Honey Lantree - Drum Pioneer

[Scott K Fish]

SKF NOTE: My girlfriend's musical tastes are predominantly "lost in the Sixties." At home and in the car radio is most often tuned to a Sixties music satellite radio station.

I often admire the ingenuity, the individuality, of Sixties rock and pop drummers. For example, the drumming on the Honeycombs's song "Have I the Right" - which came up on the satellite radio station two or three times recently - really helps make that single.

Who was the Honeycombs's drummer? I didn't know.

A quick internet search turned up Honey Lantree. Unfortunately, Mrs. Lantree is no longer with us. But, she left a memorable musical legacy. And, as these two obituaries reveal, Honey Lantree's entry into the rock world is inspiring.
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Pop and rock

Honey Lantree obituary 

Drummer with 1960s chart-topping group the Honeycombs 

Spencer Leigh
Fri 28 Dec 2018 13.42 EST

Honey Lantree, who has died aged 75, was that rare thing in a 1960s beat group – a woman. As the drummer of the Honeycombs, who had a No 1 UK hit with Have I the Right in 1964, she disliked being dismissed as “a gimmick”, nor did she buy into the idea of being a pioneer. She just happened to be good on the drums, and that’s the way it was.

The height of Honey’s fame came in the mid-60s when, immediately after the success of Have I the Right, she became the focal point of interest in the band and a magnet for magazines, which chose mainly to write about her clothes, her hair and her looks.

When the Honeycombs split in 1967, Honey disappeared from the music scene to raise a family, but in later life returned to playing live with a reincarnated version of the group from the 80s onwards.

She was born Anne Lantree.... After attending Sidney Burnell school in Highams Park in Essex, Anne began to focus on a career as a hairdresser.... However, the owner of the salon, Martin Murray, also led an amateur group called the Sheratons. Its members would sometimes leave their instruments at his house and one day, in 1963, Anne picked up the drumsticks and found that she had a natural talent. “My jaw dropped,” said Murray, “she was in perfect time and was soon playing like a pro.”

The Guardian Obituary - https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/28/honey-lantree-obituary
The New York Times Obituary - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/obituaries/honey-lantree-dead.html

SKFBlog - Life Beyond the Cymbals - https://scottkfish.com

 

[JimmyM]

In the US, they were never popular, so I discovered them on YouTube about 10 years ago. Kind of a weird band, but Honey was solid and hit pretty hard. I really don’t think they would be remembered if not for her.

 

[Stickclick]

In 1963 she starts playing drums. In 1964 they have a # 1 record.

 

[Frank Godiva]

I used to be a member of the great drummers fb group. I started a post on her many years ago and the Admin Andy challenged me to prove why she deserved to be on his FB page. I listed many things you did above and he and others poo pooD them all and deleted the post. I left shortly after.

Pioneer for sure and as a I discovered mostly completely unknown and certainly under appreciated

 

[Vistalite Black]

I used to be a member of the great drummers fb group. I started a post on her many years ago and the Admin Andy challenged me to prove why she deserved to be on his FB page. I listed many things you did above and he and others poo pooD them all and deleted the post. I left shortly after.

Pioneer for sure and as a I discovered mostly completely unknown and certainly under appreciated

Pretty well known in the U.K. thanks to a series of chart-topping hits, including a No. 1.

 

[studrum]

In the US, they were never popular, so I discovered them on YouTube about 10 years ago. Kind of a weird band, but Honey was solid and hit pretty hard. I really don’t think they would be remembered if not for her.

No, I remember that song on the radio quite a bit. I never knew anything about the drummer, but I liked the song. It had "radio legs" in the random places I heard it.

But I do agree with you that she plays well on it. Helps make the tune, for sure.

 

[JimmyM]

No, I remember that song on the radio quite a bit. I never knew anything about the drummer, but I liked the song. It had "radio legs" in the random places I heard it.

But I do agree with you that she plays well on it. Helps make the tune, for sure.

Maybe it was a regional thing in the US. I grew up in Florida.

 

[yetanotherdrummer]

Watching that video reminded me how, as a kid, I used to actually practice "faking it" on the drums. I wanted it to look real if I ever had to do it, which of course never happened.

