Guitar & Vocals | Drums | Bass | Keyboard | Tenor Sax |
So, I eventually became a Doctor...
‘Come on Dave we are going out tonight’. I was dragged off to see ‘Dave Brennan’s Traditional Jazz Band’ at one of the Sheffield live venues by dad. Wondering if teenagers, spots and all, could actually go into pubs in 1972 and listen to music at fifteen, I duly entered (if memory serves me right) the Norfolk Arms at Ringinglow, Sheffield. That was followed by a visit to the Beehive at the top of Dykes Hall Road, Sheffield. Hearing the late and great clarinet player, Malc Bramley, made me ‘dig my heels in’ for mum and dad to buy me a clarinet. On my birthday, I was gifted a fifteen quid wooden ‘Edgware‘ clarinet that eventually took me to into the ‘ropy’ school jazz band. Over a four year period I passed my music exams to grade six and I proudly played my favourites, ‘Stranger on the Shore’ and ‘Rhapsody In Blue’.
Was listening to Benny Goodman and Louise Armstrong one of your favourite past times between 15 and 19 years old???
‘Brogues’ ‘Crombies’ ‘Oxford Bags’ (how many buttons did you have on the waistband and were yours 24 inch wide?) ‘Platform Boots’ (12 inch walking killers) were all the rage including ‘permed’ hair through my late teens. Musical influences were varied and my love for ‘disco music’ grew in the 70’s. Actually living through the disco era, started by the Bee Gees Saturday Night Fever, was fun and a pleasure. This influenced a new part-time career as a. mobile DJ for weddings, parties etc. This inevitably led to thirteen years as a DJ in various night clubs. I missed live music.
Do DJ’s actually’ talk’ these days for their £10k ‘one nighter’ in Ibiza???
Six years ago my brother Steve ‘gifted’ me an alto sax just before dad, our best friend and our influence, died. I started to play the sax with various CD’s including ‘King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys’ and ‘Charlie Parker’. I also started to play on the live music scene with various bands including ‘Green Onions’ and ‘Day Trippers’ at Trippets Wine Bar.
Today I am honoured to be playing with one of the best original blues/jazz/funk bands around. I met Grey Cooper in West Street Live, Sheffield, one wonderful blues evening by joining a session with his band. Music was and still is my anger, frustration, annoyance, my love and my best friend.
Oh!! Yes!! – It was Grey (Mr G) who took my initials ‘DR’ and put the SAX after it – Dr. Sax – ‘so, I eventually became a Doctor……………..’
Is it what you don’t play that matters most?
David J Roberts
Thanks and Love to:
Equipment