The NME announces that BBC rival pop show "Drumbeat" is booking some big names to appear over summer:

MUSIC fans are assured of a weekly beat music show on BBC-TV this summer. "Drumbeat" has been extended at least until the end of August.

Compere Gus Goodwin makes his last appearance tomorrow, but the contracts of John Barry, Adam Faith, Roy Young, Sylvia Sands and Vince Eagar are being extended to the end of June. Bob Miller was already booked until then. In addition to Cliff Richard, Sheila Buxton guests in tomorrow's show and Terry Dene returns for another appearance.

Although Fontana recorded a "Drumbeat" EP last week, EMI have decided to go ahead with the plan for a Parlophone LP to be recorded on Sunday.

The NME announces Cliff will make a double BBC debut tomorrow with two television appearances:

TOMORROW (Saturday), Cliff Richard becomes the first pop singer to star in two BBC-TV shows on the same night! He appears in "Drumbeat," in addition to "Here's to the Next Time" later in the evening.

Originally booked as a surprise item in the Henry Hall tribute programme, manager Tito Burns arranged for Cliff to also appear in "Drumbeat," which takes the air just one hour earlier.

The concert Cliff missed, through illness, at Hull on February 11, he hopes to give there on May 27. This would be included in a proposed one-nighter tour, commencing May 26 at Hanley Victoria Hall. Other dates include Reading Palace (28th), Chelmsford Odeon (29th) and Woolwich Granada (30th).

The NME announces that Jack Good is to fly to America to recruit some big named artistes to appear in his new series beginning in September 1959:

JERRY LEE LEWIS, Jackie Wilson and The Coasters are three of the top-line American recording attractions ABC-TV producer Jack Good aims to clinch for his autumn "Oh Boy!" series - when he makes a dramatic visit to America next week.

Good flies to New York on Monday night, hoping to finalise terms for each to play two "Oh Boy!" dates, with one-night concerts on intervening evenings.

Speaking of Jerry Lee Lewis, Good told the NME: "I am very intersted in him as an artist, despite the controversy surrounding his last visit. After all, look at his hit parade successes."

Now that Jackie Wilson cannot appear on May 23, hot gospeller Renee Martz has been booked for her second appearance on the show. Already Good has tentatively booked Cliff Richard for the first programme of the autumn series (September 19) and Dickie Pride for several shows.

There is a possibility that Lord Rockingham's XI will not be in the show when it returns in September. In this event, it is probable that Bill Shepherd will become musical director, leading an entirely new type of combination. The Rockingham Band recorded again for Deca this week. Title of its forthcoming releases are "Ra Ra Rockingham" and (significantly?) "Farewell Rockingham."

When in the States, Good will spend one week in New York and three days in Memphis, where he hopes to pick up ideas for use when he begins his a-and-r activities for Decca in August.