Zoot Money's Big Roll Band is a

British rhythm and blues British rhythm and blues (or R&B) was a musical movement that developed in the United Kingdom between the late 1950s and the early 1960s, and reached a peak in the mid-1960s. It overlapped with, but was distinct from, the broader British beat a ...

and

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest atte ...

group, also influenced by jazz, formed in England by

Zoot Money George Bruno Money (born 17 July 1942) is an English vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader. He is best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band. Inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles, he was draw ...

, in the early autumn of 1961. The band has had a number of personnel changes over the years and was still performing in 2020.

History

1961–1963

In autumn 1961

formed the first version of the Big Roll Band with himself as vocalist, Roger Collis on lead guitar, pianist Al Kirtley (later of

Trendsetters Limited Trendsetters Limited was a manufactured pop band, active in the 1960s. The group is best known for featuring future King Crimson members Michael Giles and his brother Peter. History Trendsetters Limited was a beat group created in early 19 ...

), bassist Mike "Monty" Montgomery and drummer Johnny Hammond. The name 'Big Roll Band' derived from Money mis-hearing the phrase "big old band" from the third verse of

Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the " Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into th ...

's Johnny B. Goode. Their first public performance was on Sunday 12 November 1961 at Bournemouth's Downstairs Club. In 1962 drummer Pete Brookes replaced Hammond at the same time as bassist Johnny King replaced Montgomery and

tenor sax The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the Alto saxophone, alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key ...

player Kevin Drake joined the band. Kirtley left shortly afterwards, Money taking over on organ. In late 1963/early 1964 Money established what became the best-known version of the band with bassist Paul Williams (who also sang), guitarist

Andy Summers Andrew James Summers (born 31 December 1942), is an English guitarist who was a member of the rock band The Police. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a band member in 2003. Summers has recorded solo albums, collaborated wi ...

(then Somers, later of

The Police The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Polic ...

, who had played with Money in the Don Robb Band), saxophonists Nick Newall and Clive Burrows (Burrows and Williams had played together in the Wes Minster Five), and

Colin Allen Colin Eric Allen (born 9 May 1938) is an English blues drummer and songwriter. Career Allen spent the first ten years of his adult life working in aircraft engineering. He became interested in jazz at the age of 16 and two years later starte ...

on drums. Burrows left in autumn of 1965, going on to play with Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band and The Alan Price Set. He was replaced by Johnny Almond.

1964–1965

In 1964 The Big Roll Band started playing regularly at The Flamingo Club in

Soho Soho is an area of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century. The area was develo ...

, London. Their act featured Money's flamboyant frontman antics. The band signed to Decca Records and released a single that year before switching to

EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British Transnational corporation, transnational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in March 1 ...

's Columbia label. In 1965 four more singles were released, and their first album, ''It Should Have Been Me'', was issued in October of the same year.

1966–1969

At this time Money refused an offer to replace

The Animals The Animals (also billed as Eric Burdon and the Animals) are an English rock band, formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in the early 1960s. The band moved to London upon finding fame in 1964. The Animals were known for their gritty, bluesy sound and ...

keyboardist Alan Price, preferring to remain as a vocalist. In July 1966 their single "Big Time Operator" became the group's most successful single, reaching number 25 in UK charts.Zoot Money's Big Roll Band chart history
The Official Charts. Retrieved 2 October 2011. Their album ''Zoot Live At

Klooks Kleek Klooks Kleek was a jazz and rhythm 'n’ blues club on the first floor of the Railway Hotel, West Hampstead, north-west London. Klooks Kleek was a jazz and rhythm 'n’ blues club on the first floor of the Railway Hotel, West Hampstead, north- ...

'', was released in October of that year promoting Money as an emerging solo artist and reached 23 in the UK charts. It was also released in the US by Epic Records label but lacked promotion. During this period Money joined

Alexis Korner Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner (19 April 1928 – 1 January 1984), known professionally as Alexis Korner, was a British blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a founding father of British blues". A major in ...

Blues Incorporated Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, or simply Blues Incorporated, were an English blues band formed in London in 1961, led by Alexis Korner and including at various times Jack Bruce, Charlie Watts, Terry Cox, Davy Graham, Ginger Baker, Art W ...

for a short spell before returning to his Big Roll Band, but fashions were drifting from rhythm and blues towards more experimental sounds and an emphasis on songwriting. Although a popular fixture on the London club circuit in the first half of the 1960s, they had little commercial success. In July 1967 the Big Roll Band morphed into

Dantalian's Chariot Dantalian's Chariot was a British psychedelic rock band formed in 1967, led by keyboardist and bandleader Zoot Money, and also featuring Andy Summers (later of The Police). They are best remembered for their single "Madman Running Through the F ...

with a psychedelic direction. In 1969 Money accepted a second offer to join '

Eric Burdon Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer. He was previously the lead vocalist of R&B and rock band the Animals and funk band War. He is regarded as one of the British Invasion's most distinctive singers with his deep, pow ...

and The New Animals'. Money revived the Big Roll Band under a new line-up in 2003 and the band performs regularly at The Bull's Head, Barnes and elsewhere.

