YEOVIL NEWS: Wonderful Wiek’s still going strong at 80 and 60 years as Dale Fender

A GLORIOUS night of music and nostalgia was held at Yeovil Town Football Club when well-known local singer Wiek Budzynski – also known as Dale Fender – celebrated his 80th birthday.

And he knew how to celebrate in the best way possible by getting up and entertaining his guests with a night of music with the Dale Fender Band on July 15.

Wiek also took the opportunity to use his 80th birthday to celebrate 60 years in music which started back in 1962-63 with the original band of Dale Fender and The Beatmakers.

The line-up consisted of Don Morgan on drums, Ian Lucas on guitar, Steve Tucker on bass, Wit “Bud” Budzynski on lead guitar and Wiek on lead vocals, along with Alfie Banks as road manager and Anna Green as assistant road manager.

This band performed at venues in Yeovil and across the South West and supported many top bands including The Byrds, Hot Chocolate, Dave Dee, Fortunes, Foundations, Heinz, Unit 4 + 2 and The Searchers.

In 1964-65 the band did a tour of West Germany with John Wilmington on bass guitar. The tour included the towns of Banberg, Frankfurt and New Ulm. A Bedford van was the form of transport for the trip.

In 1971 the Dale Fender and The Beatmakers became Penny Arcade and an album was recorded by the band. The line up was Adrian Lewis on drums, Tony Edwards on bass, Clive Lever on keyboard, Wit “Bud” Budzynski [on lead guitar and Wiek on vocals with Robert Newbert as road manager.

Over the years the band has had various changes – Bob Tucker on drums, Tony Watson on alto sax, Dave Jenkins on guitar, Tom Toomy on guitar, Rob Isles on bass guitar and John Wilmington on bass guitar.

The Penny Arcade band supported many top acts at the time including The Move (Roy Wood), Jucey Lucy, Mike Berry and Billy Furry, Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas at venues across the South West.

Wiek said: “The long lasting memories of the Yeovil Lord Mayor charity nights at Westlands and the Carnaby Nights on occasion with the young Ian Botham in the crowd remain still vivid. However, the Yeovil Live Aid concert organised by Ian Jay and myself  was a huge success and a great credit to the town, a proud moment.”

The Dale Fender band emerged in 2000. The line-up being Edd Budzynski on lead guitar, Tony Brent on guitar, Johny Graef on guitar, Brian King on pedal steel, Tim Rose on sax/keys, Geoff Judges on guitar and Jon Budzynski on guitar, with Wiek on vocals and Charlie and Liz George as road managers for many years. The Dale Fender Band is still performing here in the West Country and is a credit to Yeovil.

PHOTO TOP: Still going strong at 80. Wiek Budzynski on lead vocals of the Dale Fender Band. Photo: Christine Jones.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Wiek Budzynski – also known as Dale Fender – with the current Dale Fender Band at Huish Park on July 15. Photo: Christine Jones.

PHOTO - ABOVE: The Dale Fender Band in action on July 15. Photo: Christine Jones.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Showing off an original Penny Arcade album cover from the early 1970s are birthday boy Wiek Budzynski (centre), his brother Bud Budzynski (left) and Steve Tucker, who designed the cover, and who played bass guitar in the original Dale Fender and The Beatmakers band in 1962-63. Photo: Christine Jones.

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