Paul George Speare (born 10 December 1955) is a former member of Dexys Midnight Runners,[1] The TKO Horns[2] and The Expresso Bongo Orchestra.[3]
He was born to Reginald and Julia Speare, in Romford, Essex. He attended Dagenham County High School where he started playing drums, piano and viola when he was 15 years of age. At 16 he took up the flute, and tenor saxophone soon followed. He went on to study flute at the London College of Music, and played sax in various pop and jazz bands during this time. Later, he moved to Birmingham and became heavily involved in the midlands music scene for many years as a session musician, band leader and music producer.
Speare has played in many bands over the years, the most famous being Dexys Midnight Runners. He later formed a horn section called The TKO Horns, along with Jim Paterson and Brian Maurice from Dexys. Another former Dexys sax player Geoff Blythe soon replaced Brian and Dave Plews was added on trumpet. The TKOs featured prominently on Elvis Costello's 1983 album Punch The Clock.[2] Speare later featured on the single "Nelson Mandela" by the Special AKA.
In 1981, Speare joined Dexys Midnight Runners. He featured on the singles "Plan B", "Show Me", "Liars A to E", "Celtic Soul Brothers" and their worldwide hit "Come On Eileen". He also featured on their album Too-Rye-Ay.
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