photo: https://www.discogs.com/artist/1855371-Rye-And-The-Quarter-Boys
Clive Richardson asks… does anyone remember Rye and the Quarter Boys? A great rock jazz group with brass section from the 1970’s?
Steve Boyce… I was the guitarist from 1981-1982. I appeared on the single “Fantasy / Private number”. I still have my copy (no, it’s not for sale). We weren’t so much jazz as soul, very much in the Stax mould.
Graham Bates… … and I was the drummer! If anyone has any live recordings, please let me know.
Kevin Williams… …..and that’s me singing. The production is very much of it’s time but I still love it’s ‘live’ sound.
Dave Nattress… Rye and the Quarterboys!! Just back-tracking a bit and found your single – Private Number. Now I thought the original was great – I still do, but yours is just wonderful – better. Love it. Won’t be the last time I play it.
Kevin Sheppard… In reply to Kevin Williams. Is that Kev who worked at the London hospital? I went to a few of your gigs at the college hall and the place down the canning town flyover long gone now
Karen Mc Kernan… I just found a copy of this belonging to my dad !
Mike Tomlin… ………… and I played keyboards. In the band from start to finish!
Vivien Mead… I remember watching you in the green rooms Bristol. Great band
Gareth Ward… Very disparaging towards the Q-Tips after a gig at QMC I recall
Gregory Brown… I played Saxophone in this band. (in reply to Kevin Sheppard) Yes Kevin worked at the London Hospital.
Ronnie… I used to be in a band which supported Rye and the Quarter Boys when they played at the Green Rooms in Bristol – more than once I think. I can remember them very cleary.
Ian Brazil… I saw R&QB several times between 1979 -80. Mainly at The Two Brewers pub in Clapham Common. Also a pub in Fulham (The King’s Head, I think) and a pub in Catford (The Tiger’s Head, or something like that). They were great. They had a few mods (I was one) who followed them because of the 60’s soul music. Many a find drunken night.
Gregory Brown… I was the sax player with Rye and The Quarterboys. We played in and around London and built up a very good following. I am still in touch with many of the members of the band: Kevin on vocals, Michael on keyboards, Del on Bass, Nick on Bass, Martin on guitar, Steve Boyce on guitar, Stewart on trumpet, Barney on sax. Graham on drums. The pub in Fulham was the Kings Head yes. Not sure about the Catford pub though. It was definitely soul based, not Jazz funk, some covers and some great original material.
Graham Bates… … and not forgetting… John Gifford on guitar and the late Chris Lawrence on ‘bone
Dave Nattress… It’s on now – beautiful- great vocal – well all of it. Plenty of space between all the instruments and voice. Nothing crowded. Just wonderful. Love to sing it but tonight a fearsome cold prevents it. As my previous post loved the original – still do but this is better. Just about to play it again. It’s on my evening playlist anyway!
Chris Newton… I went to see Rye And The Quarter Boys back in 1981/2. Great gig. Still have my copy of Private Number.
Des Harvey… I worked with Kevin Williams at the London Hospital in Whitechapel and would like to get in touch. information has passed on to Kevin.
Advert. 1981
Carol Anne… Ian Brazil my late father in law worked at the two brewers pub , would have been around that time.
Dawn Green… Great band…Friday nights at the Cranbrook in Ilford iirc! I remember one time the landlord turned the power off but they carried on anyway. Wonderfull band and memories.
Graham Bates… Thanks Dawn. From my memory (not gospel), The Cranbrook became something of a residency where we honed our craft until we (well Kevin!) decided to stop gigs with free admission and landlord George made some comment about us thinking we were getting too big for his boozer! A gig we did in late 81/early 82 at the King’s Head, Fulham, was professionally filmed and during lockdown keyboardist Mike Tomlin found a very dodgy 15 mins sample of it on a re-recorded and abused VHS which I have digitised. It still captures much of the atmosphere of our shows. If anyone wants it, let me know. In return, I ask for a donation to S. African charity Oxpeckers, funding young journalists exposing environmental and wildlife crime. Sadly, guitarist Steve Boyce, commenting above, who joined us later, passed away earlier this year.
Graham Bates… 15 mins (from a dodgy VHS) of full-on fun from early 1980s available in aid of charity. Let me know.
Sue Vincent… Graham, I would love a copy and am happy to donate. Could this be arranged please? Thanks Sue.
