Lives in Music

Three weeks from now, give or take, Moseley Park will jump to the Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival - a three-day event that will bring you exactly that: Jazz, Funk, and Soul.  Some stellar acts are booked, and a whole host of up-and-coming and established local acts as well. I have listed some of the main names at the bottom of this post, but for full details, head over to the MoJazz website, which is pretty comprehensive. There's an awful lot that goes into organising an event like this, and I sat down with Festival Manager John Fell, to talk about some of the challenges. It's fascinating stuff, and the stories that have emerged over the past two very difficult years are compelling: acts that refused to use the stage entrance... acts that came back the next day because they enjoyed themselves so much.... embracing the local dance scene, and much more.   There's more to read about on the companion blog page, and here are just a few links to follow.  https://mostlyjazz.co.uk/ https://www.thespecials.com/ https://www.cameonation.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatback_Band https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Charles     .

Joe Broughton is a non-stop phenomenon. Years and years ago, I navigated the dusty corridors in the old Birmingham Conservatoire building, to write a blog post about the Conservatoire folk ensemble. It was a thrill, ducking and weaving through that old building, getting closer and closer to the explosive NOISE that Joe was whipping up. 50 or 60 students of all shapes and stripes, contributing to an exhilarating blast of music. Now, of course, under lockdown. the Folk Ensemble can't perform. But here's hoping they will, in a year's time. And many's the Conservatoire graduate, now making their way in music, who passionately missed the time they spent with Joe   Since that time, I've talked to Joe lots, been to several Urban Folk Quartet gigs, and it's always been a complete pleasure. This is the first podcast he's done with me, and of course, a lot of the chat revolved around lockdown, which has stopped a lot of Joe and co's work in their tracks. It's not all doom and gloom, though – a chat with Joe is always a huge pleasure.  Check out the links, mostly supplied by Joe himself, in the companion Blog post A Life In Music: Joe Broughton

Stephen Duffy straddles different genres in a way that few have ever done. He grew up in Birmingham; our conversation is littered with local references covering legendary studios, musos, and people. While still in Birmingham, he scored his first huge success as Tin Tin. In due course he went solo as Stephen Duffy, and later with his group the Lilac Time.  During that time, he has worked with some of the absolute biggest names in the business. Stephen has a pop past he can't erase – and he doesn't really want to, despite the elegant folk stylings he embraces with The Lilac Time. And he is still cooking up some major new projects. The first half of this chat is a who's who of Birmingham Rock and Pop in the 80s, anyone who knocked around the Birmingham scene then will find much to enjoy. After that, there is a torrent of huge names. And massive, massive success arrived when Stephen was in his 40s... which also seemed to escape us all.   If you want to follow up on some of the topics that crop up in this chat, there is a companion Radio To Go blog post on the Radio To Go Blog at radiotogo.com: A Life In Music: Stephen Duffy But that's just the icing on the cake. A footnote: the intro and outro flourishes I'm using in this series of Lives in Music podcast come from Vo Fletcher who is featured in this series, along with Loz Kingsley, here. I asked him for a bit of live impro, and this was the result.   The Lives in Music Podcast series has been running for about two years now. These are interviews with local musicians, looking at how music has shaped them throughout their lives. Series 3 also looks hard at how lockdown has had an impact. There are some lovely stories. To see all the artists, here's a link to every episode.

This third series of Lives in Music doesn't just concentrate on peoples' music journeys. It also has one consistent thread running through everyone's lives: that of Covid 19, the resultant lockdown, and the effect it's had on people's activities. My guest in this edition is someone you will almost certainly have seen if you've been to ANY live gigs in Birmingham over the past thirty or forty years. He's graced such bands as Ricky Cool and the Icebergs, The Destroyers, and Terry and Gerry, all in their pomp, along with dozens of other outfits and combos, permanent and casual. But you may not even know his name. You should, though: it's Mick Howson. Mick is a phenomenal guitarist. In fact, give him any kind of stringed instrument and he's at home. And of late he has turned to the Hurdy Gurdy. You're going to hear some of this instrument in this podcast, along with collaborations and excerpts from elsewhere. To explore more of the music, musicians and events mentioned in this podcast, check the detailed companion blog post: 'A Life in Music: Mick Howson', which you can find on the Radio To Go Blog at radiotogo.com. This post overflows with links to interesting musos and YouTube videos.  A footnote: the intro and outro flourishes I'm using in this series of Lives in Music podcast come from Vo Fletcher, who is featured in this series along with Loz Kingsley, here. I asked him for a bit of live impro, and this was the result.   The Lives in Music Podcast series has been running for about two years now. These are interviews with local musicians, looking at how music has shaped them throughout their lives. Series 3 also looks hard at how lockdown has had an impact. There are some lovely stories. To see all the artists, here's a link to every episode.

