Jazz Legend 'Bobby Wellins' Joins Bognor Big Swing Band
Bobby Wellins was born in 1936 and grew up in Glasgow. His Mother was a dance band singer and his father a saxophone player. Bands used to play before or after the main feature in local cinemas in those days. (Now there's a thought…) Anyway it was little wonder that young Bobby started to play Alto Sax at the age of 12 when they moved to another part of Glasgow.
In summary at the RAF school Uxbridge in the 1950s, and followed in his father's footsteps by catching what was the last three years of the big band era. During this time he deputised or played with a number of well known artists and impresarios such as Joe Loss, Vick Lewis and Geraldo.
Bobby joined what was considered the London underground scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and played residencies such as the Dorchester with Tommy Wittle. The Wardour St residency saw 'Jazz Inc' formed and was where Bobby developed his relationship with Stan Tracy. It is probably this association that Bobby is best known for, in collaboration with Stan Tracey on the seminal 1965 British jazz album Under Milk Wood.
As with any really interesting person there are some great additional snippets along the way like working with Paul Newman and James Garner in the film 'Grand Prix' in the mid 1960's where he was part of a jazz quartet with Harry South. Although it was great fun and he quipped with Paul and James about a jam session the final edit saw the scene cut from the film.
Bobby has played with the greats from Duke Ellington in 'Paris Blues', through to joining an open improvisation at the Guggenheim Institute, New York for a film where he played a Rock and Roll saxophonist! There's variety for you!
Bobby is delighted to be playing the Rox Festival 2008, along with The Bognor Big Band under the direction of Mike Bosley. The only reason he has not been to a Rox festival before is because he has been working! Bobby has a kind of association with Rox of old, namely when he played regularly with Billy Davidson who was pretty close to a well known Rox member, Terry Slade. These days Bobby still guests in quartets and bands on average 2 days a week all over the world although as he says sometimes it is quiet, then it all seems to happen at once.
Members of the Bognor Big Swing Band include:
Trevor Britton who played with Ron Goodwin and clarinettist Jack Brymer.
John Peskett who passed through RAF bands to the London symphony orchestra, and West End Shows such as 'Joseph', 'The King and I'.
Cookie Jones who's percussion and drums saw him playing with Edmundo Ross, Don Rendle Bobby Wellins and Jim Mullins along the way to the Bognor Big band and his trio on Thursday nights at The Silk Road, Littlehampton.
Spencer Bundy is another RAF star who went on to play on the QE2 as well as his being the MD of the Seabourne liner. A Saxophone tutor at Chichester University, Spencer has also played the West end in shows such as 'My Fair Lady', and along the way had associations with Oscar Petersen Jimmy Heath and Bob Wilber.
Roger Clayden provides part of the Brass section on Trombone, and as well as being a former guardsman, also heads up the Rox Charity Trust.
Richard Harrison played Trumpet for the London Sessions, and The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. West End appearances include 'Gypsy', and he has played with Ray McVay and Ken MacIntosh.
Arthur Catt on second trumpet also played with Ray and Ken as well as John Hammond in many London Show bands, with West End appearances in 'Evita' and 'Chicago'. Other associations include television work with Cilla Black and Jimmy Tarbuck, and memorably with Ella Fitzgerald and Jack Jones.
Richard Radcliffe is a writer singer and actor who's list of credits spans TV, Radio and commercials from Z-Cars through to Eastenders and Spike Milligan in Q10. Musically his career has taken him around the world including many West End musicals including 'The Sound of Music' starring Christopher Cazenove and Amanda Holden; 'Me and My Girl' with Gary Wilmot; 'Joseph,' 'Some Like It Hot' with Tommy Steele, 'Annie' and many more!
Mary Burman provides female vocals for The Bognor Big Band. Her list of credits includes appearances on TV, an Album and West End Shows such as the lead female vocal in 'Half a Sixpence', also 'Oliver', 'Annie Get Your Gun'. Mary also provided vocals for the Len Phillips Big Band.
Frank Walsh also commands special mention for many reasons beyond the Bognor Big Band. Not least for his agility and good sense of humour. Don't be fooled though Frank's list of credits starts off with a full classical training which saw him playing with The Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and The Halle Orchestra. After his honeymoon in 1952 Frank moved to London where he worked with Jack Hilton at the Victoria Palace in similar shows to Arthur Catt above, but also contributed to the music for 'The Crazy Gang' and many other memorable entertainment milestones we look back on today. Frank left the West End to play gigs around the world, and he's still at it at 82 years of age!
The Bognor Big Band featuring Bobby Wellins take to the stage at the Rox Festival on Sunday at 4.55pm. Don't miss it!
David Cox
Main Sponsors of Rox 2008
