Savoy Brown | Artist
Savoy Brown is a British blues rock band formed 1965 in Battersea, southwest London, by Kim Simmonds (guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals), John O'Leary (harmonica), Leo Manning (drums), Bryce Portius (vocals), Ray Chappell (bass), and Trevor Jeavons (keyboards). Originally called the Savoy Brown Blues Band, and part of the late 1960s UK blues rock movement, Savoy Brown primarily achieved success in the United States, where they promoted their albums with non-stop touring. Founder, guitarist and primary songwriter Kim Simmonds was the sole constant member of the band from its formation in 1965 until his death in 2022. During its existence, many of the UK's finest blues-rock and prog-rock exponents passed through the band's ranks, including Chris Youlden, Bob Brunning (Fleetwood Mac), Hughie Flint (John Mayall, McGuiness Flint), Martin Stone (The Action), Lonesome Dave Peverett (Foghat), Bill Bruford (King Crimson, Yes), Roger Earl (Foghat), Tony Stevens (Foghat), Paul Raymond (Chicken Shack, UFO), Dave Bidwell (Chicken Shack, Mungo Jerry), Dave Walker (The Idle Race, Fleetwood Mac, Black Sabbath), Andy Silvester (Chicken Shack), Andy Pyle (Blodwyn Pig, Chicken Shack, Juicy Lucy, The Kinks, Wishbone Ash), Ron Berg (Blodwyn Pig, Juicy Lucy), Jackie Lynton, Miller Anderson (Chicken Shack, Dog Soldier, Keef Hartley Band, Spencer Davis Group, T-Rex), Eric Dillon (Fat Mattress, Tranquility), Jim Leverton (Caravan, Dog Soldier, Ellis, Fat Mattress, Juicy Lucy, Tranquility), Stan Webb (Chicken Shack, Broken Glass), Tom Farnell (Fairport Convention), Ian Ellis (Clouds, Steamhammer), Keith Boyce (Bram Tchaikovsky, Heavy Metal Kids), and Barry Paul (Heaven, Heavy Metal Kids). Plus, in latter years, some American heavyweights such as Jimmy Kunes (Cactus), Duck MacDonald (Bible Black, Blue Cheer, The Rods, Shakin' Street), Jeff Howell (Feinstein, Foghat, Outlaws), Joe Hasselvander (Death Row, Pentagram, Raven), Lou Kaplan (Mad Jack), Phil McCormack (Molly Hatchet), David Malachowski (Commander Cody), Moe Staino (Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Vacuum Tree Head), and Joe Whiting. Roger Earl, Lonesome Dave Peverett, Rod Price, and Tony Stevens left Savoy Brown in 1971 to form the off-shoot band Foghat. Between 1967 and 2023 Savoy Brown released 30 studio albums plus a number of very creditable live albums, of guitar based boogie & blues-rock. Their first eight albums are all highly recommended, after which they underwent a creative lull, only to bounce back strongly in the 2010's with several more fine late period albums. Standouts include Shake Down (1967), Blue Matter (1969), A Step Further (1969), Raw Sienna (1970), Looking In (1970), Street Corner Talking (1971), Hellbound Train (1972), Voodoo Man (2011), Goin' to the Delta (2014), and Witchy Feelin' (2017). For many fans, the classic album Street Corner Talking, which was their first to make big in America, perfectly captures the magic of Savoy Brown's unique blend of tight rhythm & blues overlaid with Simmons' tasteful guitar licks and vocals.
Artist Website: savoybrown.com
Featured Albums: Savoy Brown
Related Artists: Kim Simmonds, Blodwyn Pig, Chicken Shack, Fleetwood Mac, Juicy Lucy, Foghat