Sheridan met the Fab Four in 1960 when they were known as the Silver Beatles, and used them as his warm-up band around the nightclubs of Hamburg's red light district before they were famous.
A 1962 performance at the city’s Star Club is often cited as a watershed performance that helped catapult The Beatles to fame.
Sheridan and the band also performed together under the name Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers. They recorded a collection of songs including versions of When The Saints Go Marching In, My Bonnie and Ain’t She Sweet.
Sheridan later became a successful session musician, touring with Chubby Checker and Jerry Lee Lewis and throughout the 60s. He moved to Germany in the 70s and performed with Elvis Presley’s backing group in 1978.
Paul McCartney said in a statement: ‘Tony was a good guy who we knew and worked with from the early days in Hamburg. We regularly watched his late night performances and admired his style. He will be missed.’
Sheridan died in Germany on Saturday after a long illness. He leaves two daughters and three sons.
A 1962 performance at the city’s Star Club is often cited as a watershed performance that helped catapult The Beatles to fame.
Sheridan and the band also performed together under the name Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers. They recorded a collection of songs including versions of When The Saints Go Marching In, My Bonnie and Ain’t She Sweet.
Sheridan later became a successful session musician, touring with Chubby Checker and Jerry Lee Lewis and throughout the 60s. He moved to Germany in the 70s and performed with Elvis Presley’s backing group in 1978.
Paul McCartney said in a statement: ‘Tony was a good guy who we knew and worked with from the early days in Hamburg. We regularly watched his late night performances and admired his style. He will be missed.’
Sheridan died in Germany on Saturday after a long illness. He leaves two daughters and three sons.
