In the early 60s, Ricky, who played the guitar and sang, was a contemporary of Kit and they would jam together since they shared a love of Rock and Roll music.
My connection with Ricky goes back to the early 1960’s when my brothers Kit and Tim Knight formed the Layabouts Rock and Roll Band with Ricky and others. Undoubtedly an able vocalist and possessing a wicked sense of humour, before long, Ricky became established lead singer of the Layabouts though initially, Tell Mann and a third singer were involved.
In about 1964, I joined the Layabouts as drummer and so had much more contact with Ricky, not only through gigs with the band but also through late nights in No. 1, New Street where the Knight family lived and where we all convened after bookings at the end of the evenings. Ricky and all the other group members shared great laughter and teasing jibes during those times.
With the frenzied rock music of the Layabouts, Ricky built up a popular following in Penzance, and Ricky was particularly popular with the ladies. His quips on stage often had the rest of the band in stitches. I can see him now, dressed in his gold lame suit in the second set of our gigs!
Though the youngest and last-surviving member of the band, I feel I must just write this on behalf of my two deceased brothers, Chris (Kit) and Tim who would certainly wish like me to offer their condolences to Ricky’s family and pay their respects after a long association with Ricky particularly during the 1960s. I always remembering how Ricky attended my Mother’s funeral and visited Chris (Kit) who was suffering from advanced cancer.
Yes, Ricky was a long-established character in the life of Penzance and its music and will be sorely missed! [Philip Knight]
Philip Knight
19/10/2025
