By Doreen Crowther, Showbusiness Correspondent IT'S all girls together on Friday when Crissy Lee and her orchestra play at the Mill at the Pier, Wigan.

Drummer Crissy heads the only 17-piece all female orchestra in Europe. Widely acclaimed as the UK's finest female drummer, Crissy's career started when she was four years old and her father brought home a pair of drumsticks for her.

When she was 13, Crissy made her TV debut on the talent show Carroll Levis Discoveries and soon afterwards joined the Lena Kidd Seven, a swing band which toured the US bases in Britain and Europe.

At 17, Crissy joined the famous Ivy Benson Dance Band and travelled the world with artists such as Dinah Washington, Frank Sinatra Jnr, Fats Domino, Caterina Valenti, Tom Jones and many more.

The band secured the prestigious support slot on The Beatles' first Spanish tour.

In the late sixties, Crissy joined the Mike Holly Band Band and later formed a 12-piece group known as the Cristy Lee Band.

She became the first female bandleader working for the Mecca organisation and was resident at many ballrooms throughout the country including the Lyceum in London.

Crissy's many TV appearances at this time included working with artists such as Faith Brown, Marion Montgomery and Madeline Bell. She became musical director for guests like Roy Castle, Ken Dodd and Bob Monkhouse.

Crissy went back to her roots in jazz and swing to form her current all female 17-piece orchestra.

Friday's concert is being staged by Worldwide Management and Wigan Jazz Club and starts at 8pm.

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