I first met Tom Hyland, when he was strutting his guitar stuff with an early version of the now long gone but much-loved Alternative Dubstep Orchestra. I've followed Tom since, first on my blog about the risky steps of going fully pro with Electric Swing Circus, as he dove head-first into Electro Swing. From the band came his Birmingham-based festival, Swingamajig, a record label, and a host of collaborations. And then lockdown hit us, There's a twist to this series of Lives in Music. We're all stuck in lockdown, and so I am asking each guest about how it affect them. Tom has been hugely pro-active is taking some steps forward, from setting up a Crowdfunder to cover some studio costs, to collaborations recorded in a fabled Moseley Birmingham venue which currently can't host music events. Some very interesting approaches seem to be emerging, as you'll hear. A chat with Tom always throws up lots of references. To follow these. best to double-check the companion Radio To go blogpost, which you can find here.  A footnote: the intro and outro flourishes I'm using in this series of Lives in Music podcast come from Vo Fletcher who is featured in this series, along with Loz Kingsley, here. I asked him for a bit of live impro, and this was the result.   The Lives in Music Podcast series has been running for about two years now. These are interviews with local musicians, looking at how music has shaped them throughout their lives. Series 3 also looks hard at how lockdown has had an impact. There are some lovely stories. To see all the artists, here's a link to every episode.  

This is a chat with Kris Halpin, who also trades as Dyskinetic. Kris is now known for his work with the MiMu gloves, created by Imogen Heap. The gloves let you create music by gesture. They are extraordinary things, and there's a sample in this podcast. But there's another factor that informs Kris and his work: disability. It led Kris to his involvement with the gloves, as he sensibly pointed out to their makers that these could a fantastic tool for musicians with disabilities, and they promptly took him on to help with their research. In this podcast, Kris deals with his disability – a very serious disability, which absolutely won't go away - with jaw-dropping openness, and I am hugely grateful. But there's an awful lot more. Kris has a very clear eye on his situation, and it turned out to be a jaw-dropping conversation. There's a sample of Kris's work in the podcast, and if you want to explore more about the gloves and the people involved, visit the detailed companion blog post: 'A Life in Music: Kris Halpin', which you can find here on the Radio To Go Blog. A footnote: the intro and outro flourishes I'm using in this series of Lives in Music podcast come from Vo Fletcher who is featured in this series, along with Loz Kingsley, here. I asked him for a bit of live impro, and this was the result.   The Lives in Music Podcast These are interviews with local musicians, looking at how music has shaped them throughout their lives. Series 3 also looks hard at how lockdown has had an impact. There are some lovely stories. To see who's in the list, here's a link to see every episode. I am hugely grateful to Kris for his openness and completely level-headed take on his situation. I've put a lot of links into the companion podcast. Photo: Josefa Torres    

This third Lives In Music series concentrates not just on peoples' music journeys... it also has a consistent thread running through everyone's lives: that of Covid 19, the resultant lockdown, and the effect it's had on people's activities. This episode is no exception, but there is a difference. We recorded this talk some eleven months ago, just as Sid Peacock's Surge in Spring festival at Cannon Hill, the Midlands Arts Centre, was cancelled as lockdown came down on all our music activities. I settled down to edit our chat, and talked to Sid and Ruth Angell - who make a formidable musical team - about what might still be relevant – or even taking place. And it turns out there is a lot. But what shoots though this episode is the to and fro between two very different musicians, with very different personalities, and even more different backgrounds, and how they collaborate. It also opens up a fascinating perspective on how some of the musicians in our town work together: the conversation throws up it's a veritable list of great players. Over and above that, there is the sweet story of how these two contrasting and brilliant people met and fell in love.  There's a sample of Ruth's new album - an early demo mix - in the podcast, and if you want to follow up on things, know more, I have put links on the companion blog post: 'A Life in Music: Sid Peacock and Ruth Angell', which you can find on the Radio To Go Blog at radiotogo.com.  A footnote: the intro and outro flourishes I'm using in this series of Lives in Music podcast come from Vo Fletcher who is featured in this series, along with Loz Kingsley, here. I asked him for a bit of live impro, and this was the result.   The Lives in Music Podcast series has been running for about two years now. These are interviews with local musicians, looking at how music has shaped them throughout their lives. Series 3 also looks hard at how lockdown has had an impact. There are some lovely stories. To see all the artists, here's a link to every episode.

Ross Grant is putting together – pure lockdown creativity at its best – an amazing series called Around The World in 80 Plays, collaborating at distance with musicians worldwide to produce some compelling joint work. Normally I tend to court some of our more senior music citizens as guests in this series, on the grounds that the more you've done, the more you're likely to have seen and done amazing things. This episode's guest is slightly different. In this shot, Ross is playing with a colleague... in Johannesburg Ross Grant is still ridiculously young, but he has packed all kinds of music making and some massively diverse experiences into his life. He is a director of the legendary and long-established Bromyard music festival; he has worked with the extraordinary Sistema music organisation; he grew up in a musical family with deep roots, and kicked around Moseley in Birmingham in his teens with the likes of Toyah and Oscar Harrison; he teaches and runs Zoom workshops... and more.  There's a sample coming up in this episode, and if you want to know more, I have put links on the companion blog post: 'A Life in Music: Ross Grant', which you can find on the Radio To Go Blog at radiotogo.com.  A footnote: the intro and outro flourishes I'm using in this series of Lives in Music podcast come from Vo Fletcher who is featured in this series, along with Loz Kingsley, here. I asked him for a bit of live impro, and this was the result.   The Lives in Music Podcast series has been running for about two years now. These are interviews with local musicians, looking at how music has shaped them throughout their lives. Series 3 also looks hard at how lockdown has had an impact. There are some lovely stories. To see all the artists, here's a link to every episode.

