If | Artist

If was a British progressive rock and jazz rock band formed 1969 by Dick Morrissey (saxophone, flute), J.W. Hodkinson (vocals, 1969-73), Dave Quincy (saxophone), Terry Smith (guitar), Jim Richarson (bass), John Mealing (keyboards), Lionel Grigson (keyboards, vocals), Daryl Runswick (bass), Spike Wells (drums) and Dennis Elliott (drums). This seven-piece first incarnation of the band had a jazz-rock-oriented style which appears on the first four studio albums: If, If 2, If 3 and If 4, as well as the excellent live recording Europe '72. In late 1972, the band cancelled the remainder of a US tour when Dick Morrissey was admitted to hospital for surgery, at which point band members drifted into other projects. J. W. Hodkinson joined Darryl Way's Wolf, Terry Smith and Dave Quincy went off to form ZZebra, John Mealing joined Klaus Dolinger's Passport before going on to Strawbs, Jim Richardson went on to do studio session work, and Dennis Elliott joined the hugely successful group Foreigner. In 1973 a new more rock oriented lineup formed with Dick Morrissey, Fi Trench, Ex-Colosseum keyboards wizz Dave Greenslade, and Dave Wintour on bass. The band finally broke up in 1975 with Dick Morrissey going on to work with the Average White Band and Herbie Mann, Greenslade forming his own self-titled unit and Geoff Whitehorn joining Crawler and then Procol Harum. The band was highly regarded for its cross-over big band jazz-rock style, not dissimilar to US contemporaries Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears. They released a total of ten studio albums and one live album, standouts include If, If 2, If 3, If 4, Waterfall and Europe '72.

Artist Website: wikipedia/if_(band)

Featured Albums: If

Related Artists: Foreigner, Greenslade, Average White Band

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