MUSIC 'legend' Harold Dearden and his skiffle group has finally been recognised after 50 years of gigging.

The Ramblin' Riversiders, from Preston, who scooped the title of best band at the Missouri Valley Festival in America, are hoping to appear on the Jools Holland's 'Later' programme, and have a re-mix single out in the new year.

The group which includes a council worker, several journalists and a college tutor amongst its players, play a unique style of music which was very popular in the mid-fifties with sounds drawn from blues, gospel, folk, country and rock and roll music.

The latest member, George Pritchard, is a lecturer at Preston College and part-time DJ, who was invited to join by Howard and had not even played live with the group before their successful trip to America in August.

Mr Pritchard, said: "I've known Howard and the other members for a long time and got a phone call last May telling me I was going to be their washboard player.

"It was absolutely fantastic in the States. We performed to about 5,000 people on stage and it was like being on a Hollywood film set -- to win the award was the icing on the cake."

After the success in America their profile has been raised after appearances on local television and they are hoping to appear on the Jools Holland's 'Later' programme in the future. They have already released two albums.

Anyone wishing to find out more about skiffle or the Ramblin Riversiders can contact them through the website at: http://uk.geocities.com/ramblinriversiders