all used to have in those day's (Rollo) this came about because of his love of ?????? Rollos Toffee which he used to buy at dinner time from the little toffee shop on the opposite corner at the bottom of First Avenue this is now beleive it or not my wife's hairdressers, not her's personally but where she goes for her hair cut, permed, tinted etc, etc. Mike started of as one of Russ Winstanley's roadies then decided to have a go himself he then also had a roadie named Keith Taylor who is now DJ and Entertainments officer on the P & O ship Azura the new one. Mike was one of the reason's I got into DJ ing but unlike the rest who stayed with Northen Soul I moved with the times (Armin Van Burren!!) until I hung my turntables up about 9 yrs ago. Mike was a wonderful guy and is so sadly missed he hardly ever get's a mention about anything to do with the Casino but there is no doubt in time he would have surpassed all the elite as we call them in the Casino Russ, Richard etc, etc. Funny at one time we used to go out with two girls who we met at the Monaco Ballroom which is at the back of St Peter's Church and still going strong as a dance venue etc Soul Reunion every month. On a sad note regarding Mike's untimely death it was a brain haemorrhage which he died from and I still think in my own mind that an accident he had when he was young, we where going across to the church on a friday morning for a service we where all in two's holding hand's and he got hit with a car he fell over and banged his head on the corner of the kerb and had to be taken to hospital I think in my own mind that may have triggred something off later in life because he was only in his twenties when he died so, so sad. The two picture's where really nice to see and must be very, very rare because every other Casino DJ has a picture of themselves on numerous site's but you never see any of Mike I would love to have a copy of one if it is at all possible and would pay for the cost's. I don't know if you have seen the DVD which they have just made of the Casino it's called Soulboy it came out on DVD in January 2011 if you get chance to get a copy it is about the nearest you would get to the original Wigan Casino. Hope this brief biography of Mike's is some help to you I have no idea how I came across this site tonite??? I have a feeling Mike may have guided me to your message board request: Anyone Remember Mike Rollo.

Kind Regards Dave D.

[Marc Forrest]

Hi Mark. You wanted information about Michael Rawlinson (DJ) well hear goes. Michael was born in Hindley behind St Peter's Church in 1952 he would have been 59 this year (where's the time gone???) he went to St Peter's infant school in Hindley which is opposite the church this is now a childrens nursery. While he was at St Peter's he got his nickname as we all used to have in those day's (Rollo) this came about because of his love of ?????? Rollos Toffee which he used to buy at dinner time from the little toffee shop on the opposite corner at the bottom of First Avenue this is now beleive it or not my wife's hairdressers, not her's personally but where she goes for her hair cut, permed, tinted etc, etc. Mike started of as one of Russ Winstanley's roadies then decided to have a go himself he then also had a roadie named Keith Taylor who is now DJ and Entertainments officer on the P & O ship Azura the new one. Mike was one of the reason's I got into DJ ing but unlike the rest who stayed with Northen Soul I moved with the times (Armin Van Burren!!) until I hung my turntables up about 9 yrs ago. Mike was a wonderful guy and is so sadly missed he hardly ever get's a mention about anything to do with the Casino but there is no doubt in time he would have surpassed all the elite as we call them in the Casino Russ, Richard etc, etc. Funny at one time we used to go out with two girls who we met at the Monaco Ballroom which is at the back of St Peter's Church and still going strong as a dance venue etc Soul Reunion every month. On a sad note regarding Mike's untimely death it was a brain haemorrhage which he died from and I still think in my own mind that an accident he had when he was young, we where going across to the church on a friday morning for a service we where all in two's holding hand's and he got hit with a car he fell over and banged his head on the corner of the kerb and had to be taken to hospital I think in my own mind that may have triggred something off later in life because he was only in his twenties when he died so, so sad. The two picture's where really nice to see and must be very, very rare because every other Casino DJ has a picture of themselves on numerous site's but you never see any of Mike I would love to have a copy of one if it is at all possible and would pay for the cost's. I don't know if you have seen the DVD which they have just made of the Casino it's called Soulboy it came out on DVD in January 2011 if you get chance to get a copy it is about the nearest you would get to the original Wigan Casino. Hope this brief biography of Mike's is some help to you I have no idea how I came across this site tonite??? I have a feeling Mike may have guided me to your message board request: Anyone Remember Mike Rollo.

