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2007 DATES Thursday 22nd November 2007 Grey Horse ADDRESS:46 Richmond Road, Kingston UponThames KT2 5EE |
A “chuckle” sort of biographical summary.
Chuck Farley is one of those London bands that seem to have been in
existence for decades. Funny thing is, they have! Since the early days in the 1970¹s through to the early 90¹s, the group permeated through several different line-ups, eventually ³settling² into the still present group line-up. Through this time, the ³Chucks² were in hiatus as members pursued various careers, tours and weddings! However, it was a pre Christmas 2004 gig that provided the stimulus for the group to slot in future dates between their separate overcrowded diaries. Still fronted by vocalist/guitarist Steve Simpson, with Poli Palmer, Pat Crumly, Sam Kelly and Pete Stroud, the group can occasionally be seen enjoying themselves at a select number of gigs around the London area. The group¹s music has been likened to a RnB crossover mix with hints of Little Feat meets Ry Cooder meets The Band. With an authentic British feel for music played with ³adult sensitivity and a good dash of humour and spirit², the ³Chucks² reach out to those fans of good music, playing with alarming poise and dexterity with just a tad of madness. Individually, they must have covered every type of known gig in the universe. Through touring and recording to radio and TV, with theatre work and music workshops, the band digs into a catalogue of musical experience. Each band member can often be seen with any number of other groups on the circuit, bringing their own expertise back to this band to get that ³CHUCKS² sound. Steve Simpson -Vocals/ Guitars/ Mandolin / Violin and other stringy things. Since his days with Meal Ticket through to a lengthy (and still current) time in Roger Chapman¹s ³Shortlist² and the West End production of ³Jailhouse Rock², Steve has fronted Chuck Farley with his understanding of the music played beyond that of many of his contemporaries. Delving into the ³Chuck¹s² back catalogue would be daunting for any singer but with the understanding by the group for this music, Steve triggers the emotion inherent in many of the songs as if for the first playing ever. Being the guitarist as well gives Steve ample opportunity to display his skills that have been honed with a multitude of bands in his career. Sam Kelly Drums Sam has an artists¹ list as long as the Chinese alphabet! Being constantly in demand for UK and USA visiting artists, he has been repeatedly voted as a top UK blues drummer. Artists worked with include - Roger Chapman (Chappo), (recording with Pete Stroud for chart topper) Gordon Haskell, and Eddie Floyd, Ben E King, Billy Ocean and many other artists, Sam shows no sign yet of taking up any other way of sedentary life. He even does tambourine solos on a good day! Poli Palmer Vibes Poli was a member of ³Family², a hugely successful touring and charting UK group from the 60¹s/70¹s fronted by Roger Chapman. He was also a regular in Roger's later group ³Shortlist² and has been a ³Chuck² stalwart for aeons, bringing a sense of serious musicality alongside unprecedented and devout silliness to the band! Wielding his precious ³Sheptons² (mallets) in each hand, he is a formidable force on stage, be it possibly from the far side. Vibes players such as Mr Palmer are few and far between. Pat Crumly Saxophones/Flute Pat has trod many a stage over the years and was the man who sort of ³stepped² into the shoes of the late and great Ronnie Scott, touring extensively with his own quartet as Scotts¹ tribute band. Also played with Chappo, Lulu, Jimmy Witherspoon, Pat ³withersax² shares a similar sense of the great Ronnie Scott¹s ³undying² wit and humour. Apart from knowing more notes than the Bank of England, Pat has an understanding of his instrument far beyond many a player, or the rest of the group! Pete Stroud Bass Really the most ³ recent² addition (in the 80¹s), Pete has also toured with Chappo and more recently, Peter Green, Micky Moody Band, Gordon Haskell etc. He makes his own bass guitars and lives in a furniture-less house. As well as showing up for a host of other gigging bands, he enjoys good humour with Poli and trying to catch out Sam with polyrhythmic candour! Apart from getting in tune on fretless bass, he can also be heard singing backing vocals on fretting voice |
