With a 160 year old family tradition of musical entertainment behind him, it’s small wonder that Jem Van Lachterop has clocked up a lifetime of performances himself. 

 

Heavily influenced by the close-harmony radio music of the 50’s, as a child he dabbled with many instruments before finally deciding that the guitar was his future and the arrival of Hank Marvin on the scene really poured petrol onto the flames.  Publicly performing since the age of 14, over the years he has gained a wealth of show business experience from Radio, TV, Cabaret and Shows as well as literally thousands of band appearances all over the UK.  

 

During the 70’s, with his own Harmony Showband, Jem performed on shows alongside Terry Wogan, Marti Kane, Vince Hill, Frank Carson, Colin Crompton (Wheeltappers & Shunters) and orchestras such as Joe Loss, Johnny Howard and Ray McVay…. but probably his most memorable was one night in Coventry when his band was support act to The Drifters who were on tour from America.  

 

Jem says “It’s so good to be working with ‘BILLY MEETS CLIFF’ because this show is a complete culmination of everything I have ever done previously.  Some of the music we perform is by far the most challenging and the nostalgic element still creates ‘goosebumps’.  Also, there’s a double bonus for me personally because I’m getting to perform in some of the same theatres that my grandparents did (as an operatic duo) over 100 years ago.  Mind you, they also performed at Covent Garden and The Royal Albert Hall ------ I’m not sure I’ll be able to equal that!”