I put most of this Lives in Music podcast episode together on the fifth anniversary of the death of a mutual friend, the great Paul Murphy, who both introduced me to Renny Jackson, and encouraged us in our different projects. One of the things Paul had me do on his Thursday Song Writers Cafe nights was to interview each artist about their own creative process. Everyone , it turned out had a different approach. And I talked at length with Renny Jackson, originally from Birmingham, before he delivered a charming and articulate set. And this Lives in Music Episode focuses on Renny. There's a twist to this series of Lives in Music. We're all stuck in lockdown, and so I am asking each guest about how it affect them. Now, as you'll hear, Renny is now based in Sevilla in Spain, where the oranges come from. The two influences come together in Renny's music. Obviously, we recorded our conversation remotely. Renny's take on the lockdown in Spain is an interesting variation on what problems face musicians in the UK. We'll also hear the impact Spain has had on this Brit. A footnote: the intro and outro flourishes I'm using in this series of Lives in Music podcast come from Vo Fletcher who is featured in this series along with Loz Kinsgley, here. I asked him for a bit of live impro, and this was the result.   The Lives in Music Podcast series has been running for about two years now. These are interviews with local musicians, looking at how music has shaped them throughout their lives. Series 3 also looks hard at how lockdown has had an impact. There are some lovely stories. To see all the artists, here's a link to every episode.

In this edition of Live in Music, I'm talking with Loz Kingsley and Vo Fletcher, Mandolin and Guitar players of great skill and experience. I met this pair, I think, back in 1974, when they were doing a session at the old BRMB Radio. They were no slouches then, and they've only got better since. Vo plays with a bewildering number of talented people all over the midlands and beyond, and he gets together with Loz, who only returned to live work with Rhino and The Ranters, for regular and highly enjoyable sessions in some of the nicest boozers in the region. And of course, having spent nearly a year in lockdown, that's something I and many others have missed enormously. They have, as you might expect, mighty track records, which you'll hear about. There's also some super live guitar and mandolin work to be enjoyed in this episode, along with a taster from Loz's new album, Vintage Mandolin. Of course, references abound. To learn more about the music, the instruments and the musicians in this podcast, check  the companion Radio To Go blog post. 'A Life in Music: Vo and Loz', which you can find here. One further footnote: the intro and outro flourishes I'm using in this series of Lives in Music podcast come from Vo himself. I asked him for a bit of live impro, and this was the result.   The Lives in Music Podcast series has been running for about two years now. These are interviews with local musicians, looking at how music has shaped them throughout their lives. Series 3 also looks hard at how lockdown has had an impact. There are some lovely stories. To see all the artists, here's a link to every episode.

  Richard March has been in a huge array of bands and projects in his 30 years or so as a working muso. We first met when he was in the much loved Rhino and The Ranters; he started with Pop Will Eat Itself and Bentley Rhythm Ace. Now, he's with Swampmeat Family Band, with other projects bubbling away. Some of those come up in this podcast. How does creativity can flourish in lockdown? How do performers reach new audiences? Some answers are here. On the subject of lockdown creativity, and for links to all the items mentioned in the podcast - every Tonight Matthew video, for example, and a lot more - go to the companion blog post on the Radio To Go blog, here Photo credit: Ian Davies

Simon Duggal, with his brother Diamond Duggal, is a hugely influential producer, promoter and now record label manager. They may not be that well known to you, but they work worldwide across as many genres as they can handle. Like Ruby Turner, Steel Pulse and Apache Indian, they started out in Handsworth, Birmingham. Their own brand, Swami, is massive worldwide. On top of that, they have their very own 'Oh Brother Where are Thou' style breakout hit. That's before we get on to Shania Twain... For videos, links and extensive background information, see also the companion blog piece 'A Life In Music - Simon  Duggal' on the Radio To Go blog.  Lives in Music The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. But they all have stories. The intro and outro music in this series comes from the great bass player Mike Hatton, who you can hear interviewed in series 1, here. 'Everything Changes' is included in his excellent 2019 album 'Bassic Salvation'.  Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.  

In this edition I'm talking with an extraordinary, super-capable, veteran music pro from the Black Country of the UK, who has, quietly, had a massive influence on music making in this neck of the woods and far, far beyond. Roy was one of the team that launched the legendary JBs in Dudley, where anybody who was anybody simply had to play. Then he went on to managing, sound mixing, often for a lifetime friend, Robert Plant. and just doing an awful lot for an awful lot of people, simply because it was the right thing to do. But it's the sidelines that make this conversation so interesting - the by ways, the diversions, and the way he frequently drops hints and prompts about interesting music areas. And, of course, the stories. To learn more about the music, or the musicians mentioned in this podcast, head to the companion blog post. 'A Life in Music: Roy Williams', which you can find at www.radiotogo.com. Everything that Roy touches on is linked there so you can explore to your hearts content. Photo credit: Suzy Gallier The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. They all have stories. Lives in Music is a Radio To Go production. The intro and outro music in this series comes from the great bass player Mike Hatton, who you can hear interviewed in series 1, here. 'Everything Changes' is included in his excellent 2019 album 'Bassic Salvation'.  Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast app to automatically download each episode to your device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.  

