Zoot Money's Big Roll Band
Encyclopedia
Zoot Money's Big Roll Band was a British rhythm and blues
, soul
and jazz
group formed in England in early autumn 1961.
as vocalist and Al Kirtley on piano but in the band's best-known form Money himself played Hammond organ
. Bassist/vocalist Paul Williams and baritone saxophonist Clive Burrows had previously been with the Wes Minster Five. Burrows was eventually replaced on baritone sax by Johnny Almond, Burrows going on to appear with The Alan Price Set and with Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band
.
Roger Collis on guitar was replaced in the classic line-up by Andy Summers
(then Somers), who had played with Money in the Don Robb Band. 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
.
In 1964 The Big Roll Band started playing regularly at The Flamingo Club
in Soho
, London, featuring Money's flamboyant frontman antics. The outfit signed with Decca Records
, releasing a solitary 45rpm single that year before switching to EMI
's Columbia
label. In 1965 four more singles appeared and their first album, It Should Have Been Me, was issued in October. Money refused Alan Price
's keyboard chair with The Animals
in order to remain a vocalist. The next July "Big Time Operator" was the group's most successful single, appearing at number 25 in UK charts. Zoot Live At Klooks Kleek
, was released in October of that year and hit number 23. It also appeared in the United States on the Epic Records label but lacked promotion.
Money joined Alexis Korner
's Blues Incorporated
for a short spell before rejoining the band, but fashions were drifting from straight RnB towards more experimental sounds and an emphasis on songwriting. Although a popular fixture on the London club circuit in the early to mid-1960s, they had had little commercial success. In July 1967 the Big Roll Band became Dantalian's Chariot
before Money accepted a renewed offer to join Eric Burdon
in his reformed Animals.
British rhythm and blues
British rhythm and blues developed as a major musical movement in the early 1960s in London and other urban centres in the UK as predominately young white male musicians attempted to emulate the style and recordings of African American rhythm and blues artists...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
group formed in England in early autumn 1961.
History
An early line-up had Zoot MoneyZoot Money
George Bruno Money, known as Zoot Money is a British vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band...
as vocalist and Al Kirtley on piano but in the band's best-known form Money himself played Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
. Bassist/vocalist Paul Williams and baritone saxophonist Clive Burrows had previously been with the Wes Minster Five. Burrows was eventually replaced on baritone sax by Johnny Almond, Burrows going on to appear with The Alan Price Set and with Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band were an English based soul band, active from 1965 to 1968.-Career:The Ram Jam Band were formed around 1964 and evolved out of a group called Les Blues who were formed to rival an English group with a Black American singer called Milton And The Continentals...
.
Roger Collis on guitar was replaced in the classic line-up by Andy Summers
Andy Summers
Andy Summers is an English guitarist born in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, England. Best known as the guitarist for rock band The Police, he has also recorded twelve solo albums, collaborated with many other artists, toured extensively under his own name, published several books, and composed...
(then Somers), who had played with Money in the Don Robb Band. 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
Colin Allen
Colin Allen is an English blues drummer and songwriter.-Career:Allen took up drums at the age of 18, playing initially with local jazz musician in Dorset...
.
In 1964 The Big Roll Band started playing regularly at The Flamingo Club
Flamingo Club (London)
The Flamingo Club was a nightclub that operated in Soho, London, between 1952 and the late 1960s. It was located at 33-37 Wardour Street from 1957 onwards, and played an important role in the development of British rhythm and blues and jazz....
in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, London, featuring Money's flamboyant frontman antics. The outfit signed with Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, releasing a solitary 45rpm single that year before switching to EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
's Columbia
Columbia Graphophone Company
The Columbia Graphophone Company was one of the earliest gramophone companies in the United Kingdom. Under EMI, as Columbia Records, it became a very successful label in the 1950s and 1960s...
label. In 1965 four more singles appeared and their first album, It Should Have Been Me, was issued in October. Money refused Alan Price
Alan Price
Alan Price is an English musician, best known as the original keyboardist for the English band The Animals, and for his subsequent solo work....
