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Tam White and Jim Condie met in 1981 or 2 when Tam had just returned from a less than successful trip to Norway and was looking for a partner to play with round the pubs in Edinburgh. A mutual friend, saxplayer and Aberdeen wildman, Bill 'Binner' Innes introduced them and thus sparked a union that was to grow into one of the greatest phenomena the Edinburgh music scene ever witnessed.

After playing together for about a year, Tam and Jim both felt the desire to expand the line-up to add a rhythm section. Tam contacted first Ronnie Rae Sr and Dave Swanson to play bass and drums and their first gig was at the now legendary Preservation Hall in Edinburgh. After that 1st gig, Ronnie decided it wasn't for him and dropped out, to be replaced by Paul Manson, who had previously played with Tam in his notorious 'lost' years(!). They also added Robert Pettigrew, the first of several keyboardists.

Very soon, Tam had the idea that it might be, if not financially profitable, at least artistically exciting to put together a horn section drawn from the local jazz scene, and with that in mind, got in touch with trombonist Brian Keddie - one of the most respected jazzers in Scotland at the time. Brian, though, had a dark side - as well as embracing the values and merits of be-bop, he was a closet Tom Waits and Ray Charles fan and he saw this as in part a way for him to develop another side to his arranging. (He also fancied that the Dexters might be a way for him to quit teaching!)

Brian contacted Gordon Cruikshank (now the late), a brilliant if quixotic tenor player who had much experience of this kind of gig, having cut his teeth in 60s RnB band the Memphis Roadshow before going on to play in jazz fusion outfit Head with Keddie. Then they added veteran altoist Jimmy Woods and trumpeter Johnny ' Mad Axeman' Smith and Brian got scribbling...

With the addition of two backing chanteuses, Alison and Fiona, the first full Dexters line-up was born and in no time at all, Sunday night at the Prez became de rigeur for Edinburgh music fans. A short time later, Tam was approached to take the band into Platform 1, the bar of the Caley Hotel at the West End of Princes St and a similar scene quickly established itself there - both gigs remained pretty well packed to the doors for the 4 years the band existed!

Over the years, the band's line-up went through a number of changes - here are most of the musicians who appeared:

Guitar:
Jim Condie

Keyboards:
Robert Pettigrew; Ronnie Rae Jr; Dave Newton; Brian Kellock

Bass:
Paul Manson; Kenny Ellis (not actually a replacement but depped for Paul thus played on 2nd Dexters album)

Tenor Sax:
Gordon Cruikshank; Donald Lang; Tommy Smith; Sandie Evans (Aus)

Alto sax:
Jimmy Woods; Jeff Freedner (USA); Tony Gorman

Trumpet:
Johnny 'Axeman' Smith; Bruce Adams; Donald Corbett

Trombone:
Brian Keddie

Backing vocals:
Alison Jones; Fiona Barclay; the Irish sisters (Maureen and Clare?); Liz McEwan; Anne Turner; Cathy Rae; Jan Swanson

Due to its unwieldy size and the commitments of the various members, the band was a nightmare to tour so very little was done. It managed to get down to Strawberry Studios in Manchester to record a session for the fledgling Paul Jones Show on BBC Radio 2 and over to Ireland for the Queens University Festival in Belfast, as well as comparatively short-lived residencies at the Riverside in Glasgow, The Warehouse, in Dunfermline and various other gigs around Scotland - the last being Oban. However, it did manage to put out two live albums, the first in 1985 on vinyl, the second the following year on cassette, recorded numerous jazz sessions for BBC Scotland and Radio 2 and was featured on STV's The Terry Neason Show with a fledgling Hue & Cry supporting.

Having been called in the past 'the best non-touring band of the 80s' Tam White and the Dexters get back together for a second Edinburgh Fringe appearance, this time at the Famous Spiegeltent. This year sees the return of the t-bone legend himself - the one and only Brian Keddie! Also promising to make an appearance will be our one-time tenor-player - Donald Lang. Tickets are on sale now for the two gigs, but appear to selling like the proverbial hot cakes once again!

Tam and the Dexters, meanwhile, would love to hear from any of their old (and maybe not-so-old) fans who are still out there!