  Dave Pegg has played Bass with one group for half a century: the excellent Fairport Convention. Fairport have one of the most tumultuous histories in British Folk-Rock. But, like many groups that survive that long, they have a spectacularly loyal following, and that now means that they are on a more stable footing than at any time in their history.  But before Fairport, there was Rock, gigging five nights a week in the effervescent 60s Birmingham pubrock scene, a stint with the legendary Ian Campbell Group, and the small matter of 15 years in the bass chair with Jethro Tull. Peggy, as everyone calls him, has a stock of anecdotes... catching a Bjork show with Shadows guitarist Hank Marvin in Sydney, Australia, or booking the 83 year-old Petula Clark for Cropedy Convention. He has an encyclopaedic memory, and can reel off the names of obscure bands he cut his teeth with back in the day.  A great man to pass time with over a pint.  To learn more about the music, or the musicians mentioned in this podcast, head to the companion blog post. 'A Life in Music: Dave Pegg', which you can find at www.radiotogo.com. Everything that Dave touches on is linked there so you can explore to your hearts content. The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. They all have stories. Lives in Music is a Radio To Go production. The intro and outro music in this series comes from the great bass player Mike Hatton, who you can hear interviewed in series 1, here. 'Everything Changes' is included in his excellent 2019 album 'Bassic Salvation'.  Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast app to automatically download each episode to your device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.

Ask any Lives in Music participant, and you'll get the same answer - there's no easy or straight route through life as a musician. You go where the work is, and if you're very, very lucky, you get to call a few shots in due course. In Stewart's case his life took him all over Europe and the UK as a post-war Army brat, and that exposed him to a host of influences. From there, he went in to rock, with some success, followed by stage work, all the while nurturing his deep love for bluegrass and the best in country music. He's passed this on to his children, leading to the first family band in Brum, and kicking off his daughters' solo careers, crafted in the teeth of opposition on both sides of the Atlantic. It's a great story. To learn more about the music, or the musicians mentioned in this podcast, head to the companion blog post. 'Life in Music: Stewart Johnson', which you can find at www.radiotogo.com. Everything that Stewart touches on is linked there so you can explore to your hearts content. The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. They all have stories. Lives in Music is a Radio To Go production. The intro and outro music in this series comes from the great bass player Mike Hatton, who you can hear interviewed in series 1, here. 'Everything Changes' is included in his excellent 2019 album 'Bassic Salvation'.  Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.  

With some fifty years in the business across a dizzying range of bands and activities, John Mostyn is endlessly interesting. He's done the mega-deals, battled with the music industry at the very top levels, and he's worked just as hard on small local projects which simply deserved some help. And he has some incredible stories.  There's a lot to be gleaned from listening to John's experiences. Not that John minds; he's always been happy to share and lend a hand. John touches on a wide range of music and musicians, and to check any of them out, head to the companion show notes blog post on the Radio To Go Blog at radiotogo.com. The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. But they all have stories. The intro and outro music in this series comes from the great bass player Mike Hatton, who you can hear interviewed in series 1, here. 'Everything Changes' is included in his excellent 2019 album 'Bassic Salvation'.  Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your usual podcast directory to automatically download each episode. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form. Photo credit: Graham Young, Birmingham Live

Gavin Monaghan is a producer who commands massive respect worldwide, but who is equally at home working with local bands he has an affinity with. He loves his work. The people who work with him love his work as well. He operates from an unassuming but brilliant complex, the third premises that he's named Magic Garden. Music of all shapes and descriptions flows from there out to the world.  Above all Gavin focuses on results - it's fascinating to hear how he gets those results, how he got started, and how technology has changed the creative music landscape. Craft skills, hard won and invaluable.  To learn more about the music, or the musicians mentioned in this podcast, head to the companion Radio To Go blog post. 'A Life in Music: Gavin Monaghan', which you can find at www.radiotogo.com. Everything that Gavin touches on is linked there so you can explore to your hearts content. The story starts, as with many  in this series, with a dedicated teacher, when Gavin was very, very young. Among his better-known local clients, you'll find Ocean Colour Scene, Carina Round, Paul Murphy, Editors, Scott Matthews, Robert Plant, Nizlopi and The Twang. That's one terrific range of talent. Among his newer clients, you'll find Pagans (Shepherds Of Humanity), The Blinders, HÜDS,    Paper Buoys, Methods, Cherry Lotus, and more.  The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. But they all have stories. The intro and outro music in this series comes from the great bass player Mike Hatton, who you can hear interviewed in series 1, here. 'Everything Changes' is included in his excellent 2019 album 'Bassic Salvation'.  Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.

In this edition I'm talking with Roy Adams, who is a beast of a drummer with excellent taste across a wide variety of styles.  It's tricky to list all the bands Roy currently plays with. He simply loves to play. You'll find him playing, with a huge smile on his face, in a bar with 50 people watching... or at a mega venue in front an audience of thousands in one of his two major gigs. He's held down the drum chair at Climax Blues Band for 35 years. For the rest, listen on: you'll know the names of some, if not all. To learn more about the music, or the musicians mentioned in this podcast, head to the companion Radio To Go blog post. 'A Life in Music: Roy Adams', which you can find at www.radiotogo.com. Everything that Roy touches on is linked there so you can explore to your hearts content. Roy's a busy man. We had to scrap around to find time to record, but I'm glad we did. The story starts, as with so many of the boomers in this series, with the fab four. Links to the music can be found on the Radio To Go blog, on the companion blog post: A Life In Music: Roy Adams The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. But they all have stories. The intro and outro music in this series comes from the great bass player Mike Hatton, who you can hear interviewed in series 1, here. 'Everything Changes' is included in his excellent 2019 album 'Bassic Salvation'.  Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.  

