Bluesology
| Bluesology | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Pinner, Middlesex, England |
| Genres | British blues, R&B |
| Years active | 1962–1968 |
| Labels | Fontana, Polydor |
| Associated acts | Elton John Long John Baldry Major Lance Cochise |
| Past members | |
| Reggie Dwight Stewart "Stu" Brown Rex Bishop Mick Inkpen Pat Higgs Dave Murphy Freddie Creasey Paul Gale Fred Gandy Pete Gavin Neil Hubbard Elton Dean Marc Charig Alan Walker Long John Baldry Marsha Hunt Caleb Quaye Bernie Holland Jimmy Horowitz[1] |
|
Bluesology was a 1960s English R&B group, best remembered as being the first professional band of which Reggie Dwight – later known as Elton John – was a member.
Contents |
[edit] History
From about 1960, organist Reggie Dwight - then aged 13 - and his neighbour, singer and guitarist Stewart "Stu" Brown, performed with a local group, the Corvettes, in Pinner, Middlesex, a suburb of London. After that group split up, the pair formed a new group, Bluesology, with Rex Bishop (bass), and Mick Inkpen (drums).[2][3] According to Dwight the band's name was in homage to the Django Reinhardt album Djangology.[4] There had also been a 1956 piece named Bluesology by John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet[5]. By 1962 they had begun playing local pubs, and in 1963 they won a regular weekly slot at the Establishment Club in London, playing tunes by Muddy Waters, Jimmy Witherspoon and Memphis Slim, among others.[6] In 1965, they turned professional, and signed a contract with an agency which began hiring them out as a backing band for visiting American performers, including The Isley Brothers, Doris Troy, Billy Stewart and Patti LaBelle.[6]
After recording a demo they were signed by Fontana Records, and recorded their first single, Dwight's song "Come Back Baby", in July 1965.[3] In November 1965 they released a second single, "Mr. Frantic", also written and sung by Dwight, but that was also unsuccessful. They toured in Germany, before returning to England as the backing band for Major Lance. They also expanded their line-up, to include Dwight, Brown, Pat Higgs (trumpet), Dave Murphy (saxophone), Freddie Creasey (bass) and Paul Gale (drums).[6]
In September 1966, they were invited by singer Long John Baldry to become his regular band.[3] Only Dwight and Brown agreed, and so became members of the new version of Bluesology, which also included Fred Gandy (bass), Pete Gavin (drums), Neil Hubbard (guitar), Elton Dean (saxophone), Marc Charig (cornet), and Alan Walker (vocals), as well as Baldry and, for a time, singer Marsha Hunt.[6] As Stu Brown and Bluesology, they recorded the single "Since I Found You Baby" for Polydor Records, produced by Kenny Lynch.[3][4] As Baldry's music drifted more towards the cabaret market, Dwight became disenchanted with the band. He began to develop his songwriting skills in collaboration with Bernie Taupin, and worked as a session musician. Dwight, Brown and Dean all left the band in late 1967, Brown's replacement being Caleb Quaye, and Bluesology split up the following year.[3]
Bluesology supported Little Richard at The Saville Theatre on Sunday, December 11, 1966. Also on the bill were The Alan Price Set and The Quotations who performed with Little Richard. The Bluesology line up consisted of Stewart A. Brown, vocals: Freddie Creasey, Bass Guitar: Reggie Dwight, Organ: David Murphy, Saxophone: Chris Bateson, Trumpet, Paul Gale, Drums.
[edit] Later activities
Dwight used the names of fellow band members Elton Dean and John Baldry to create his new solo stage name of Elton John.[7] Brown went on to form country rock band Cochise, playing and singing on their first two albums, Cochise and Swallow Tales, in 1970-71, before moving to the Mediterranean.[8] Dean, Hubbard and Charig all had lengthy careers as jazz and session musicians. Gavin became a member of Heads Hands & Feet and later Vinegar Joe,[9] and Gandy joined Caleb Quaye's band Hookfoot.[10]
A Bluesology compilation album, Rare Tracks, was issued by Polydor in 1975.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Allmusic ((( Bluesology > Rare Tracks > Overview )))". http://www.allmusic.com/album/r31028.. Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^ Paul Maclauchlan, Cornflakes & Classics: A musical history of Elton John: 1965. Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^ a b c d e Bluesology at Allmusic.com - article by Bruce Eder. Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^ a b Billboard, 4 October 1997, Interview with Elton John. Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^ MJQ's 1956 track "Bluesology" 1956
- ^ a b c d Claude Bernardin and Tom Stanton, Elton John From A-Z, 1996, pp. 10-11. Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^ BBC page on Elton Dean. Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^ Cochise at ProculHarum.com. Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^ Pete Gavin at Allmusic.com
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. pp. 240. CN 5585.
[edit] External links
- Biography at Allmusic
- Bluesology fan site (in Italian)
