Chris Carmell started playing regularly in bands in 1958 in Liverpool.
In the sixties he lived in France and played in Paris (with, occasionally, Albert Nicholas on clarinet)
and with the New Orleans Wildcats in Nancy. On returning to England he played in the Luton area
and in Glasgow before moving to Cheltenham, where he was a member of several bands before
forming the Victoria Jazz Band, which had great success for 20 years in the South West. Moving
back to Birmingham, he continued playing in Gloucestershire, but eventually joined Big Eric's Old
Comrades and the Trent Valley Stompers before forming, with Tony Quinn, the present band.
Bob Smith, who plays clarinet and assorted saxophones, started his musical career in 1946 before meeting up with Ken Ingram in Egypt during National Service and forming the “Sandy City Dixielanders”. On demob back in Birmingham, together with Ken and Tony Hobson, he formed the legendary Eagle Jazz Band, which he ran for almost fifty years before taking a couple of years’ rest. On returning to the Midlands jazz scene he made frequent “dep” appearances with local bands including the New Washboard Syncopators, with whom he has now settled.
Dave Braidley, our trombone player started his playing career in 1958 while still at school, and has since played regularly, mainly in the Midlands.
An original member of the well respected Classic Jazzband (Leicester) and the late Ken Ingram's New Creole Band. Over the years he has spent time with, amongst others, The Three Spires Jazzmen (Lichfield) The Sheaf River Jazzmen (Sheffield) The Ford-Jones Dixieland Jazz Band (Derby) The Memphis Five/Six (Lichfield), and still regularly plays for The Blue Garden Jazzband, The Bill Bailey Celebrity Jazz Band and The Old Marina Jazz Men. During his career he has played with musicians of the calibre of Nat Gonella, Kenny Baker, Pat Halcox, Alan Elsdon, Ken Colyer, Monty Sunshine, Terry Lightfoot, Sammy Rimington.
After 50 years of playing he is begining to master the rudiments of his instrument and is sufficiently inconsiderate of the public that he plays kazoo, swanee whistle and also appears to think that he can sing!
In his spare time he collects useless facts about obscure jazzmen and their recordings.
George Linder, our banjo player, renowned for his intricate solos, is the newest member of the band. His musical career started in Birmingham in the early ’60s before joining the Ken Ingram band in 1969 and subsequently the Night Hawks in the late ’70s. He returned for further spells with bands led by Ingram during the ’80s and ’90s, since when he has freelanced with numerous jazz bands in and around the Midlands region.
Bob Pearce, our string bassist, started playing skiffle with a broomstick and tea chest in 1956, graduating to a real one a year later and was soon playing with The Northside Jazzmen in and around Birmingham. He then ran a dance band before joining the Roy Kirby Paragon Jazzband in 1976, touring extensively in Europe. He is a very experienced journeyman, having played with several professional bands. He is a solid rhythmical musician, who helps to drive the band and can be occasionally (if permitted) heard on tuba.
Tony Quinn, washboard player/percussionist and co-band leader, formerly with the Ken Ingram Vintage Band and Central City Jazzmen for six years, has also made the progression from folk and skiffle, where he was member of several groups as a guitarist/vocalist for over thirty years. He is an admirer of the American jug and washboard bands of the ’20s and early ’30s, particularly those featuring Johnny Dodds and Clarence Williams. He can also be called upon to vocalise if required.