I've long been fascinated with the classical music world, every since I was poleaxed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Simon Rattle. So it was always been an ambition of mine to sit down with a classical musician and get some perspective for the Lives in Music series. I owe a debt of gratitude to a great Birmingham muso, R. John Webb (aka Ryan Webb, late of Rhino and the Ranters), who suggested I talk to... Foxy. Foxy is a pal of his from Moseley, the proudly boho part of Brum.   'Foxy who?' I ask. 'Oh, I don't know his real name. But he's Classical' says Ryan.  'That can cover a lot of things. Which orchestra?' say I. 'Oh, the Rattle one' came the reply. That started my pursuit. In due course we met up in one of Moseley's nicer coffee joints and talked for hours. Clearly, I was being sized up. But in due course, Foxy, who will absolutely not tell me why he has that nickname, agreed to be interviewed. And the result is what you have here. Very precise detail is what Mark goes for.  We covered an enormous range of topics. But as always in this series, if you put forty or fifty years into your craft, then you have the stories and experience. The conversation gave me a chance to look at the life of a musician in a BIG outfit. Orchestras can run to 90 or more, so touring a band like that is a bit more than assembling a road crew. The logistics must be a nightmare.  The Prince of Wales in Moseley, Birmingham has played a considerable part in this podcast episode. The Prince is a Moseley musicians' watering hole, with a long history of live music, and in whose snug we captured most of the conversation. Mark made mention of a benefit which took place in 2005. This was for the legendary Steve Ajao, who is still playing now, and whose podcast episode is here. I am indebted to Reed Alan, who filmed part of the benefit performance, and who has kindly allowed me to embed a video clip in the companion blog post for this podcast episode. Head here to watch the clip of Foxy, some 15 years ago, live in the beer garden, playing for Steve.  The Lives in Music podcasts celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. But they all have stories. The intro and outro music in this series comes from the great bass player Mike Hatton, who you can hear interviewed in series 1, here. 'Everything Changes' is included in his excellent 2019 album 'Bassic Salvation'.  Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.    

Ricky Cool is a veteran... who adores veteran music. He's a walking encyclopedia of US roots music, and he's no slouch about the UK music scene over the past 50 years. In this episode, l get schooled about harmonica playing, and we get a fascinating look at what it meant to be in bands struggling to get ahead through the 70s, 80s, 90s, and on into this century. Things are - different - now.  The latest incarnation is a very slick and entertaining operation, which harks back over 50 years to the mid-60s days of ska and organ groove.   Be warned: there's one teeny little bit of louche behaviour described. A swear word. But it's not sweary.  Ricky Cool's website for history and gig updates Historic music links in the podcast Muddy Waters wiki (McKinley Morganfield)Howling Wolf wiki (Chester Burnett)Howling Wolf - Smokestack LightningBarrett Strong wikiTommy Tucker - Hi Heel SneakersSonny Boy Willamson - Bring It On Home Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee - Long Way From Home Jesse Fuller - San Francisco Bay Blues Tiny Bradshaw - Train Kept A Rollin'Nappy Brown - Don't Be AngryBob Wills and His Texas Playboys - San Antonio Rose Louis Jordan - Caldonia Roy Milton and His Solid Senders - Hop Skip and Jump UK Folk (and associated) links Dave Cartwright wikiBill Caddick - John O'Dreams LiveThe Destroyers feat Mick Howson - Kalinka  Nic Jones - Canadee-i-o  Diz Dizley - It had To Be You The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. But they all have stories. The intro and outro music in this series comes from the great bass player Mike Hatton, who you can hear interviewed in series 1, here. 'Everything Changes' is included in his excellent 2019 album 'Bassic Salvation'.  Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.

Some 40 plus years back, at the old BRMB, when I was the rock DJ, I booked a session with UB40. It was a custom advance mix of six of the tracks that later saw the light of day on UB40's first album, Signing Off. It was by far the most successful session I'd ever set up. It was the only session that generated calls from listeners before I'd even played a track.   Coming up to now... in 2019, UB40 Sax man and chief Brummie about town, Brian Travers has had to step back from the band for health reasons. These are covered in the podcast. It's not pretty. However, Brian did reappear on stage with the band at the end of 2019 at their hometown concert. It was a very emotional moment. But during his period of enforced convalescence, he's thrown himself headfirst into a fresh set of activities. Brian Travers Arts was already established as a second activity. with painting, sculpture and glasswork. At one of his first shows (with Havill and Travis), his glass dildo with Clarice Cliff-inspired embellishments was a standout. I just wish I hadn't been holding it when Brian snapped me... But there;'s a lot more. Brian's devoted a ridiculous amount of energy to raise funds for the doctors, medical staff and the medical facilities which pulled him though. The next step might be his own foundation.  When something as drastic as Brian's condition steps up and slaps you across the face, you realise, possibly for the first time, that there's a limited time left for you to do things. Brian has taken this as a personal cue to work on a massive range of projects, while awaiting clearance to get back with the band.  You'll hear about some of this.  But you'll also hear a stream of stories. And Brian is nothing if not a master story-teller. It was a joy to sit down with him and swap anecdotes, talk music... and life.  Links UB40 Signing Off (Spotify) King Saxophones Brian Travers Arts  The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. But they all have stories. The intro and outro music in this series comes from the great bass player Mike Hatton, who you can hear interviewed in series 1, here. 'Everything Changes' is included in his excellent 2019 album 'Bassic Salvation'.  Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.      