Kind Regards Dave D.

Hi Dave, thank you so much for your great write up. really really appreciated ! I will forward this to my mate and will get him to scan the two pictures for you and then send them via email. PLease pm me your email adress for this reason. The ones I posted up onhere are just small photographs I took with my mobile at my mates place. You will get proper scans my friend. no cost at all. Thanks again big style and you are right, what a great coincedence you have been guided to this site. fabulous..things can really happen in life.

kindest regards

marc

[Guest Hindley Soulboy]

Hi Marc. Spelt it right this time C instead of K. Nice to know someone is interested in Mike when you where brought up with him and knew what he was about regarding DJing you feel he never gets the recognition he should have like I said previousley he would have been right up there with the rest of them as one of the top Northern Soul DJs in the world not just England sadly he was taken to soon. You probably noticed that I spelt ROLLO with two LL instead of one when he was young and we used to take the mickey out of him he used to put the LL in so he would not be associated with a roll of toffee!! Obviousley later on when he started DJing it was a gimick to be associated with a well know tube of toffee (works both ways). Had to laugh at one of the other messages regarding Mike on the forum is it WIGANER 1 who said he was "He was one of the poshest talking DJs" he would have laughed at that,a lad from Hindley being a posh talking DJ !!!! I don't think so!! Don't know if you have heard about another DJ from Wigan Eddie Halliwell ?? He is one of the top DJs in the world (in dance music) I know this might be a sacrilege regarding northern soul music but I have often thought about approaching him to see if he could do a remix of famous northern soul songs as a tribute to Mike next year as he would have turned 60 I think something should be done to commemerate his 60th birthday but what I do not know?? Anyway thanks for you quick reply Marc and now I have found this website I will check it out more often. One last note don't know if you ever saw an old edition of Top of The Pops there was a record played on one of their shows called "Footsee" it's on Youtube there where 3 dancers sent to the recording studios in Manchester the 3 dancers all used to go to the Casino two men one women one of the guys was Tom Mercer another close friend of mine who again still lives in Hindley! There must be something about Hindley and Northern Soul???

Anyway thanks again Marc and take care Dave D.

[Marc Forrest]

cheers dave, I`ll see my mate this coming tuesday and will pass it on to him...please remember to pm me your mail addy, cheers marc

[Premium Stuff]

One last note don't know if you ever saw an old edition of Top of The Pops there was a record played on one of their shows called "Footsee" it's on Youtube there where 3 dancers sent to the recording studios in Manchester the 3 dancers all used to go to the Casino two men one women

Hi Dave

Remember this at the time but can't find it on YouTube - can you post up the link please?

Have searched but just get the record without the TOTP footage, or Wigan's Ovation "Ski-ing In The Snow"

Cheers

Richard

Edited April 2, 2011 by Premium Stuff

[Guest Hindley Soulboy]

Hi Richard. Should of explained a bit more about the Youtube footage of Footsee your are correct about them just showing the record label I know Tom Mercer one of the dancers on the show is a bit miffed at why there is no footage sorry about the mix up.

Regards Dave.D.

[Premium Stuff]

Thanks and no worries Dave

Anyone got the footage and can post it up on here please?

Cheers

Richard

[Paul Shirley]

i remember mike rolo very well . besides the casino we used to go to a thursday night thing called roxy and bowie nights they was held in mr Mms .you had to go in around the back . mike was djng in there most thursday nights infact it was around then that he sadly died, also around the same time i think ? kenny spence also died i liked kenny was a real top bloke and another mr Mms dj who again hardly ever gets mentiond and i sertainly never seen many pics with kenny on . has anyone got any ?

regards paul

[Guest SteveJohnston]

Paul I may be wrong but i'm sure Kenny past away much later on than Mike, Kenny was on the DJ line up End of an era 1981.

