Great sax player, Raphael Ravenscroft (sometimes credited as Raf Ravenscroft) entered into music history for playing the famous sax riff on Gerry Rafferty's ´Baker street´ song.
While a very prolific studio musician (he told me he had played in more than 700 recordings!), it has been hard for me tracing his live bands. So, as I know I'm missing lots of things, any help would be very welcomed!!
He was born in June 4th, 1954.
FAIR WARNING
Fair Warning was a band formed by Sally Oldfield, featuring some members of Legover and others. Can someone give me info about them, please?
FAIR WARNING #? |
? |
|
---|---|---|
Sally Oldfield vocals | Raphael Ravenscroft † sax | + others unknown to me. Help! |
Other info on members of Fair Warning (I know up to 7 members) | |
---|---|
To be covered (2): | Sally Oldfield, Lindsay Scott |
Not enough info (4): | Steve Brooks, John Cullerton, David Ulm, Brian Wren |
SALLY OLDFIELD BAND
Around 1974, this was part of the band backing Sally Oldfield, but don´t know other info:
Ravenscroft, Scott and Ulm left Sally Oldfield to form the band Legover in 1974.
SALLY OLDFIELD BAND #? |
?-1974 |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Sally Oldfield vocals | Raphael Ravenscroft † sax | Lindsay Scott sax | David Ulm percussion | + maybe others, unknown to me. Help! |
Legoverê | Legoverê | Legoverê |
Ravenscroft, Scott and Ulm left Sally Oldfield to form the band Legover in 1974.
Other info on members of Sally Oldfield Band (I know up to 4 members) | |
---|---|
To be covered (2): | Sally Oldfield, Lindsay Scott |
Not enough info (1): | David Ulm |
LEGOVER
Legover was a band formed in 1974 in Royston, Hertfordshire, basically as a vehicle for the songs of Sean Byrne, formerly of Public Foot the Roman.
The nucleus was four people, Byrne, Raf Ravenscroft, David Ulm and Lindsay Scott (the latter three were backing Sally Oldfield at that time):
They liked Byrne’s songs and ended up leaving Oldfield to try and work up his material with the aim of getting a contract.
They recruited a bunch of friends, such as Dave Rose and Theodore Thunder from Leo Sayer Band, from jam and studio sessions around London and recorded on a piecemeal basis, using a variety of studios during the course of 1975.
Unfortunately the album, Wait till nightmare, wasn’t released until three years later, when punk ruled, and it sold dismally.
The band probably folded in 1975, when Lindsay Scott moved to Holland.
The nucleus was four people, Byrne, Raf Ravenscroft, David Ulm and Lindsay Scott (the latter three were backing Sally Oldfield at that time):
LEGOVER #? |
1974-? |
||
---|---|---|---|
êSally Oldfield Band |
êSally Oldfield Band |
êSally Oldfield Band |
|
Sean Byrne guitar | Raphael Ravenscroft † sax | Lindsay Scott sax | David Ulm percussion |
They liked Byrne’s songs and ended up leaving Oldfield to try and work up his material with the aim of getting a contract.
They recruited a bunch of friends, such as Dave Rose and Theodore Thunder from Leo Sayer Band, from jam and studio sessions around London and recorded on a piecemeal basis, using a variety of studios during the course of 1975.
Unfortunately the album, Wait till nightmare, wasn’t released until three years later, when punk ruled, and it sold dismally.
The band probably folded in 1975, when Lindsay Scott moved to Holland.
Other info on members of Legover (I know up to 4 members) | |
---|---|
To be covered (1): | Lindsay Scott |
Not enough info (2): | Sean Byrne, David Ulm |
GERRY RAFFERTY BAND
This was the great live band that backed Gerry Rafferty on his 1978 tour:
GERRY RAFFERTY BAND #? |
1978 |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gerry Rafferty † vocals | Roger Brown guitar | Gary Taylor bass | Tommy Eyre † keyboards | Raphael Ravenscroft † sax | Liam Genockey drums |
ROGER CHAPMAN & THE SHORTLIST
Roger Chapman was assembling a live band for promoting his brand new album Chappo. This was the superb live band, from February 1979 to March 1979, under the name Roger Chapman's Shortlist:
A killer lineup for a great artist!
More than 30 years later, a live album appeared, The loft tapes volume 1.
