Tenor Wizard… Saxophone 
Intro The Casino Allstars
Enjoying a performance of this unique Northern Soul Band, is watching and hearing many years of experience and accumulated talent, with all its members’ giving 100% into making the “The Casino Allstars” the climax to their performing lives of which I am really proud to be a part of….
The Wizard
Way back when…
Late 70’s I played tenor sax with “Yes Sir” guitarist Nick Clark’s Chicago blues band. Consisting of Clive Stuart on alto and Steve on trumpet we formed the brass line-up, backing Dean Frost’s husky lead vocals with Pat Clark’s brilliant blues harp solos. With others we went out as an effervescent ten piece. Always busy appearing regularly at places such as the band on the Wall and the Gallery. Finally I had to jump ship due to the bands attempts to conquer the world which would not fit in with commitments to my reprographics business at the time.
In early 80’s I helped form “Soulfinger” with Bryan Walker on bass and big Al on guitar, Howie the horn with his unmistakable blasting trumpet sounds, with me on tenor sax, forming the brass we enjoyed performing far and wide as this line up for many years.
The beginning of 89 “Soulfinger” had run it’s course and spent a year with an up tempo knees-up four piece called “The Jacks”, with Steve on keys/trumpet, a boisterous bearded Irish character called John on vocs/sax and myself on tenor and a couple of lassies on backing vocals, great fun !
The Wizard out front
Turn of the century
Big Al and Brian Walker recruited me for the “Groove Merchants” playing an assortment of blues/ jazz. Playing the “Blue Cat” regularly we picked up quite a following until our brilliant young keys player Alistair, went to further his music studies at university which unfortunately for this band proved to be irreplaceable.
Mid 06 After an 18 year sabbatical I took my part in a “Yes Sir” reformation which was a fantastic two and a half years for me, meeting up with the guys again after so long, we performed around the north west playing a host of R&B classics with a tremendous following and support where ever we played.
Early 08 I began rehearsing with “The Casino Allstars”, playing soul, which I really enjoy from the “Soulfinger” days with the added freshness of “northern soul” which is new to me, having allowed it to pass me by the first time around.
“The Casino Allstars” has matured over the last year at a ferocious pace, and is gaining strength in both sound and support each week that passes.
The Future Together with the enthusiasm of our supporters and camaraderie within the band, I am confident that “The Casino Allstars” will be a major part of my life and of the music scene for many years to come….
The Wizard
Blown Away
