Bluesology
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Founder | Reginald Dwight (Elton John), Stewart "Stu" Brown, Rex Bishop, Mick Inkpen |
| Defunct | 1968 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
Bluesology was a British blues ensemble from the 1960s, recognized as the initial professional group of Elton John (known then as Reginald Dwight).
History
In approximately 1960, 13-year-old organist Reginald Dwight and his neighbor Stewart "Stu" Brown played together with the Corvettes in Pinner, Middlesex. Following the dissolution of that band, they established Bluesology alongside Rex Bishop on bass and Mick Inkpen on drums.[1][2]
The group’s name was inspired by the Django Reinhardt record Djangology.[3] By 1962, they were performing in local pubs, and in 1963 secured a regular weekly engagement at London's Establishment Club, where their repertoire included songs by Muddy Waters, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Memphis Slim.[4] The band turned professional in 1965, signing with an agency that arranged gigs for them as backing musicians for American performers such as The Isley Brothers, Doris Troy, Billy Stewart, and Patti LaBelle.[4]
After producing a demo recording, Bluesology secured a contract with Fontana Records. The label preferred Dwight’s vocal style over Brown’s; consequently, Dwight provided vocals on their debut single. Their first release, "Come Back Baby," written by Dwight, came out in July 1965.[3] The follow-up single, "Mr. Frantic," also penned and sung by Dwight, was issued in November but did not achieve commercial success. Subsequent to a tour in Germany, the band supported Major Lance with an expanded lineup that included Pat Higgs (trumpet), Dave Murphy (saxophone), Fred Gandy (bass), and Paul Gale (drums).[4]
In September 1966, vocalist Long John Baldry invited Bluesology to serve as his permanent backing band.[2] Dwight and Brown were the only members to accept this offer, assembling a new group featuring Fred Gandy on bass, Pete Gavin on drums, Neil Hubbard on guitar, Elton Dean on saxophone, Marc Charig playing cornet and flugelhorn, Alan Walker on vocals, and briefly singer Marsha Hunt.[4] Under the name Stu Brown and Bluesology, they recorded "Since I Found You Baby" for Polydor Records, with production by Kenny Lynch.[2][3] On 11 December 1966, they recorded four tracks alongside Little Richard at Abbey Road Studios, two of which were released in the United Kingdom.
As Baldry transitioned toward cabaret performances, Dwight became increasingly dissatisfied,[5] focusing instead on songwriting with Bernie Taupin while working as a session musician. By late 1967, Dwight, Brown, and Dean departed from Bluesology; Brown was succeeded by Caleb Quaye, but ultimately the band disbanded in 1968.[2]
Later activities
Reginald Dwight adopted the stage name Elton John, inspired by fellow band members Elton Dean and John Baldry. Stu Brown went on to form the country rock group Cochise, contributing to their first two albums, Cochise and Swallow Tales (1970–71), before moving to the Mediterranean region. Elton Dean, Neil Hubbard, and Marc Charig each built substantial careers as jazz artists and session musicians. Pete Gavin joined Heads Hands & Feet and later became part of Vinegar Joe, while Fred Gandy played with Caleb Quaye’s band Hookfoot.
Two songs by Bluesology were included on Polydor’s 1975 compilation album Rare Tracks.
See also
External links
- [ Biography] on Allmusic
- Bluesology enthusiast website (Italian language)
- ↑ Paul Maclauchlan, Cornflakes & Classics: A musical history of Elton John: 1965
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 [[[:Template:Allmusic]] Bluesology at Allmusic.com – article by Bruce Eder]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbillboard - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Claude Bernardin and Tom Stanton, Elton John From A-Z, 1996
- ↑ The Making of Elton John. BBC.