13th April, 1955

Arts Degree in Pottery and Glass - North Staffs. Poly 1981

2 children - Dan (born 1985) - Jazz musician

Oliver (born 1996) - Actor/Comedian/Train

Musician for over 20 years.
I started singing on the folk scene, a mixture of traditional songs and my own compositions. I was heavily influenced by Sandy Denny, Joni Mitchell and Dando Shaft. My first recording was done at guitarist Pete Haycocks Studio in Stafford in 1988. I went on to make a double-sided single - Waterbear/Corner Of A Line. After signing a recording and publishing contract with Celtic Music, I made my first solo album "Spirit Talk" which was produced by Kevin Dempsey (see music page for details of all the musicians on the album).

I won the "Northern Songwriter of the Year" award in 1996 and after winning a legal battle to release me from Celtic Music, I joined "The Albion Band" with whom I recorded two albums and a single "Happy Accident", "Before Us Stands Yesterday" and "Wings". Ashley Hutchings released "Burning Bright" (Free Reed FRQCD50) which includes four of my songs. He also released a box-set to reflect his life's work and my song "Potters Dream" appears on this album and is the first example, in my mind, of our writing and performance collaboration.

I had, prior to the Albion Band fulfilled a long ambition of singing Jazz and returned to resume my solo career and pursue this other great passion.

In 2002, I recorded "Vital Signs". I had supported Colin Blunstone - another life-long ambition - and met his drummer, Steve Rodford, who shared my vision for "Free" which he recorded and produced in his garage studio at home in St. Albans. Around the same time I met up with Andy Cleyndert who recorded some live sessions of the two of us - I've used three of those tracks on the album.

The rest of "Vital Signs" varies from live solo tracks to full band tracks which are graced by John Etheridge on guitar, Steve Rodford on drums and John Pugh on sax.

I have recently started recording using the bouzouki and mandolin which inspires me enormously and brings a whole new direction to my sound. Loads of new songs and subject matter! The last two years years have sent me down a powerful new road.

I still continue to gig with the Vital Signs band featuring:

Neil Simpson on bass

Rik Sandford on electric guitar and mandolin

Myself on guitar and bouzouki

Roy Adams on drums

and guest appearances from Dan Nicholls on keyboards and sax and Chris Gumbley on sax.