Discography

Singles

* 1964: "The Uncle Willie"/"Zoot's Suite" Decca F 11954 * 1965: "Bring It On Home To Me"/"Good" Columbia DB 7518 * June 1965: "Please Stay"/"You Know You'll Cry" Columbia DB 7600 * September 1965: "Something Is Worrying Me"/"Stubborn Kind Of Fellow" Columbia DB 7697 * November 1965: "The Many Faces Of Love"/"Jump Back" Columbia DB 7768 * March 1966: "Let's Run For Cover"/"Self-Discipline" Columbia DB 7876 * July 1966: "Big Time Operator"/"Zoot's Sermon" Columbia DB 7975 - UK No. 25 * December 1966: "Star Of The Show"/"Mound Moves" Columbia DB 8090

Albums

*October 1965: ''It Should've Been Me'' - "I'll Go Crazy"/"Jump Back"/"Along Came John"/"Back Door Blues"/"It Should Have Been Me"/"Sweet Little Rock And Roller"/"My Wife Can't Cook"/"Rags And Old Iron"/"The Cat"/"Feelin' Sad"/"Bright Lights, Big City"/"Fina", Columbia 33SX 1734 *October 1966: ''Zoot!'' (live at

) - "Chauffeur"/"One And Only Man"/"I've Been Trying"/"Florence Of Arabia"/"Let The Good Times Roll"/"James Brown Medley"/"Mashed Potatoes U.S.A."/"Nothing Can Change This Love"/"Barefooting", Columbia SX 6075 (Reissued 2017 by

Repertoire A repertoire () is a list or set of dramas, operas, musical compositions or roles which a company or person is prepared to perform. Musicians often have a musical repertoire. The first known use of the word ''repertoire'' was in 1847. It is a ...

V245) - UK No. 23 *2017: ''Zoot Money's Big Roll Band'' Box Set,

REP 5343: CD 1: Live at Klook's Kleek plus 1965 Singles - "Chauffeur"/"The One And Only Man"/"I've Been Trying"/"Florence Of Arabia"/"Let The Good Times Roll"/"James Brown Medley"/"Mashed Potatoes U.S.A."/"Nothing Can Change This Love"/"Barefootin'"/"Good"/"Bring It On Home To Me"/"Please Stay"/You Know You'll Cry"/"Something Is Worrying Me"/"Stubborn Kind of Fellow"/"The Many Faces Of Love" CD 2: Live At The Flamingo plus 1966 Singles - "I Got You (I Feel Good)"/"Smack Dab In The Middle"/"Boot-Leg"/"Train Train"/"Ain't That Peculiar"/"People Gonna Talk"/"It Should've Been Me"/"Hallelujah I Love Her So"/"Self-Discipline"/"Rock Me Baby"/"Stormy Monday Blues"/"Oh Mom (Teach Me How To Uncle Willie)"/"When I Meet My Baby"/"Blues March"/"You Don't Know Like I Know"/"Big Time Operator"/"Hide Nor Hair"/"Haunted House"/"La La La La La/The 'In' Crowd"/"Let's Run For Cover"/"Self-Discipline"/"Big Time Operator"/"Zoot's Sermon" CD 3: Live At The BBC plus 1964 in the studio - "Cool Jerk"/"Interview"/"Big Time Operator"/"Barefootin'"/"BBC Announcement"/"I Can't Turn You Loose"/"Interview"/"Chauffeur"/"Picture Me Gone"/"Interview"/"Star Of The Show"/"Let The Good Times Roll"/"Interview"/"Something's Worrying Me"/"Ain't That Love"/"You Don't Know Like I Know"/"Interview"/"Let's Run For Cover"/"People Gonna Talk"/"Think"/"The Morning After"/"It's Been Such A Long Way Home"/"You Can't Sit Down"/"What Cha Gonna Do?"/"The Uncle Willie"/"Zoot's Suit(e)"/"Gin House"/"Rockin' Chair"/"Get On The Right Track Baby"/"Walking The Dog" CD 4: It Should've Been Me plus 1966-1968 in the studio - "I'll Go Crazy"/"Jump Back"/"Along Came John"/"Back Door Blues"/"It Should've Been Me"/"Sweet Little Rock And Roller"/"My Wife Can't Cook"/"Rags And Old Iron"/"The Cat"/"Feelin' Sad"/"Bright Lights, Big City"/"Fina"/"The Star Of The Show"/"The Mound Moves"/"It Should've Been Me (EP Version)"/"Nick Knack"/"I Really Learnt How To Cry"/"Stop The Wedding"/"Just A Passing Phase"/"What Cha Gonna Do 'Bout It"/"Coffee Song"

References

{{Authority control British rhythm and blues boom musicians RSO Records artists