If you think that all Jasper Carrott had to do with music was to wander on stage with a guitar before bringing an act on stage, think again. Jasper has been deeply involved in music all his life, and has some interesting views on the music business, artists' fees, the record industry, performance and audience reaction, gained from deep experience at his gigs and venues. I've talked several times with Jasper about his career. We do go back a bit, which is actually part of the point of the Lives in Music series. I was in radio at the old BRMB when Jasper had his hit. I wound up playing (rather badly) in charity football matches with him back in the day. But he seems to have had a very interesting ride. Music and musicians have been key, much more than you might think. He's even sharing a vocalist with Robert Plant's current band - there's a pub quiz question for you. You can stream or download the podcast here, or if you can't wait, scroll down to the end of this post for the podcast player. Links - music clips and artist websites Music clips are mostly from the late 70s, John Martyn excepted. Jasper Carrott - Magic Roundabout Jasper Carrott - Funky Moped  (a vintage TOTP clip) Simon and Garfunkel - The Sun Is Burning (Ian Campbell composition) Al Stewart - Old Compton Street Blues Johnny Coppin Decameron - Journey's End Harvey Andrews  Mike Silver Jake Thackray Joe Brown John Martin - Small Hours with some background details. I may have embroidered the story... Links - present day and ancient history Jasper Carott's website Jasper Carrott on wikipedia The Boggery Folk Club Ian Campbell on Birmingham Music Archive Lives in Music The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. They all have stories. The theme music for this series is by Big Q Fish. 'Boksburg Jive Toon' was written by Brian Neil, and recorded at the Jam House, Birmingham, in 2017. Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.  

Don't even think about the number of guitars he's got these days. Charming, witty, and with vast musical knowledge, Horace Panter is brilliant company.  I really can't remember first chatting with Horace Panter, but it might well have been in 1978, when the Specials played at Birmingham University. They were at that fantastic phase in a new band's career, when the band has gelled, strings of gigs have knocked them into shape, and the whole point of the exercise seems to be coming together in an exciting way. I asked them if they would do a session for the old BRMB Radio that night. If not then, it would have been at the now long-gone Outlaw Studios, when the band squeezed six songs out of that three hour session for BRMB. I went on air with those songs the next day. That probably makes me the first DJ to have played the Specials on radio, by the way. Jerry Dammers left the session in a grump once his vocals were down, but Horace was the soul of patience and courtesy. And it's been that way ever since. Talking music with Horace is completely engrossing and serious fun. It was really, really enjoyable. And, d'oh, I learned something about basslines for Time is Tight and Rescue Me. Marvellous for my age, me. We veered off my initial Lives In Music track, and wound up gossiping about all sorts of things, as you'll hear. Music Links Needles and Pins - The Searchers Fifth Dimension - The Byrds All or Nothing - Small Faces Judy in Disguise With Glasses -John Fred & his Playboy Band Rescue Me - Fontella Bass Time is Tight - Booker T and the MGs Nite Klub - The Specials Blank Expression - The Specials Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum Gangsters - The Specials Monkey Man - Toots and The Maytals Ghost Town - The Specials Okie From Musgokee - Merle Haggard The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band Willin' - Little Feat Six Days On The Road - Taj Mahal BHS - Sleaford Mods Wind Whispers - Pete Williams     Band Links The Specials website and wikipedia pages Horace Panter on facebook Horace Panter Art on facebook and website Lives in Music The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. They all have stories. Lives in Music is a Radio To Go production.   The theme music for this series is by Big Q Fish. 'Boksburg Jive Toon' was written by Brian Neil, and recorded at the Jam House, Birmingham, in 2017. Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.    

The fate of bass players? To be shamefully ignored while the front man gets all the attention. Boy, is that a mistake... Bass maestro Mike Hatton, like many musicians, plays in more than one band - he can be found delivering smooth Jazz grooves, or a solid bedrock for powerhouse blues, or even harking back to 60s power rock.    One of those bands - Steve Ajao's Blues Giants - has been going for well over 30 years, giving enormous pleasure to Midlands audiences and beyond. And all three members are very much eligible to take place in the Lives in Music series of podcasts. Two of them are in this series; I'm still chasing Washboard Pete.    Mike fits right into this series because he is one hell of a dedicated craftsman, as you will hear on the podcast. He puts together considered and delicate works for solo bass. And he's being doing this for generations. Along with Mike's own music, a few of the many types of music and musicians that Mike references in this chat are gathered together in this post - see the Music Links section below. The Album We talked in early autumn of 2019, when Mike was putting the finishing touches to his new album. Bassic Salvation is out now. It's just him on all the basses, plus drums, it's full of splendid music, and it reeks of craft and serious thought. You can hear excerpts in the podcast.  like many musicians, plays in more than one band - he can be found delivering smooth Jazz grooves, or a solid bedrock for powerhouse blues. On top of this he crafts very considered and delicate works for solo bass. And he's being doing this for generations. Mike plays on several excerpts from his new album, Bassic Salvation on this podcast, and he's also on the theme music you hear in Series 1 of Lives in Music: Boksburg Jive Toon, in his band Big Q Fish.  The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. They all have stories. Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.  