During March 1979, the lineup is augmented by Roger´s mate, the wonderful Bobby Tench:
ROGER CHAPMAN & THE SHORTLIST #1 |
Feb 79-Mar 79 |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roger Chapman vocals | Clem Clempson guitar | Tim Hinkley keyboards | Jerome Rimson bass | Raphael Ravenscroft † sax | Stretch drums |
Helen Hardy backing vocals | Kathi O´Donoghue backing vocals |
A killer lineup for a great artist!
More than 30 years later, a live album appeared, The loft tapes volume 1.
During March 1979, the lineup is augmented by Roger´s mate, the wonderful Bobby Tench:
ROGER CHAPMAN & THE SHORTLIST #2 |
Mar 79 |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roger Chapman vocals | Clem Clempson guitar | Bobby Tench guitar, vocals | Tim Hinkley keyboards | Jerome Rimson bass | Raphael Ravenscroft † sax |
Stretch drums | Helen Hardy backing vocals | Kathi O´Donoghue backing vocals |
Other info on members of Roger Chapman & The Shortlist (I know up to 46 members) | |
---|---|
Already covered (4): | Helen Hardy, Chris Parren, Stretch, Geoff Whitehorn |
Old pages (12): | Miller Anderson, Clem Clempson, Alan Coulter, Jim Cregan, Ian Gibbons, Tim Hinkley, Brian Johnston, Nick Pentelow, Steve Simpson, Henry Spinetti, Tony Stevens, Mick Weaver |
To be covered (29): | Vic Asquith, Gina Brown, Boz Burrell, Roger Chapman, Mick Clewes, Mel Collins, Dave ´Bucket´ Colwell, Pat Crumly, Geoff Dunn, Dieter Falk, Mark Feltham, Rosko Gee, Anthony Glynne, Andy Hamilton, Paul Hirsh, Sam Kelly, Duncan Kinnell, John Lingwood, Micky Moody, Kathi O´Donoghue, Poli Palmer, Dachael Rae, Jerome Rimson, Debbie Sharp, Peter Stroud,... up to 29 musicians. |
GERRY RAFFERTY BAND (again)
And this was the live band that backed Gerry Rafferty around 1980:
GERRY RAFFERTY BAND #? |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gerry Rafferty † vocals | Richard Brunton guitar | Mo Foster bass | Ian Lynn keyboards | Raphael Ravenscroft † sax | Liam Genockey drums |
Other info on members of Gerry Rafferty Band (I know up to 15 members) | |
---|---|
Already covered (3): | Richard Brunton, Tommy Eyre, Gerry Rafferty |
To be covered (11): | Arran Ahmun, Jeff Bannister, Roger Brown, Liane Carroll, Kenny Craddock, Mo Foster, Liam Genockey, Julian Littman, Ian Lynn, Lindsay Scott, Gary Taylor |
BRAND X
For a short while, from June to August 1982, Brand X expanded their lineup, probably for touring:
BRAND X #5 |
Jun 82-Aug 82 |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
John Goodsall guitar | Percy Jones bass | John Giblin bass | Robin Lumley keyboards | Peter Robinson keyboards | Raphael Ravenscroft † sax |
Phil Collins drums | Steven Short drums |
Other info on members of Brand X (I know up to 20 members) | |
---|---|
Already covered (2): | Morris Pert, Jeff Seopardie |
To be covered (17): | Joe Blocker, Chuck Burgi, Mike Clarke, Phil Collins, Kenwood Dennard, John Giblin, John Goodsall, Preston Heyman, John Holmes, Percy Jones, Frank Katz, Robin Lumley, Mike Miller, Peter Robinson, Steven Short, Kris Sjobring, Mick Stevens |
DAVID GILMOUR BAND
When Pink Floyd parted ways for the first time, and after having released his second solo album, About face, David Gilmour assembled a superb live band for touring:
They started the tour on March 1984. Jody Liscott broke her arm on July 1984, and she was replaced for a few gigs by Sid Evans (or was Sue Addams or Sue Evans?).
DAVID GILMOUR BAND #? |
Mar 84-? |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Gilmour guitar, vocals | Mick Ralphs guitar | Mickey Feat bass | Gregg Dechert keyboards | Raphael Ravenscroft † sax | Jody Linscott percussion |
Chris Slade drums |
They started the tour on March 1984. Jody Liscott broke her arm on July 1984, and she was replaced for a few gigs by Sid Evans (or was Sue Addams or Sue Evans?).