Best

Steve Johnston

Edited April 5, 2011 by SteveJohnston

[De-to]

i remember mike rolo very well . besides the casino we used to go to a thursday night thing called roxy and bowie nights they was held in mr Mms .you had to go in around the back . mike was djng in there most thursday nights infact it was around then that he sadly died, also around the same time i think ? kenny spence also died i liked kenny was a real top bloke and another mr Mms dj who again hardly ever gets mentiond and i sertainly never seen many pics with kenny on . has anyone got any ?

regards paul

hello paul,is this kenny spence at the decks in wigans mr m`s in the mid 70s,???

[BrianB]

I can remember being in Mr Ms in the mid 70s and one of the DJs mentioned that Mike had died. However, I thought he mentioned that a motot cycle accident in Greece was the cause? Was that Mike, or can anyone remember anyone that this might refer to?

He was a great DJ with some style.

Brian B

[Marc Forrest]

I can remember being in Mr Ms in the mid 70s and one of the DJs mentioned that Mike had died. However, I thought he mentioned that a motot cycle accident in Greece was the cause? Was that Mike, or can anyone remember anyone that this might refer to?

He was a great DJ with some style.

Brian B

hi brian, attached is the original obituary from back then explaining the cause of his sad and sudden death. On behalf of my mate Wolfgang I thank all people who have contributed!

Marc

[Paul Shirley]

Paul I may be wrong but i'm sure Kenny past away much later on than Mike, Kenny was on the DJ line up End of an era 1981.

Best

Steve Johnston

your right steve its old age mate for some reason i lump those years all together in my memory thinking they was all around the same time. tho there is obviously a good few years difference

atb paul;

Edited May 3, 2011 by steptoe

[Paul Shirley]

hello paul,is this kenny spence at the decks in wigans mr m`s in the mid 70s,???

nice one thanks , im pretty sure thats kenny

atb paul

[Guest Yank]

I remember Mike very well. I used to help him setup with Tiny (Tony) and would ride around with him in his green van. He was a great guy and always as nice as can be. We used to go to the labour club, the civic center in Warrington and lots of other places. I was dating a girl named Kim Fairhurst from Hindley so I used to drop by and go out with him a lot. Mike was the DJ at the casino on Mondays and Wednesdays long before the All nighter began. I left Wigan in august 1975 to join the US Navy and learned of his death when my mother sent me the article from the paper. Tiny told me a speaker hit him in the head while he was DJing at the Black Horse in Ashton and that is what caused the hemorrhage and ultimately his death. I still think about all of the good times we had together. He was really our local DJ and the one that introduced most of us in Wigan to Northern Soul. He and Russ were the DJ's who worked the casino in the early days. He left us way too soon.

Paul McLester (Yank)

[Monacosoulboy]

i was brought up with Mike down Liverpool road i Hindley he was 3 years older than me and one of the main reasons i got involved in the SOUL scene in the first place . Is mam Dolly was a real lady.

Mike always had a panashe for SOUL music and he was very much under rated he was a great DJ and made Mr Ms rock ( ask the SOUL twins )

RIP Mike - you died to young you are sorely missed

[Quinvy]

When I sold up [the first time lol] it would be around 1975 I think. I got a list printed up, and advertised in Blues and Soul, and Black Echos magazines. The very first telephone call I got was from Mike, he came to my house, and he bought the majority of my big tunes. We had a really good rapport, and I enjoyed his company as we played and talked through my collection. He made a very good impression on me, and I instantly liked the man. I was very saddened to hear of his death not long after. It was indicative of the times that I was informed that Mike had committed suicide. I am glad to hear that wasn't so. I always doubted it myself, as the guy was full of life and obviously loved the music.

Judging by the quality of tunes he bought from me, he was obviously really going for it, in terms of becoming at top Dj. Very sad he never got the chance.

[Otis Smith]

Marc, is your friend, wolfgang weisbradt( not sure of spelling of surname).

[Marc Forrest]

Marc, is your friend, wolfgang weisbradt( not sure of spelling of surname).

hello there, yeah, its him. wolfgang weisbrodt though..you know him ?