Hidden away in their secret workshop, John Bradley and Martin Smith breathe fresh life into vintage machines which powered progressive rock and a lot more: the Mellotron. What is a Mellotron? Well, please read on as you listen to the podcast. John Bradley and Martin Smith have been involved with Mellotrons all their lives. John is the pragmatic engineer who can look at a piece of kit and know exactly what to do. Martin was and is a superfan of 60s, 70s and 80s music with a decided taste for Progressive Rock. The Mellotron simply reeled him in. John's dad ran the original Streetly Electronics, based in a small building just to the north of Birmingham. They made Mellotrons. Musicians beat paths to their door. It was John and Martin who revived the current business. And now the musicians are calling on them.  The Mellotron was key to 60s and 70s pop. Then it sort of fell out of fashion. But the sounds on countless Beatles, Genesis, Moody Blues and Barclay James Harvest tracks, and tons more are still in demand. So much so that John and Martin's order book is full for the next two years. And as for their stellar client list... Be warned: there's one teeny little swear word; it's so funny, I couldn't bring myself to cut it out. I travelled to the workshop for the Lives in Music interview. Copious amounts of tea were consumed. Followed by copious amounts of editing.   Background If you want head-spinning details on the inner workings of the Mellotron is, read the exhaustive details on Wikipedia here... Some samples Here's a YouTube link for Strawberry Fields Forever...   This is a Link to one of the earliest recorded uses of the Mellotron ... or how about this Moody Blues cut? Other Links Streetly Electronics website Streetly Electronics on Facebook Lives in Music  Lives in Music celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have simply spent their lives working at their craft for the love of it. They all have stories. Lives in Music is a Radio To Go production. The theme music for this series is by local band Big Q Fish. 'Boksburg Jive Toon' was written by Brian Neil, and recorded at the Jam House, Birmingham, in 2017. Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.

Rated by Lenny Henry as one of the UK's top bluesmen, Steve has been laying down greasy guitar blues and elegant cerebral Jazz sax in equal quantities, for generations.  Oh, and he builds guitars, beautifully... and he's completely self-taught. And he's got the deepest voice in all Birmingham. His Blues trio can be found playing live in all the best joints in the Midlands and beyond. They are astonishingly relaxed and extremely tight - something that comes from decades of playing together.  On top of this, Steve Ajao's facebook feed carries all sorts of other titbits, such as recipes for homemade Sauerkraut, gardening tips, and more. He's into loads of stuff :-) Gourmet, gardener, guitar restorer, blues shouter, cool saxman. I'm sure there's more. On top of this, you'll hear Steve play an improvisation on Steel Guitar in the podcast itself, as part of the interview. Links Steve Ajao's Blues Giants website  Steve Ajao's Blues Giants on Facebook Steve's Club Bebop on Facebook: currently a weekly Wednesday residency at Fletchers Bar in Kings Heath, Birmingham. And there's a ton of stuff to check out on YouTube, both Jazz and Blues. Lives in Music The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. They all have stories. Lives in Music is a Radio To Go production The theme music for this series comes from Big Q Fish, a seriously uncompromising Birmingham band that I suggest you check out. The song is 'Boksburg Jive Toon', written by guitarist Brian Neil. There's plenty more to listen to if you follow the link. They're also on YouTube. Don't forget to subscribe!

When Ruby Turner sang with Culture Club back in the 80s, she had big hair - but nobody had bigger hair on that tour than George...  Romantic notions? Pah! I had a theory that there must have been some sort of genius music teacher in Handsworth back in the seventies. Because for three years straight, that mixed and punchy Brum inner city suburb delivered an act each year that went on to shake the foundations worldwide: Steel Pulse, Apache Indian, and Ruby herself.  And, face it, kids like Robin Campbell of UB40 and Ranking Roger of the Beat were hanging out at the shebeens, soaking it all up. Handsworth did a lot for popular music back in the day. I put that notion to Ruby during our chat. She, as you'll hear, slapped it right down as my being romantic and fanciful. There's not a lot of music in this podcast: copyright regulations prevent that. Any music has to be podcast-friendly. So no copyright infringements, and anything used must have the agreement of the performer. So there are no clips of Ruby to listen to, apart from when she bursts into song in mid conversation. That's a shame, because the stuff she does with Jools Holland and with her own band is bloody marvellous. But skip down to the links list, and you can explore to your heart's content.    Links  Ruby Turner's website Jools Holland's website Find out about Fado music Handsworth Evolution: a documentary I made in 2010. Ruby Turner on YouTube The Lives in Music Podcast Series There are ten episodes in this first series of Lives in Music. They will appear weekly from October until early December 2019. I'm now working on Series 2. The central thrust is to honour and highlight those people who have, literally, spent their lives in music, whether it's making music or empowering those who do.  The theme music for this series is by local band Big Q Fish. 'Boksburg Jive Toon' was written by Brian Neil, and recorded at the Jam House, Birmingham, in 2017. Don't forget to subscribe!

