Bluesology
| Bluesology | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Pinner, Middlesex, England |
| Genres | British blues, Blue-eyed soul, 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 Paul Gale Fred Gandy [AKA Freddie Creasey] 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.
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", again written and sung by Dwight, and again unsuccessful. After a tour of Germany the band returned to England to work as the backing band for Major Lance with an expanded line-up of Dwight, Brown, Pat Higgs (trumpet), Dave Murphy (saxophone), Fred Gandy (bass) and Paul Gale (drums).[6]
In September 1966 the band was invited by vocalist Long John Baldry to become his regular band.[3] Only Dwight and Brown agreed, thus forming with Baldry a new version of Bluesology, along with Fred Gandy (bass), Pete Gavin (drums), Neil Hubbard (guitar), Elton Dean (saxophone), Marc Charig (cornet), and Alan Walker (vocals), and, for a brief spell, 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, and so simultaneously began to develop songwriting skills in collaboration with Bernie Taupin whilst working as a session musician. Dwight, Brown and Dean all quit Bluesology in late 1967, Brown's replacement being Caleb Quaye, only for the band to call it a day the following year.[3]
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]
Two Bluesology songs were featured on the compilation album, Rare Tracks, which was issued by Polydor in 1975.[1]
See also
References
- 1 2 "Allmusic ((( Bluesology > Rare Tracks > Overview )))".. Accessed 8 January 2010
- ↑ Paul Maclauchlan, Cornflakes & Classics: A musical history of Elton John: 1965. Accessed 8 January 2010
- 1 2 3 4 5 Bluesology at Allmusic.com – article by Bruce Eder. Accessed 8 January 2010
- 1 2 Billboard, 4 October 1997, Interview with Elton John. Accessed 8 January 2010
- ↑ MJQ's 1956 track "Bluesology" 1956
- 1 2 3 4 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. p. 240. CN 5585.
External links
- Biography at Allmusic
- Bluesology fan site (in Italian)