[Marc Forrest]

When I sold up [the first time lol] it would be around 1975 I think. I got a list printed up, and advertised in Blues and Soul, and Black Echos magazines. The very first telephone call I got was from Mike, he came to my house, and he bought the majority of my big tunes. We had a really good rapport, and I enjoyed his company as we played and talked through my collection. He made a very good impression on me, and I instantly liked the man. I was very saddened to hear of his death not long after. It was indicative of the times that I was informed that Mike had committed suicide. I am glad to hear that wasn't so. I always doubted it myself, as the guy was full of life and obviously loved the music.

Judging by the quality of tunes he bought from me, he was obviously really going for it, in terms of becoming at top Dj. Very sad he never got the chance.

thanks for sharing that great piece of memory phil

[Guest ktdiscos]

Hi Mark. You wanted information about Michael Rawlinson (DJ) well hear goes. Michael was born in Hindley behind St Peter's Church in 1952 he would have been 59 this year (where's the time gone???) he went to St Peter's infant school in Hindley which is opposite the church this is now a childrens nursery. While he was at St Peter's he got his nickname as we all used to have in those day's (Rollo) this came about because of his love of ?????? Rollos Toffee which he used to buy at dinner time from the little toffee shop on the opposite corner at the bottom of First Avenue this is now beleive it or not my wife's hairdressers, not her's personally but where she goes for her hair cut, permed, tinted etc, etc. Mike started of as one of Russ Winstanley's roadies then decided to have a go himself he then also had a roadie named Keith Taylor who is now DJ and Entertainments officer on the P & O ship Azura the new one. Mike was one of the reason's I got into DJ ing but unlike the rest who stayed with Northen Soul I moved with the times (Armin Van Burren!!) until I hung my turntables up about 9 yrs ago. Mike was a wonderful guy and is so sadly missed he hardly ever get's a mention about anything to do with the Casino but there is no doubt in time he would have surpassed all the elite as we call them in the Casino Russ, Richard etc, etc. Funny at one time we used to go out with two girls who we met at the Monaco Ballroom which is at the back of St Peter's Church and still going strong as a dance venue etc Soul Reunion every month. On a sad note regarding Mike's untimely death it was a brain haemorrhage which he died from and I still think in my own mind that an accident he had when he was young, we where going across to the church on a friday morning for a service we where all in two's holding hand's and he got hit with a car he fell over and banged his head on the corner of the kerb and had to be taken to hospital I think in my own mind that may have triggred something off later in life because he was only in his twenties when he died so, so sad. The two picture's where really nice to see and must be very, very rare because every other Casino DJ has a picture of themselves on numerous site's but you never see any of Mike I would love to have a copy of one if it is at all possible and would pay for the cost's. I don't know if you have seen the DVD which they have just made of the Casino it's called Soulboy it came out on DVD in January 2011 if you get chance to get a copy it is about the nearest you would get to the original Wigan Casino. Hope this brief biography of Mike's is some help to you I have no idea how I came across this site tonite??? I have a feeling Mike may have guided me to your message board request: Anyone Remember Mike Rollo.

Kind Regards Dave D.

hi there

my name is keith taylor and i used to be mike's roadie in fact that is how i started of dj'ing with mike as my mentor .he was a truly brill guy ,but couldn't dance for toffee lol. we spent a lot of time together and i knew mary his fiance and his mum and dad very well indeed they were heart broken when he died.

i was told that he was carrying a speaker on his shoulder after a gig in ashton when he slipped on the stairs and the speaker banged his head really hard he complained of head pain after the fall but then fell ill and sadly died.

mike was a good friend to me and changed my life pointing me down the right path ( i was headed down the wrong one) and gave me the confidence to pursue my course as a proffesional dj which i have been for a long time now. there is a lot more i could say about him and some of the gig's we went to there are some great story's .

i 'm pleased that people still show interest in mike rolo he was one off the good ones.

by the way kenny spence (another good lad) died quite a bit after mike left us, the pair of them did a lot for northern soul and loved the music with a great passion.

many thanks to hindley soul boy for the info he gave on this site.

i am proud to have known mike,mary and his family .

remember .....SOUL SAY'S IT MIKE ROLO PLAYS IT.

on a p.s i to would love to have a copy of the pictures of mike seeing them agin on this site was really nice and brought some great memories.

i own an 8 track jingle machine that mike used to use on his gigs it's been in my attic for years but playing the jingles is really cool very old school but cool.