Other info on members of David Gilmour Band (I know up to 41 members) | |
---|---|
Already covered (1): | Tim Renwick |
Old pages (8): | Jon Carin, David Gilmour, Michael Kamen, Durga McBroom, Pino Palladino, Dick Parry, Gary Wallis, Rick Wright |
To be covered (25): | Dave Bishop, Stuart Brooks, Sam Brown, Margo Buchanan, John ´Rabbit´ Bundrick, Gregg Dechert, Steve DiStanislao, Mickey Feat, Nic France, Julie Harrington, Ian Harrison, Andy Jackson, Jody Linscott, Phil Manzanera, Louise Marshall, Kevin McAlea, Chucho Merchan, Billy Nicholls, Mark Nightingale, Simon Phillips, Guy Pratt, Mick Ralphs, Chris Slade, Phil Taylor, Theo Travis |
Not enough info (6): | Chris Burns, Bryan Chambers, Clint Driftwood, Dick Hayes, Barry Knight, Simon Park |
WILLIE & THE POORBOYS
Willie & The PoorBoys was a parallel band formed by Rolling Stones then-member, Bill Wyman. Thought as an all-star band, Bill called many of his friends to play with him, both on albums and concerts. In March 1985, it was filmed a video, with a slightly different lineup from the album:
WILLIE & THE POORBOYS #? |
1985 |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bill Wyman vocals, bass | Ron Wood guitar | Andy Fairweather Low guitar, vocals | Mickey Gee † guitar | Geraint Watkins keyboards, vocals | Raphael Ravenscroft † sax |
Mel Collins sax | Terry Taylor percussion | Kenny Jones percussion, drums | Henry Spinetti percussion | Charlie Watts drums | + |
Chris Rea guest on vocals | Ringo Starr guest | John Entwistle † guest | Chris Jagger guest |
Other info on members of Willie & The PoorBoys (I know up to 22 members) | |
---|---|
Already covered (1): | Mickey Gee |
Old pages (4): | Gary Brooker, Nick Pentelow, Maggie Ryder, Henry Spinetti |
To be covered (14): | Graham Broad, Mel Collins, Andy Fairweather Low, Jimmy Henderson, Kenny Jones, Wayne Lee, Olle Niklasson, Slim Jim Phantom, Jerry Portnoy, Terry Taylor, Geraint Watkins, Charlie Watts, Ron Wood, Bill Wyman |
Not enough info (2): | Annica, Maria |
BARRY VENN & THE DOLPHINS
Barry Venn changed the band name, as it started to be his own band without a stable lineup, only friends and colleagues that played with him. Clem Clempson appeared several times with them. In September 1993, the lineup was:
They used to play lots of blues standards, as well as covers of songs by Fleetwood Mac and Cream.
Barry Venn continued under this name with some other famous musicians (such as Neil Hubbard). Other great guests and friends that used to play with the band were: Phil May (from Pretty Things), David Gilmour (from Pink Floyd fame), Tim Renwick, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Raf Ravenscroft, Tony O'Malley, just to name a few.
BARRY VENN & THE DOLPHINS #? |
Sep 93 |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barry Venn vocals, guitar | Clem Clempson guitar | Rob Burns bass | Tim Hinkley keyboards | John ´Willie´ Wilson drums | + sometimes, some of: |
Phil May vocals | Tim Renwick guitar | Neil Hubbard guitar | Jay Stapley guitar | Snowy White guitar | Dick Heckstall-Smith † sax |
Raphael Ravenscroft † sax |
They used to play lots of blues standards, as well as covers of songs by Fleetwood Mac and Cream.
Barry Venn continued under this name with some other famous musicians (such as Neil Hubbard). Other great guests and friends that used to play with the band were: Phil May (from Pretty Things), David Gilmour (from Pink Floyd fame), Tim Renwick, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Raf Ravenscroft, Tony O'Malley, just to name a few.
