Their other brother was Brian and between them they thought it might be a good investment to get involved in promoting dances and concerts. An advert in the Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian on December 11, 1959 ann-ouncing that the Marlborough Hall was available for hire was the boost they needed.
It was a dream come true for the brothers to acquire a booking for Lulu and The Lovers on February 27, 1965 so soon after Shout had hit the number seven position in the British hit parade.
For the cost of the six shilling admission the Halifax public were treated to a performance that was so dynamic and full of movement that it left even the fittest among the sell-out crowd absolutely exhausted.
Providing the lighting and sound balance were David Mitchell and Andrew Hardy from DRM Discotheques. It was Andrew who was assigned to look after Lulu and be stationed at the dressing room door to ensure that "only respectable people" got to meet the star.
He recalls how Lulu's hair (bright orange) attracted the most comments and female fans who were allowed through to the dressing rooms asked what products she used to get the colour.
Shirley went on to open Big Daddy's Club at the former Collinson's cafe premises on the upper floors of a building at the top of Crown Street.
The club was opened by Jimmy Savile and it was here that Donovan performed on May 15, 1965. The Irish singer had also been invited to town to open the Crabtree brothers' clothes shop The In Crowd, in Westgate.
Recollections from Max Crabtree of the "hilarious" visit are now included. Worried that the singer would be mobbed by crowds, the brothers alerted the police.
Their fears were not unfounded.
Crown Street was solid with crowds waiting to see him and followed the brothers when they went to the White Swan Hotel to collect him.
"We went to the second floor and into Donovan's room and there he was draped across the bed with that silly little hat on... we said we had to leave now on police advice to go to Big Daddy's but when we got to the outside door it was heaving with people. We all went out behind Big Tony (a doorman) who was 6ft 7ins in his stocking feet but when he saw the size of the crowd he grabbed Donovan and slung him over his shoulder.
"Well Donovan lost his cap and his shoes in the chaos... Inside the club the police inspector said we had to get a car and get Donovan away from the area... they bundled Donovan into the back. Well there were kids on the bonnet as we shot up Crown Street, it was like a Wild West show. Donovan wasn't allowed to go back into town so he never opened the shop."
Screaming Lord Sutch, late leader of the Monster Raving Loony Party was no stranger to Halifax, Trevor recalls.
"It was almost three years since he had appeared at the Victoria Hall and he was rebooked to strut his stuff at the Marlborough on February 20, 1965... this time supported by Sammy King and The Voltaires who were to act as cover in case there was any problem with the headline star. No worries on that score as the good Lord Sutch was well committed to performing in Halifax and had already got his digs booked for the night at the home of Mollie Cottnam (mother of Kim Roberts who featured in the film Just For Fun in 1963.)"
Most people would agree the Tornados were the main serious challengers in the early 60s to the Shadows, says Trevor.
"Their last of three performances was at the Marlborough on March 13, 1965. The spelling of their name was incorrect on the posters and adverts but everyone knew it was the Tornados. The line-up changed over the years and even included Halifax lad, Alan Brearley briefly."
Trevor goes on to document appearances by The Honeycombs, The Merseybeats, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, The Un-dertakers, The Mojos, The Fentones, Heinz, Twinkle, The Check-mates, The Applejacks, The Roulettes and The Tremeloes among others.
"The booking was made on the back of the first solo record and their appearance at the Marlborough Hall on February 25, 1967, also featured their cover of Silence is Golden. They returned to Halifax with a morning promotion for children of behalf of the ABC Cinema Minors' Club which, after their appearance at the cinema, involved an afternoon visit to the children's ward at Halifax General Hospital on Saturday December 21, 1968... reports said that they felt the nurses were as excited as the children by the visit."
l Published with the permission of Trevor Simpson. Small Town Saturday Night Volume Two is available at Fred Wade, Halifax, priced £16.95 with profits going towards Calderdale Hospital Radio and The Forget Me Not Trust