 

[studrum]

Maybe it was a regional thing in the US. I grew up in Florida.

Well could be, Jimmy. AM radio in the 60's was known to be that, a good bit. I was in Detroit and New Jersey those days. For example, in Jersey (near Trenton and Philly) I would hear this super-mellow, melodic tune, "Hello, It's Me," in 1969. It had vibes on it, an AM pop mini-hit. But it was not the Todd Rundgren mega-hit, it was an earlier version by the group he was in from Philly, the Nazz. Never heard that version in any other areas. It knocked me out.

 

[mtarrani]

I vaguely remember that tune. If not that exact one, something similar. A lot of what passed for rock in those days, especially after the British invasion, sort of blended into the background. Of course, there was a lot of innovation by some of the Brit bands too, but in 1964 that innovation had not yet emerged. I am remembering (guessing) that things got interesting around 66-67, and took off around 69.

Although she is probably miming in that video, she looks very fluid and relaxed. Many drummers can play well; not so many can mime as convincingly.

 

[JimmyM]

Well could be, Jimmy. AM radio in the 60's was known to be that, a good bit. I was in Detroit and New Jersey those days. For example, in Jersey (near Trenton and Philly) I would hear this super-mellow, melodic tune, "Hello, It's Me," in 1969. It had vibes on it, an AM pop mini-hit. But it was not the Todd Rundgren mega-hit, it was an earlier version by the group he was in from Philly, the Nazz. Never heard that version in any other areas. It knocked me out.

And in Florida, Open My Eyes got the airplay, which was the other side of the single. Weird.

 

[nomsgmusic]

If you are really into Honey and the subject of women drummers, I highly reccoment this book,

Women Drummers: A History from Rock and Jazz to Blues and Country

In this work, drum historian Angela Smith combines archival research with personal interviews of over 50 female drummers representing more than eight decades in

blackwells.co.uk

(in case the link doesn't work)
Women Drummers by Angela Smith

It has an entire section of Honey Lantree, Viola Smith, and every other woman drummer that I could think of. I tried to get in touch with the author for months through every network possible, and had no luck, but she should be congratulated for such good work!

It's a great read and resource!!!
MSG

 

[mtarrani]

If you are really into Honey and the subject of women drummers, I highly reccoment this book,

Women Drummers: A History from Rock and Jazz to Blues and Country

In this work, drum historian Angela Smith combines archival research with personal interviews of over 50 female drummers representing more than eight decades in

blackwells.co.uk

(in case the link doesn't work)
Women Drummers by Angela Smith

It has an entire section of Honey Lantree, Viola Smith, and every other woman drummer that I could think of. I tried to get in touch with the author for months through every network possible, and had no luck, but she should be congratulated for such good work!

It's a great read and resource!!!
MSG

Available from Amazon US too:

Women Drummers: A History from Rock and Jazz to Blues and Country: Smith, Angela: 9780810895584: Amazon.com: Books

Women Drummers: A History from Rock and Jazz to Blues and Country [Smith, Angela] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Women Drummers: A History from Rock and Jazz to Blues and Country

www.amazon.com

 

[mtarrani]

I tried to get in touch with the author for months through every network possible, and had no luck, but she should be congratulated for such good work!

It's a great read and resource!!!
MSG

I sent you a DM with a lead's email address who may be able to put you in touch with the author.

 

[mebeatee]

This was one of the (many) toons that first made me interested in the drums for that “driving the band” frame of mind.....this along with Bits and Pieces by the Dave Clark 5....were the ditties on the radio that got me going.....
When this came on my little radio’s volume got turned up for sure....and nowadaze the volume on my iPad got turned up....
Still a kick butt toon!!!!
bt

 

[Frank Godiva]

All you need to know in under a minute

 

[Houndog]

I used to be a member of the great drummers fb group. I started a post on her many years ago and the Admin Andy challenged me to prove why she deserved to be on his FB page. I listed many things you did above and he and others poo pooD them all and deleted the post. I left shortly after.

Pioneer for sure and as a I discovered mostly completely unknown and certainly under appreciated

You can join my FB drumming group and I’ll give anyone the boot that gives you grief ….Seriously

Oklahoma Drummers Group

I’m the founder …

 

[Frank Godiva]