[Marc Forrest]

hi there

my name is keith taylor and i used to be mike's roadie in fact that is how i started of dj'ing with mike as my mentor .he was a truly brill guy ,but couldn't dance for toffee lol. we spent a lot of time together and i knew mary his fiance and his mum and dad very well indeed they were heart broken when he died.

i was told that he was carrying a speaker on his shoulder after a gig in ashton when he slipped on the stairs and the speaker banged his head really hard he complained of head pain after the fall but then fell ill and sadly died.

mike was a good friend to me and changed my life pointing me down the right path ( i was headed down the wrong one) and gave me the confidence to pursue my course as a proffesional dj which i have been for a long time now. there is a lot more i could say about him and some of the gig's we went to there are some great story's .

i 'm pleased that people still show interest in mike rolo he was one off the good ones.

by the way kenny spence (another good lad) died quite a bit after mike left us, the pair of them did a lot for northern soul and loved the music with a great passion.

many thanks to hindley soul boy for the info he gave on this site.

i am proud to have known mike,mary and his family .

remember .....SOUL SAY'S IT MIKE ROLO PLAYS IT.

on a p.s i to would love to have a copy of the pictures of mike seeing them agin on this site was really nice and brought some great memories.

i own an 8 track jingle machine that mike used to use on his gigs it's been in my attic for years but playing the jingles is really cool very old school but cool.

you can download them from here..if this aint sufficent enough let me know and we will get you sorted somehow ;)

[Goldsoul]

Just as an add on........Mike Rolo was my co-dj at Wigan Casino the Winter of 1973 on a Wednesday night.

The venue became so popular by November we had a mid-week slot which lasted around a year I think.

[Paul Shirley]

the soul nights were on monday wednesday and friday's at the old emp

i remember mike during the week. also on a roxy n bowie night were he dj'd on thursday nights in mrms of all places

for me mrms was kenny spence and steve whittle grate times great laughs, ive never been to a nighter that could match the atmosphere on a saterday night in that little room back in the early days

Edited June 22, 2012 by steptoe

[Guest ktdiscos]

Just as an add on........Mike Rolo was my co-dj at Wigan Casino the Winter of 1973 on a Wednesday night.

The venue became so popular by November we had a mid-week slot which lasted around a year I think.

i agree mr Ms was a great little club and lots of memories from there,ste whittle was a good lad indeed,and kenny used to live next door to my girl friend at the time in Aspull.

also Mr Ms is were Mike ecouraged me to dj and were i first actually used a mic and played for an hour covering him while he took Mary home coz she was ill....like i said great memories Mike was a proper good lad and a great dj sadly missed

[Wiganer1]

i have about 45 minutes of mike djing in mr mms...........

[Paul Shirley]

kenny and steve back in the day . i think we all agree great times gone by Edited June 23, 2012 by steptoe

[dedji1955]

i agree mr Ms was a great little club and lots of memories from there,ste whittle was a good lad indeed,and kenny used to live next door to my girl friend at the time in Aspull.

also Mr Ms is were Mike ecouraged me to dj and were i first actually used a mic and played for an hour covering him while he took Mary home coz she was ill....like i said great memories Mike was a proper good lad and a great dj sadly missed

Couldnt Agree with you more about Mr Ms.

To this day when I hear the Ramsey Lewis version of Wade in the Water it reminds me of Mike Rolo

I also remember Mike from the Monday and Saturday nights at the Monoco in the early 70s

As an Aspuller I knew Kenny Spence and Ste Whittle

[Paul Shirley]

i think every soulie in wigan knew them mate i personally have some cracking stories but cant repeat them on here . i understand kenny was caught out on the stage in the main hall one night im told it involved a young woman and the piano as the curtains unexpectedly opened