Other info on members of Barry Venn & The Dolphins (I know up to 17 members) | |
---|---|
Already covered (3): | Rob Burns, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Tim Renwick |
Old pages (4): | Clem Clempson, David Gilmour, Tim Hinkley, Steve Simpson |
To be covered (9): | Neil Hubbard, Robin Lumley, Phil May, Tony O´Malley, Mick Ralphs, Jay Stapley, Barry Venn, Snowy White, John ´Willie´ Wilson |
BOBBY TENCH BAND
For some time, Raf Ravenscroft was guesting with Bobby Tench Band (they had played together long ago with Roger Chapman):
BOBBY TENCH BAND #? |
? |
|
---|---|---|
Bobby Tench vocals, guitar | Raphael Ravenscroft † sax | + others unknown to me. Help! |
Other info on members of Bobby Tench Band (I know up to 13 members) | |
---|---|
Old pages (2): | Tim Hinkley, Steve Simpson |
To be covered (9): | Brian Coulter, Kuma Harada, Gary Husband, Vic Martin, Darrin Mooney, Charlie Morgan, Peter Rees, Bobby Tench, Darby Todd |
Not enough info (1): | Papa George |
RAF´S SOLO ALBUM
Her father didn't like me, anyway was his first solo album. Being a famous sessionman, it was clear that his solo album were to contain many of his companions. The list is amazingly long:
Raf Ravenscroft (sax, flute)
+
Dennis O'Brien (vocals)
Maggie Ryder (vocals, years later in Brian May Band with Neil Murray and Cozy Powell)
Charles Boromeo (vocals)
Paul Da Vinci (vocals)
Richard Brunton (guitar, from Gerry Rafferty Band)
Brian Holloway (guitar)
Nigel Jenkins (guitar, from Gerry Rafferty Band)
Julian Littman (guitar)
Steve Waller (guitar)
Kuma Harada (bass)
Gary Taylor (bass)
Steve York (bass)
Pete Zorn (bass, flute)
Tommy Eyre (keyboards)
Pete Solley (keyboards)
Betsy Cook (keyboards, vocals)
Jeff Bannister (keyboards, from Alan Bown Set)
Vic Ash (sax)
Keith Bird (sax)
Manny Winter (sax)
Kenny Baker (trumpet)
Eddie Blair (trumpet)
Derek Healey (trumpet)
John Huckridge (trumpet)
Derek Watkins (trumpet)
John Wilbraham (trumpet)
Don Lusher (trombone)
Ken Goldie (trombone)
Wally Smith (trombone)
Jim Brown (horns)
John Pignegny (horns)
Bill Skeat (horns)
Albert Wing (horns)
Liam Genockey (drums, from Zzebra and Gerry Rafferty Band)
Stretch (drums)
Geoff Britton (drums, ex-Wings and Rough Diamond, among many others)
Preston Heyman (drums, from Brand X)
Frank Ricotti (percussion)
David Ulm (percussion, from Legover)
Raphael Ravenscroft also released some singles:
´Maxine / Just the two of us´ (1980, Solid) (reissued in 1985)
´Lifeline / Maxine´ (1981, Nems)
Apart from albums, Raf has written several books about sax playing, such as The complete saxophone player in 1990.
Sadly, Raphael Ravenscroft passed away on October 19, 2014.
   11 BANDS (WITH 13 SELECTED RECORDINGS):
   5 ALBUMS FOR 3 BANDMATES AND FRIENDS:
   1 COLLECTIVE ALBUMS:
   42 SESSIONS (FOR 31 ARTISTS):
Raf Ravenscroft (sax, flute)
+
Dennis O'Brien (vocals)
Maggie Ryder (vocals, years later in Brian May Band with Neil Murray and Cozy Powell)
Charles Boromeo (vocals)
Paul Da Vinci (vocals)
Richard Brunton (guitar, from Gerry Rafferty Band)
Brian Holloway (guitar)
Nigel Jenkins (guitar, from Gerry Rafferty Band)
Julian Littman (guitar)
Steve Waller (guitar)
Kuma Harada (bass)
Gary Taylor (bass)
Steve York (bass)
Pete Zorn (bass, flute)
Tommy Eyre (keyboards)
Pete Solley (keyboards)
Betsy Cook (keyboards, vocals)
Jeff Bannister (keyboards, from Alan Bown Set)
Vic Ash (sax)
Keith Bird (sax)
Manny Winter (sax)
Kenny Baker (trumpet)
Eddie Blair (trumpet)
Derek Healey (trumpet)
John Huckridge (trumpet)
Derek Watkins (trumpet)
John Wilbraham (trumpet)
Don Lusher (trombone)
Ken Goldie (trombone)
Wally Smith (trombone)
Jim Brown (horns)
John Pignegny (horns)
Bill Skeat (horns)
Albert Wing (horns)
Liam Genockey (drums, from Zzebra and Gerry Rafferty Band)
Stretch (drums)
Geoff Britton (drums, ex-Wings and Rough Diamond, among many others)
Preston Heyman (drums, from Brand X)
Frank Ricotti (percussion)
David Ulm (percussion, from Legover)
Raphael Ravenscroft also released some singles:
´Maxine / Just the two of us´ (1980, Solid) (reissued in 1985)
´Lifeline / Maxine´ (1981, Nems)
Apart from albums, Raf has written several books about sax playing, such as The complete saxophone player in 1990.
