My start in the music world began during the sixties playing in an Essex 'soul band'. After a failed attempt at turning professional, the band had to split up. As it was still my dream to make a living from music, I got into some intensive practicing.
After a few months I landed a job on a cruise liner but nearly got fired as my sight reading was so bad!.. but I managed to keep the gig somehow.
After a year on the high seas I came ashore and auditioned for a ballroom residency in Derby, I left after a year or so and enrolled at Leeds College of Music.
A summer season at a holiday camp in Skegness followed, then a move to London in 1973 with a residency playing tenor sax, baritone sax and flute with the Tony Evans Band at the Empire Ballroom, Leicester Square. We had regular BBC broadcasts and toured the UK and Europe backing artists such as Tom Jones and
Gilbert 'O Sullivan.
Next was a gig in the ‘house band’ at Caesars Palace Luton (not Las Vegas!) accompanying singers, jugglers, comedians, ventriloquists, performing dogs and drag acts, uncle Tom Cobley and all!... during that time, I started to get busy as a freelancer...