I have many musical influences and interests. They include Kevin Coyne. I have recently included a verson of Kevin's song I Stood Up. This is done in tribute to the man. And to spread the word about his music. Kevin recorded the song on his album The Adventures Of Crazy Frank, the Frank in question being Music Hall comedian Frank Randal. According to the CDs sleve notes Kevin saw a some of similarities between his life and Frank Randals life. Though Kevin managed to give up drinking, Frank Randal sadly didn't. The Adventures Of Crazy Frank came out in 1995 and is one of my favourite Kevin Coyne albums from that period of time. I recorded my verson of I Stood Up in 2005. It is featured on a fens tribute album (The World Is Full Of Fools). The album can be obtained by visiting Pascals fans website at pascalregis.nerim.net. I like Sixtys and early 70s Soul Music, Examples being Soloman Burke, Wilson Picket. Curtis Mayfield both with the Impressions, and solo, Jerry Butler Loraine Ellison, Arethia Franklin, Garnet Mimms, Fontella Bass, Otis Redding, James Carr, Bill Withers, and many more. Also Nina Simone, The Staples Singers. I love Afro American Gospel Music. Mahalia Jackson was an iintroduction, as was the testyfying of some of the soul singers I used to listen to in the sixties. There are many great artists in gospel, but special mention will go to Georgia Peach, Bessie Griffin , the gospel songs of Fanny J Crosby and Thomas Dorsey also Blind Willie Johnson, an artist who often is listed in the blues sections in record shops .He is a great slide player and his songs like Motherless Children and The Soul Of A Man have universial appeal. He was also verry pashionate in his search for spiritual redemption. Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed, and Praise God I'm Satisfied for example.
I am also verry intrested in the blues. Again there are many fine artists. A speceial mention will go to Sleepy John Este. a verry under rated artist. but a great songwriter. Listen to the mandolin player on some of his records too. Other blues artists include Son House, Leadbelly, Mississipi John Hurt, Howling Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson. Buka White, Lightning Hopkins, and Sonny Terry. Either on his own or with Brownie McGee. To quote Kevin Coyne from the interview I did with him "the blues has many great performers, it is hard to pick the best" .The same is true of gospel music. Then there is the Carter Family, a modern day record in that tradition that I like a lot is Lifelines by Iris DeMent, she even does some Fanny J Crosby songs. I also like English Folk music. An area of music that I am learning about
Other influences and intrests include, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, Duffy Power, Cliff Richards and the Shaddows as they were back in the early 60s, The Remo Four, Cliff Bennett and the Rebbel Rousers, 60s beat groups and 60s mod bands. the Acton etc. Also The Yardbirds, Them and solo Van Morrison, particulary his 80s work and His Band and Street Chior from 1971 . The Kinks, particulary the Village Green Presavation Society. Patto, Edgar Broughton Band, Family. Trafic, Mighty Baby, Jackie Leven solo and with Doll by Doll, William Blake, Charles Dickens, Alan Ginsberg, John Clare, Billy Childish, Charles Bukowski,The victorian nonsense verse of Edward Lear and Lewis Carrol. Music Hall Comedy. This is another area of music that I am learning about. George Formby, Tommy Cooper, Les Dawson, Carry On Films the Bonzo Dog Band, The Scaffold,. Also ,Simon and Garfunkel, Kate Bush, Laura Nyro, Roushi, Davy Graham. Sinse begining to understand Bob Dylans roots in blues, gospel, folk, and country music, I am starting to like some of his music. There is a great CD called the early blues roots of Bob Dylan on Catfish records.. Other artists that I like include Felt, Denim, Bell and Sebastian, The Nightingales, Alternative TV, the post punk do it yourself ethics gave me confidence at the time. Patti Smith, Niki Sudden,The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, John Ottway,The Astronauts, The Otters, Then there is Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytells, The Wailers, Trojan Records, The Liqudator by Harry J Alstars. (The Staples Singers used the intro on I'll Take You There) .I like Culture,(rest in peace Joseph Hill). Lee Perry, King Tubby the 70s reggae DJs and some other pionering roots artists like Junior Byles and, Max Romeo etc ,and much more. I am dyslexic. I will update this as I can.
Frank Bangay was born in Wandsworth South London in 1951.
He left school at the age of 15 to a variety of different work experiences. He started writing poetry in 1972. During the 1970s he served his apprenticeship at the Monday poetry evenings at the Troubadour Coffee House in Earls Court London. Frank first had experience of the mental health services in the 1970s when he started suffering from severe depression and anxiety. These experiences have played a part in his life since then. He would like to feel that one day these experiences will be things we can talk about without fear of hostility or discrimination , as is so often the case in this world. Creativity has always been a lifeline for him. In the 1980s he became involved with the Survivor Movement both campaigning and organizing many fundraising benefits of poetry and music. he also collaborated with others on publishing pamphlets and magazines of poetry written by people who had shared psychiatric experiences. In late 1991 Frank was a founder member of Survivors Poetry.Here in a voluntary capacity he organized many performances and creative writing workshops in day centers and sheltered housing and other community settings around London. In 1996 he left Survivor's Poetry and set up a creative writing workshop at CORE Arts in Hackney. An place that promotes creativity by people who have had mental health problems. between 200 and 2004 he facilitated a creative writing workshop at St John at Hackney Community Space Centre with homeless people. In 1999 he published a collection of his poetry and drawings Naked Songs and Rhythms of Hope. He has recorded three CD's of his poetry with musical backings. A True Voice Singing in 2001, This Topsy Turvy Life in 2004, and Jewels In The Poundshop in 2006. For the past few years he has been helping to put together a tribute album to the late Kevin Coyne. Frank being a long time fan of Kevin's music. The album Whispers From The Offing was released in March 2007. See the Life and Living website at www.lifeandliving.net for details. He also contributes a gardening colomn called Rambling Garden Blues for an internet magazine called the Big Untidy. Their website is well worth checking out. Frank continues to write and perform. Sometimes with guitarist Tunde Busari, or the Topsy Turvy Band, Sometimes as a solo poet, sometimes with Gospel Singer Sophie Mirel, His work is sometimes of a spiritual nature, and is written from life experience.
World Debut William C Oatman Jr The Takeover Project entitled "Breakthrough"!!!!Live promo Dvd Get Excited featuring 2008/09 Stellar Award Nominee Kaira Miller!!! CD/DVD Release June 2009!!!
Thanks for finding Dark Messiah - hope you liked our own song Never Coming back and the rough live recording of Basket Case we've posted. We are currently writing and recording so keep checking on our progress. Spread the word about us, its much appreciated.
WHISPERS FROM THE OFFING- A Tribute To Kevin Coyne Now Available
A Tribute to Kevin Coyne(LALR 01)features- Nigel Burch, Goldfish, Dog Latin, Nikki Sudden, Kevin Hewick, Alternative TV, Veronique Acoustique,
Grae J Wall, Jowe Head, Pascal Regis, Leo O'Kelly, Frank Bangay and almost real, Chris Connelly,
The Otters (Ft. Mark Astronaut), Dave Russell,Joey Stack,
Clive Product, Jackie Leven
There will be two bonus tracks on the download version Sally Timm's `I'm Just A Man' and Jon Langford's `Having A Party'.
