<back - SAVOY BROWN - KIM SIMMONDS - Early in his life, Savoy Brown guitarist Kim Simmonds was heavily influenced by his older brother Harry. Harry Simmonds had started listening to music when he was about thirteen, especially to Bill Haley. He later became interested in R&B and Blues, particularly the music of James Brown, Ike and Tina Turner, Jimmy Reed, Otis Rush and Muddy Waters. Within four years of Savoy Brown's formation they had become a major live act in North America. At home in Britain, they weren't so lucky, and never really broke out of the club scene despite Kim Simmonds persistence as the band's only continuous member. The original lineup included singer Bruce Portius, keyboardist Bob Hall, guitarist Martin Stone, bassist Ray Chappell, and drummer Leo Manning.

This lineup appeared on the band's 1967 debut ShakeDown, a collection of Blues covers. Seeking a different approach, Kim Simmonds dissolved the group. He then brought in guitarist Dave Peverett, bassist Rivers Jobe, drummer Roger Earl, and singer Chris Youlden. With perhaps its strongest lineup to date, Savoy Brown quickly made a name with 'Train to Nowhere'. However, Youlden left the band in 1970 following Raw Sienna, and shortly thereafter, Peverett, Earl, and new bassist Tony Stevens departed to form Foghat.  Simmonds collected yet another lineup and began a hectic tour of America, showcasing the Bluesrock style with members of Chicken Shack and vocalist Dave Walker. The resulting recording Street Corner Talking brought the band its best chart success. Tell Mama, and the re-make of the Motown classic, I Can't Get Next To You, took the band to platinum status and world wide audiences. "The music of Savoy Brown has never really got that far away from the Blues", Kim says. "I can still do a show that does straight traditional Blues along with rock hits like Tell Mama and it all seems to fit. Everything that I have done with the band has had a Blues stand point to it". Since the year 2001, the band line-up includes David Malachowski, Gerry Sorrentino, Dennis Cotton and is led as always by Simmonds. With more than 3 decades behind it, SAVOY BROWN continues to operate as a powerful and important Bluesrock and boogie act, with a future that shines. MP3 - TELL MAMA |