Tales of rock, muso photography, jazz and blues. And launching a little band called Black Sabbath along the way... Jim Simpson has done an awful lot in his time. He's the man who shot a ton of 60s and 70s rock stars. You can see his shots online and often in exhibitions around town. Little Richard never looked lovelier. Jim was key to the Birmingham music scene in the 60s, creating Henry's Blueshouse, the venue where Black Sabbath first came to prominence, and going on to be their first manager. Students of Rock history and muso management take note. Jim is a tactful man, but there is much to be learned here.  After all the Sabbath palaver? There were a number of other bands, taking in some of the finest musicians, many still playing around town. A record label, Big Bear, emerged, specialising in original blues; 35 years of Jazz Festivals; and a lot more. Jim's written a lovely book; there is a comprehensive reissue programme going on with Big Bear records. And Henry's Blueshouse rides again in Birmingham.  Links The label: Big Bear Music and some history   The book: Don't worry 'bout the Bear Henry's Blueshouse facebook page A very useful 'early days' section is on Black Sabbath's wikipedia page.   The Birmingham, Sandwell and Westside Jazz Festival website Lives in Music  Lives in Music celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have simply spent their lives working at their craft for the love of it. They all have stories. Lives in Music is a Radio To Go production.  See and listen to all of Series 1 here. Or search Lives in Music on Spotify or iTunes. The theme music for Series 1 is by local band Big Q Fish. 'Boksburg Jive Toon' was written by Brian Neil, and recorded at the Jam House, Birmingham, in 2017. Subscribe! Subscribe to the Podcast through your podcast host to automatically download each episode to your chosen device. These will then land with you first, before everyone else hears about it.  If you would prefer email updates each time a podcast episode (or blog post) is published, you can subscribe to the mailing list. Head here and scroll down to the signup form.  

'And then, Bill Haley and the Comets arrived with Rock Around the Clock' and that was the end for Big Bands...' Older (and not so old) UK readers of these notes will remember the TV show Bullseye, which was made first by ATV and then by Central TV. This Lives in Music episode features the man who dashed off the theme for that show. Twenty five years on, he still gets royalties for Bullseye - and his other TV theme compositions. The show survives on repeat on one of Sky's remoter TV channels. So repeat fees still land in John Patrick's account. I first met John when I started work in the 70s at the first commercial radio station in Birmingham, BRMB. John was on the board. At that time, he was also the music director at ATV/Central. And he wrote the very first BRMB jingle package - The Sound Way To Spend Your Day, which you can hear in full on this launchday audio clip.   But that's really not more than a footnote in John's career. He is now well into his ninth decade; he still plays. He's had a long career as musician, composer, Musicians Union official, broadcast exec and more. But his particular perspective is very interesting - he was making music professionally before rock and roll arrived to upset the apple cart. And his entire career has been framed by the adjustments that tastes and new technology have brought to the life of a working musician. Ironically, that led to him hanging with Frank Sinatra in Vegas. Not at all bad for a local boy.  The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. They all have stories. The theme music for this series is by Big Q Fish. 'Boksburg Jive Toon' was written by Brian Neil, and recorded at the Jam House, Birmingham, in 2017. Don't forget to subscribe! Don't forget to subscribe!

Imagine sitting right down in front of a terrific guitarist while he plays for you. It's an amazing privilege. One of the things I try to do in the Lives In Music series is to persuade my guests to include a little bit of live music as part of the conversation. That's tricky with, say, drummers, of course, so it doesn't always happen. But it happened here. Gordon was generous to a fault with his time. Gordon Giltrap may be best known for his 'Heart Song' classic, but there is so much more to the man that that. Here, Gordon deconstructs some classic songs, plays some of his own material, and tells tales of his days as a wide-eyed teenager watching Paul Simon demo 'Bookends' to a folk club audience.  Gordon was playing as a scrap of a teenager in a scene that defined the best of UK 60s and 70s folk. He's still playing today, with boundless enthusiasm.  Links Gordon Giltrap's website and facebook page carry details of his custom guitars, gigs, a freshly published biography and lots more. There's a ton of iffy facebook clips, shot mostly on wobbly hand-held phones of Gordon playing live. Some are good; most are bad and don't do you or Gordon any favours. For some 70s vintage, here's Gordon on Top of the Pops in 1977 And if you love the sound of Gordon's guitars, here's the Fylde Guitars website.   Lives in Music The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. They all have stories. Don't forget to subscribe!

I set myself a rule when working up ideas for the Lives in Music podcast series. Nobody under 50, please, otherwise the experiences and perspectives I hoped to glean might not be juicy enough. Then, I promptly broke my rule for Sam Slater. Sam is the youngest person featured in this series of Lives in Music, but he's packed an awful lot into his (relatively) tender years. I've known him for ages, since he first emerged in a lovely guitar trio, Trio Gitano, one of whose members, Sophia Johnson, is now earning rave reviews playing country and bluegrass in Austin Texas. Sam moved on into Jazz and World music to great effect. A dab hand on guitar and other stringed instruments like the Oud, Sam has a bewildering range of activities, not counting his Jazz Label Stoney Lane, which documents some of the finest players in the West Midlands region of the UK.  John broke out both guitar and oud to illustrate a couple of points. It was a sheer delight to listen.  Links Stoney Lane Records TG Collective Paco De Lucia The Oud Lives in Music The Lives in Music series celebrates people who have spent a lifetime in music. They may be famous; they may be people who have spent their lives working in the background for the love of it. They all have stories. The theme music for this series is by Big Q Fish. 'Boksburg Jive Toon' was written by Brian Neil, and recorded at the Jam House, Birmingham, in 2017. Don't forget to subscribe!