Biography
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Years Active
1966 – present (58 years)
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Founded In
Battersea, Wandsworth, London, England, United Kingdom
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Members
- Andy Silvester (1971 – 1972)
- Bob Brunning (1967 – 1968)
- Chris Youlden (1967 – 1970)
- Dave Walker (1971 – 1972)
- Ian Ellis
Savoy Brown Blues Band, now known as Savoy Brown is an English blues rock band formed in Battersea, south west London in 1965. Part of the late 1960s blues rock movement, Savoy Brown primarily achieved success in the United States, where they promoted their albums with non-stop touring.
The band's 1969 single "Train to Nowhere" (with singer Chris Youlden), was viewed by many as the last gasp of the blues scene in Great Britain. Although Savoy Brown never reached much acclaim in their home nation, they developed a loyal core following in the United States, due to songs such as "I'm Tired" (from their album, A Step Further), a driving, melodic song. They were one of the bands that UK Decca (US London/Parrot) stuck with through the lean times until they started selling records (it took 4 or 5 albums until they started to sell in the US). In the late 1960s and 1970s, the band managed to penetrate the Billboard Hot 100. Superstardom perpetually evaded them, perhaps in part because of their frequent lineup changes, but despite that, Hellbound Train was a big album for them in the US.
While the band is still active today, only Kim Simmonds has stayed since the beginning. Guitarist "Lonesome" Dave Peverett, bassist Tony Stevens, and drummer Roger Earl went on to form Foghat. Original member and harmonica player, John O'Leary, is still active on the British blues circuit with The John O'Leary Band. Savoy Brown's first album, Shake Down, featured lead vocalist Bryce Portius. Portius was one of the first black blues musicians to be a part of a British rock band. Another singer, Dave Walker, would later join Fleetwood Mac and Black Sabbath. Their bassists included Andy Pyle, later with The Kinks, and Andy Sylvester, also with Chicken Shack.
Savoy Brown also provided an outlet for the keyboardist and guitarist, Paul Raymond, who later went on to join UFO. Other notable members include Jeff Howell, who went on to play with Foghat and the Outlaws before returning to central New York, where he is considered the best carpet installer in Ithaca.
Savoy Brown contributed the song "A Man Alone" for the soundtrack to the movie Kickboxer 2. "Train To Nowhere" was used in and figured as a clue in the TV series CSI: NY in Season 4, Episode 10 - “The Thing About Heroes”.
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