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b. William Howard Ashton, 19 August 1943, Bootle, Merseyside, England. Kramer originally fronted Merseybeat combo the Coasters, but was teamed with the Manchester-based Dakotas - Mike Maxfield (b. 23 February 1944; lead guitar), Robin McDonald (b. 18 July 1943; rhythm guitar), Ray Jones (b. 22 October 1939, Oldham, Lancashire, England, d. 20 January 2000; bass) and Elkie Brooks’ older brother Tony Mansfield (b. Anthony Bookbinder, 28 May 1943, Salford, Lancashire, England; drums) - upon signing to Brian Epstein’s management agency. Having topped the UK charts with the Beatles’ ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret’ (1963), Kramer’s UK chart success was maintained with a run of exclusive John Lennon / Paul McCartney songs, including the chart-topping ‘Bad To Me’, ‘I’ll Keep You Satisfied’ (number 4) and ‘From A Window’ (number 10). ‘Little Children’ (1964), penned by US writers Mort Shuman and John McFarland, gave the group a third number 1 and their first taste of success in the USA, reaching ...