I am a full time professional musician, and have been for over 40 years, and now the emphasis is on passing on the knowledge - that I have gained in this marvellous occupation - to others. I have been fortunate to work with many groups, bands and artists, on gigs, backing, studio work etc.. I can sight read music and enjoy playing all styles from Rock to Rumbas to Reggae.

Over the years I have been lucky to travel to most parts of the world, and when working on several different cruise ships, worked in bands varying in size from duo's up to 14 piece show bands. Still love playing, teaching, and arranging to this day !

I first started playing guitar in 1963 at the age of 17 when a pal of mine at school (Audley Park, Torquay) Tony Ives offered to teach me "Apache" by the Shadows. He had a Fender Strat and I spent hours learning everything I could from him. I was hooked ! The first band I joined in 1964 was the "LAST TIK BAND" ( formerly the TELSTARS of Torquay). I worked with band leader Tony Waldron at Torquay music shop Paish & Co, and he asked me if I would like to join the band on sax. A week or two of begging and grovelling and my dad bought me a Conn tenor sax. A few lessons followed with Tommy Dunlop and my sax playing career began.

The Last Tik Band. 1964-1968.

The LAST TIK BAND 1964. Left to right : Wiley Barber-drums, Spud Gorman-bass, John Snell(me)-tenor sax, Tony Waldron-vocals & keyboards, Bob Pring-guitar. A great band and lots of fun. I turned pro as soon as my weekly wage topped £10. Loads of gigs, record contracts with Northern Songs and working with the likes of Elton John at Dick James Music just part of the fabulous scene in the sixties.

The Indiana Highway. 1968-1970.

Torquay based soul band The Indiana Highway. About 1968. Another band that was great fun to be in. Left to right back row : Bob Pring-guitar, Dave Klinkenburg-drums, Steve Culverhouse-trumpet, Dave Mumford-bass. Front row : Barry Privet-keyboards, Arif Assif-vocals, John Snell-tenor/alto sax and flute. Not shown in photo is Norman Linden - tenor sax who made up this 8 piece soul band.

THE SHIPHAY MANOR CLUB 1970-1973.

The Shiphay Manor Club, Torquay. 1970-73. Unfortunately I do not have a picture of all members of this great band "Subdued Hubub". We were fortunate to be signed by EMI in 1973.On the left is myself on guitar, with Rod Smith on bass. On the right is Robert Shaw on the drums. Not shown is Keith Setters-Hammond organ & superb vocals (later replaced by Ginger Taylor) and Mickey Jaques-guitar.

The Hip Hooray Band. 1974-1980.

Some info on the Hip Hooray Band can be found in the book "Oh No! It's Local Rock and Roll" by Barry Sowden. I played with this Exeter based band for the best part of seven years. I think the highlight was backing Basil Brush at the Old Vic in London. If you read the book you will see we played a new years eve gig in Dubai in 79/80, where we were paid £10,000. Months later I was paid my cut by the band leader. It was £30 ! I left the band soon after as you can imagine ! Left to right = Bob Lynch- keyboards, myself-guitar/tenor/alto sax and flute, Mack Rae-tenor sax, Grenville Downing-trumpet & flugel, Derrick Tolman-sound engineer (later replaced by the Chief - David "Chiefy" Hitchcock), Roger Pike-drums, David Mulvihill-bass (band leader), and Robin Phillips-guitar. Me on the right on stage at the Dolphin holiday camp, Brixham on a Country & Western night.

SKYLINE. 80s & 90s.

Throughout the eighties and early nineties I worked with a band called Skyline. A very versatile and happy band - we played in the UK during the summer months, and on cruise ships during the winter months, hense the very happy band ! The picture above left shows us on deck of the MV LA PALMA in Funchal, Madeira Island. Left to right : John Snell-guitar, saxes, flute, Alan Rogers-drums, Ian Smith-bass, Paul Wassock-tenor sax, Steve Jones-keyboards. Right picture is the same band playing a poolside set onboard the MS BLACK WATCH. (11,209 Gross Tons, 517 Passengers & 200 crew).Left to right : Me-tenor sax, Alan Rogers-drums, seated is Steve Jones-keyboards, in the background - cruise director Peter Glenn, a guest guitarist and Ian Smith-bass.

"OCEANAIRE". 90s and on.

In the mid 90's I teamed up with old musician pal Terry Pascoe to play as a duo onboard the luxurious MS CROWN ODYSSEY (34,242 Gross Tons, 1,221 passengers and 470 crew - now named "Balmoral" and increased in length to 218m and weight up to 43,000grt, 1,340 passengers, operated by Fred Olsen Lines). Terry is a great musician and singer, and even playing seven nights a week for months at a time was most enjoyable. On the Crown Odyssey Terry sang and played a mini grand piano plus a Roland keyboard, while I played saxes and guitar. Other gigs and other ships have followed plus gigs with local trio "Raffles" featuring the impressive John Reeves on vocals and keyboards. All in all - great fun !

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