The Joystrings

The Joystrings, originally known as The Joy Strings, were a British Christian music group active in the 1960s. Led by Joy Webb, a classically trained keyboard player and singer who was also an officer in the Salvation Army, the group gained recognition after appearing on Cliff Michelmore's BBC Tonight television show. This performance led to a recording contract with EMI Records. In 1964, they achieved significant chart success with their singles "It's An Open Secret," which peaked at UK Number 32, and "A Starry Night," reaching UK Number 34. The group's main members included Joy Webb, Peter and Sylvia Dalziel, Bill Davidson, and Wycliffe Noble, alongside other singers drawn from cadets at the William Booth Memorial Training College. The Joystrings also recorded an unconventional version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" using the music from The Animals' "The House of the Rising Sun." Over the years, they released several singles, EPs, and albums. Their discography includes hits like "Million Songs," "All Alone," and "No Time To Lose," as well as EPs such as *The Joy Strings* and *Christmas with The Joy Strings*. They also released albums like *Well Seasoned* and later compilations like *Joystrings Restrung* and *Joystrings Christmas Collection*. Notably, Sylvia Dalziel published her memoir *The Joystrings: The Story of the Salvation Army Pop Group* in 2013. Wycliffe Noble passed away on April 1, 2017, at age 91, and Joy Webb died on October 1, 2023, also at 91. The group's history has been documented in books by A.J. Gilliard ...