Sadly, Raphael Ravenscroft passed away on October 19, 2014.
   11 BANDS (WITH 13 SELECTED RECORDINGS):
BAND / ARTIST | . | RECORDINGS | ||||||||||
Brand X |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||||
Roger Chapman & The Shortlist |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||||
Fair Warning |   |  
| ||||||||||
David Gilmour Band |   |  
| ||||||||||
Legover |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||||
Sally Oldfield Band |   |  
| ||||||||||
Gerry Rafferty Band |   | 3 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||||
Raphael Ravenscroft Band |   | 4 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||||
Bobby Tench Band |   |  
| ||||||||||
Barry Venn & The Dolphins |   |  
| ||||||||||
Willie & The PoorBoys |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
|
   5 ALBUMS FOR 3 BANDMATES AND FRIENDS:
BAND / ARTIST | . | RECORDINGS | ||||||||
Colina |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Mike Oldfield Band |   | 2 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Pink Floyd |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
|
   1 COLLECTIVE ALBUMS:
BAND / ARTIST | . | RECORDINGS |
VVAA |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
|
   42 SESSIONS (FOR 31 ARTISTS):
BAND / ARTIST | . | RECORDINGS | ||||||||
Abba |   | 2 COMPILATIONS:
| ||||||||
America |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Bijelo Dugme |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
The Bliss Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Kim Carnes Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Patrick Coutin Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Alberto Fortis Band |   | 2 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Pete French Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Marvin Gaye Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Ian Gomm Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Hardin & York |   | 2 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Eddie Hardin Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Annie Haslam Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Tomas Ledin Band |   | 2 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Alvin Lee Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
London Symphony Orchestra |   | 2 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Andrew Mattheson Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Maxine Nightingale Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Dennis O´Brien Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Robert Plant Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Chris Rea Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Red Rider |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Ritz |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Tim Rose Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Steve Tilston Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Bonnie Tyler Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Roger Waters Band |   | 2 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Pete Willsher Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Wire Daisies |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
| ||||||||
Tim Wright Band |   | 1 RECORDINGS:
|
RELATED WEBSITE LINKS: 26
Official site(s) - tell them you saw the link here:
- Bob Tench
- The Official Eddie Hardin website (by my great friend Alex Gitlin)
- Tim Hinkley
- Mo Foster
- Tim Renwick Official Website
- Tim Renwick (Myspace)
From the always interesting Alex's Picks (by Alex Gitlin), we have:
From the superb site Knights in Blue Denim: The British Blues Scene '68 - '70 (by Christer Fridhammar & Vanja), we have:
From the great site DME (by Dmitry M. Epstein), we have fantastic interviews:
From the comprehensive Rockpalast site (by Michael Marsch), we have:
Wikipedia doesn´t want to include links to this website, but I won´t do the same with them. So, from the great Wikipedia, we have:
- Roger Chapman
- Gerry Rafferty
- Robert Plant
- Roger Waters
- Tim Hinkley
- Phil Collins
- John Entwistle
- Rob Burns
- Dick Heckstall-Smith
THANKS:
Very Special Thanks to:
Thanks to:
WHAT'S NEW:
31/October/2014 - Page added to the blog.
10/April/2000 - Original page written by me (in the old site).
RELATED MUSICIANS:
Raphael Ravenscroft mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Tommy Eyre (8)
Gary Taylor (8)
Graham Preskett (7)
Frank Ricotti (7)
Ray Cooper (6)
Herbie Flowers (6)
Liam Genockey (6)
Nigel Jenkins (6)
Henry Spinetti (6)
Pete Wingfield (6)
Page created by Miguel Terol on: 10/April/2000 - Last modified on: 26/February/2016. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com
Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.
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