Nick Straker

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Nick Straker (born Nick Bailey [1]) is a London born musician, who had hits in Europe and the U.S. in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

[edit] Career

Straker joined his first band in 1969, called "Stonehenge". The name changed in 1971 to "Matumbi", a reggae band signed to Trojan Records, which Straker left in 1974. Along with guitarist friend Dave McShearer, Straker joined up Pete Hammond (bass) and Phil Towner (drums) in a dance band playing working men's clubs, and weddings. They then met American soul singer Limmie Snell, and the band became "Limmie Funk Limited" with Andy Gierus on guitar. They played discotheques around the country and toured Holland and Sweden in early 1978. Tony Mansfield, later the lead singer and songwriter with New Musik, joined, originally as roadie, but the pair formed a collaboration which led to the recording of a successful UK single "A Walk In The Park" in 1979. A year later the track was re-recorded and released, and made number 20 in the UK Singles Chart.

The Nick Straker Band released a few more singles but none had the success of "A Walk In The Park" in the UK, though "A Little Bit Of Jazz" made number 1 in the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1981.