Zoot Money's Big Roll Band

Zoot Money's Big Roll Band is a British rhythm and blues and soul group, also influenced by jazz, formed in England in the early autumn of 1961. The band has had a number of personnel changes over the years and were still performing in 2013.

History

1961-1963

Originally Zoot Money was the vocalist for the band and Al Kirtley (later of Trendsetters Limited) played piano[1] Later Money played Hammond organ, with Bassist Paul Williams (who also sang), guitarist Roger Collis and baritone saxophonist Clive Burrows (Burrows and Williams had played together in the Wes Minster Five. Burrows was eventually replaced by Johnny Almond and went to play with Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band and The Alan Price Set.[2] Collis left and was replaced by Andy Summers (then Somers), who had played with Money in the Don Robb Band.[3] Early bassist Mike "Monty" Montgomery was eventually replaced by Johnny King while drummer Johnny Hammond gave way to Pete Brookes in 1962, who was subsequently himself replaced by Colin Allen.

1964-1965

In 1964 The Big Roll Band started playing regularly at The Flamingo Club in Soho, London. Their act featured Money's flamboyant frontman antics. The band signed to Decca Records and releasing a songle single that year before switching to EMI's Columbia label. In 1965 four more singles were released and their first album It Should Have Been Me, was issued in October of the same year.

1966-1969

At this time Money refused an offer to replace The Animals keyboardistAlan Price, preferring to remain as a vocalist. In July 1966 their single "Big Time Operator" became the group's most successful single, reaching number 25 in UK charts.[4] Their album Zoot Live At Klooks Kleek, was released in October of that year promoting Money as an emerging solo artist and reached 23 in the UK charts.[4] It was also released in the U.S.A by Epic Records label but lacked promotion.[3]

During this period Money joined Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated for a short spell before returning to his Big Roll Band, but fashions were drifting from rhythm and blues towards more experimental sounds and an emphasis on songwriting. Although a popular fixture on the London club circuit in the first half of the 1960s, they had little commercial success.[5] In July 1967 the Big Roll Band morphed into Dantalian's Chariot with a physchodelic direction. In 1969 Money accepted a second offer to join 'Eric Burdon and The New Animals' which lead to the disbanding of The Big Roll Band.

Discography

Singles

Albums

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kirtley, Al. "The Downstairs Club and the naming of Zoot Money's Big Roll Band". Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  2. ↑ Eder, Bruce. "Clive Burrows - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Eder, Bruce. "Zoot Money - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Zoot Money's Big Roll Band chart history, The Official Charts. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  5. ↑ Campion, Chris (2009). Walking on the Moon: The Untold Story of the Police and the Rise of New Wave Rock. Wiley. p. 8. ISBN 0-470-28240-1.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 374. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ↑ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2012-12-19.