's keyboard chair with The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
in order to remain a vocalist. The next July "Big Time Operator" was the group's most successful single, appearing at number 25 in UK charts. Zoot Live At Klooks Kleek
Klooks Kleek
Klooks Kleek was a jazz/R&B club in the 1960s, based in The Railway Hotel, West Hampstead , North West London, next to the Decca Records studio. The club was named after a 1956 album by Kenny Clarke .-History:...
, was released in October of that year and hit number 23. It also appeared in the United States on the Epic Records label but lacked promotion.
Money joined Alexis Korner
Alexis Korner
Alexis Korner was a blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a Founding Father of British Blues"...
's Blues Incorporated
Blues Incorporated
Blues Incorporated were a British R&B band in the early 1960s, led by Alexis Korner and featuring at various times Jack Bruce, Charlie Watts, Terry Cox, Ginger Baker, Long John Baldry, Ronnie Jones, Danny Thompson, Graham Bond, Cyril Davies, Malcolm Cecil and Dick Heckstall-Smith.-History:Korner ...
for a short spell before rejoining the band, but fashions were drifting from straight RnB towards more experimental sounds and an emphasis on songwriting. Although a popular fixture on the London club circuit in the early to mid-1960s, they had had little commercial success. In July 1967 the Big Roll Band became Dantalian's Chariot
Dantalian's Chariot
Dantalian's Chariot were a British psychedelic rock band that formed in 1967. Led by keyboardist and bandleader Zoot Money, and also featuring Andy Summers , they are best remembered for their single "Madman Running Through the Fields", and for their live performances, which featured early...
before Money accepted a renewed offer to join Eric Burdon
Eric Burdon
Eric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance...
in his reformed Animals.
Singles
- 1964 "The Uncle Willie"/"Zoot's Suit" Decca F 11954
- 1965 "Bring It On Home To Me"/"Good" Columbia DB 7518
- June '65 "Please Stay"/"You Know You'll Cry" Columbia DB 7600
- Sept '65 "Something Is Worrying Me"/"Stubborn Kind Of Fellow" Columbia DB 7697
- Nov '65 "The Many Faces Of Love"/"Jump Back" Columbia DB 7768
- Mar '66 "Let's Run For Cover"/"Self-Discipline" Columbia DB 7876
- Jul '66 "Big Time Operator"/"Zoot's Sermon" Columbia DB 7975 UK#25
- Dec '66 "Star Of The Show"/"Mound Moves" Columbia DB 8090
Albums
- Oct '65 It Should Have Been Me - "I'll Go Crazy"/"Jump Back"/"Along Came John"/"Back Door Blues"/"It Should Have Been Me"/"Sweet Little Rock And Roller"/"My Wife Can't Cook"/"Rags And Old Iron"/"The Cat"/"Feelin' Sad"/"Bright Lights, Big City"/"Fina" Columbia 33SX 1734
- Oct '66 Zoot Live At Klooks KleekKlooks KleekKlooks Kleek was a jazz/R&B club in the 1960s, based in The Railway Hotel, West Hampstead , North West London, next to the Decca Records studio. The club was named after a 1956 album by Kenny Clarke .-History:...
- "Chauffeur"/"One And Only Man"/"I've Been Trying"/"Florence Of Arabia"/"Let The Good Times Roll"/"James Brown Medley"/"Mashed Potato U.S.A."/"Nothing Can Change This Love"/"Barefooting" Columbia SX 6075
See also
- Georgie Fame and the Blue FlamesGeorgie Fame and the Blue FlamesGeorgie Fame and the Blue Flames were a noted British rhythm and blues/soul/jazz/ska/pop group of the 1960s. They had been the backing band for Billy Fury but, after being dismissed at the end of 1961, their pianist Georgie Fame took over as vocalist and they went on to enjoy great...
- Geno Washington & the Ram Jam BandGeno Washington & The Ram Jam BandGeno Washington & the Ram Jam Band were an English based soul band, active from 1965 to 1968.-Career:The Ram Jam Band were formed around 1964 and evolved out of a group called Les Blues who were formed to rival an English group with a Black American singer called Milton And The Continentals...
- Cliff Bennett and the Rebel RousersCliff Bennett and the Rebel RousersCliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers were a 1960s British rhythm and blues, soul and beat group who had two Top 10 hits with "One Way Love" and "Got to Get You into My Life" ....