Houston Wells (b. Andrew Smith, Northumberland, England) left school at 14 years of age and worked in a timber mill. He then became a tree-feller for the Forestry Commission and, after a spell in the merchant navy, worked in a pulp mill in Vancouver, Canada.
On returning to England, he and his family moved to Wickford, Essex. In nearby Southend, Pete Willsher (lead guitar, lap steel guitar) had formed a country band, the Coasters, which comprised Brian Gill (bass), Norman Hull (guitar) and Peter Nye (drums).When Wells joined them in 1959, they became Andy Smith And The Coasters. Because of the American group of the same name, the Coasters changed to the Marksmen, while Parlophone Records decided that "Smith" was too plain, and renamed him Houston Wells.Record producer Joe Meek was impressed with Houston’s sound and his first two singles were "This Song Is Just For You" and "Shutters And Boards" (with The Marksmen), which was backed by Meek’s "North Wind".Houston Wells & The Marksmen’s third single, "Only The Heartaches", made the UK Top 20 (..6 on the Irish charts).Listeners will be able to hear one of the UK’s first professional country bands. As it stands, their records are more collectable than many of their American counterparts.Recent years have seen Houston Wells recording and releasing (March 2008) via Jasmine Records UK , new songs recorded in association with his son Rob Smith (who produced, arranged and played on many of the new songs on this new double album collection) as well as other session musicians have been recorded in New Zealand, where Houston has lived since the early 1970’s. Both original songs as well as covers of many classic recordings can be expected to be heard on the upcoming double album "Then & Now: From Joe Meek to New Zealand".
For more information on Houston Wells, please feel free to check out his The Official Houston Wells Website
For more information on Rob Smith, please feel free to check out his The Official Rob Smith Website
"Then & Now: From Joe Meek to Taupo, New Zealand" is available from Jasmine Records UK in March 2008. This will is the first official Houston Wells release in over 40 years in the UK.
