Zoot Money's Big Roll Band was 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 ...

and

modern jazz Bebop or bop is a style of jazz developed in the early to mid-1940s in the United States. The style features compositions characterized by a fast tempo (usually exceeding 200 bpm), complex chord progressions with rapid chord changes and numerou ...

group, with influence from

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...

that was formed in England by

Zoot Money George Bruno "Zoot" Money (17 July 1942 – 8 September 2024) was an English vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader. He was best known for playing the Hammond organ and for his leadership of the Big Roll Band. Inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis and Ra ...

, in the early autumn of 1961. The band has had a number of personnel changes over the years and was still performing in 2020. Money died in 2024, at the age of 82. Cultural References in the first book of the Cornelius Quartet, the principal character, Jeremiah 'Jerry' Cornelius, shows a great liking for Zoot Money's Big Roll Band. In the opening pages, 'Zoot's Suite' (sic: Spotify has the title as Zoot's Suit). Is the very first piece of music referenced in the novel.

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), 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, guitarist and songwriter who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and de ...

's "

Johnny B. Goode "Johnny B. Goode" is a song by American musician Chuck Berry, written and sung by Berry in 1958. Released as a Single (music), single in 1958, it peaked at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot R&B Sides chart and number eight on its pre ...

". Their first public performance was on 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 are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (while ...

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 Paul Williams may refer to: Authors * Paul Williams (Crawdaddy) (1948–2013), American music and science fiction journalist; founder of ''Crawdaddy'' and the Philip K. Dick Society * Paul Williams (Irish journalist) (born 1964), Irish journalis ...

(who also sang), guitarist

Andy Summers Andrew James Summers (born 31 December 1942) is an English guitarist best known as a member of the rock band the Police. Prior to joining the Police, Summers had been a member of several bands during the 1960s, including Zoot Money's Big Roll ...

(then Somers, later of

the Police The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. Within a few months of their first gig, the line-up settled as Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar, primary songwriter), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussi ...

, 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 start ...

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 Johnny Almond (20 July 1946 – 18 November 2009) was a British saxophonist, who is best known for his recordings with the Alan Price Set, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall and Mark-Almond. Biography Johnny Almond was born in Enfield, Middlesex, En ...

1964–1965

In 1964 the Big Roll Band started playing regularly at

The Flamingo Club The Flamingo Club was a jazz nightclub in Soho, London, between 1952 and 1969. It was located at 33–37 Wardour Street from 1957 onwards and played an important role in the development of British rhythm and blues and modern jazz. During the ...

Soho SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street, Houston Street", is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 1970s, the neighborhood has been the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, art installations such as The Wall ...

, London. Their act featured Money's flamboyant

frontman The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...

antics. The band signed to

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis after his acquisition of a gramophone manufacturer, The Decca Gramophone Company. It set up an American subsidiary under the Decca name, which bec ...

and released a single that year before switching to

EMI EMI Group Limited (formerly EMI Group plc until 2007; originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At t ...

'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, currently billed as Eric Burdon & the Animals (featuring original frontman Eric Burdon) and also as Animals & Friends (featuring original drummer John Steel (drummer), John Steel), are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Ne ...

keyboardist

Alan Price Alan Price (born 19 April 1942) is an English musician who first found prominence as the original keyboardist of the English rock band the Animals. He left the band in 1965 to form the Alan Price Set; his hit singles with and without the group ...

, 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. Named after "Klook's Clique", a 1956 album by jazz drummer Kenny Clarke (Savoy Records 12006), the club opened on 11 ...

'', 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 Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), cong ...

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 i ...

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

with a psychedelic direction. In 1968 Money accepted a second offer to join '

Eric Burdon Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer and songwriter. He was previously the lead vocalist of the rhythm and blues, R&B and Rock music, rock band The Animals and the funk band War (band), War. He is regarded as one of the Br ...

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 Repertory or repertoire () is the list or set of works a person or company is accustomed to performing. Whether the English or French spelling is used has no bearing, but it was the French word, with an accent on the first e, , that first took ho ...

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 Musical groups established in 1961 Musical groups disestablished in 2024 1961 establishments in England 2024 disestablishments in England