I started playing the saxophone in march 1995. I'd become associated with a band from Hull called "Badness" and their saxophonist. I had fancied the idea of playing the saxophone since the age of about 10 years old. At school I asked if I could start playing it, they said no, as they didn't have one but I should start to play the next best thing which was the viola. Not quite the same image! I did try the viola and in the end got a place in the Hull Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. But I was awful! I couldn't keep up with the speed of their reading so rather than ask for help I just busked my way through it - badly.

Teenage years

In my teens I discovered Northern Soul and "SKA" music which where to have a big influence on the rest of my life. These two types of music are good grounding for a sax player as they both have a raw horn section and thumping brass sound.I grew up in the Theatre as my mother worked as an administrator at the Spring Street Theatre in Hull. Since the age of 10 I had been playing with acting and performing on the stage. My first major part was in a play called "The Yorkshire Tragedy". Deep stuff as I got killed half way through. During these times I was associating with some actors who are now regularly on TV for example; Steven Frost (comedian, Young Ones, Carling Lager ads), Gary Cooper (Quadrophenia, The Bill), Miriam Margolees (Black Adder), Roland Gift (Fine Young Canibals etc), Bob Schofield (Brookside) and Roy North to mention a few. So the stage, performing and music has always been in my blood.

Badness - The Start

So, Badness had asked me if I would like to go with them to Luton Yates's Wine Lodge to see them perform and I said yes. This was the key as on the way we picked up their saxophone player, called John Welford. We got chatting and I asked if the sax was hard to play. He said "No, it's just hard to get a good sound out of". That was it. The sax was for me. My next door neighbour had bought a sax and I asked to borrow it, he said yes and I spent the next two weeks trying to get a note out of the bloody thing. I did eventually and my first tune was "Guns of Navarone".

I now thought that I was Lee Thompson from Madness. I decided to go for it. I could now play 2 octaves with no sharps or flats. So what next? Yes start a band. My brother in law played the bass and we dragged several friends in to make up the numbers. We played some old soul numbers and a few Madness tracks, we were bloody awful then but "The Sons of the Desert" are still playing the local band circuit in Hull today. They where also voted the best local band two years running.

Lessons at last

I messed around and struggled for 18 months and picked up loads of bad habits. I decided that I needed lessons. I met a chap from Hessle [near Hull] called Davy Knocker, who is an ex. military bandsman but his expertise on the saxophone and music theory are second to none. After being completely frustrated by my lack of progress at times I eventually cracked it and became technically quite confident, I even knew what all the many keys did.

Now was the time to upgrade my saxophone. I tried Selmer's and Yamaha's but these where bulky instruments compared to the one I chose to purchase. I decided on a Yanagisawa 990 tenor. I bought it from Dave Walker at All Brass & Woodwind of Leeds. Great Saxophone and has a fantastic action, see picture below. I also play a Trevor James Horn - alto and I now have [as of July 2001] an Elkhart Series 2 Baritone.

Pro. Muso!

In January 1997 I got the job as saxophonist for Badness. I have been gigging with them ever since. Ahh, a professional musician at last. One thing usually leads to another and I also ended up playing with Bad Manners at the end of 1999 for several nights.  I left Badness on the 20th September 2003 after some, 1600 gigs.  I am now enjoying life as an ICT teacher for Hull College where I teach within the community.  I also give saxophone tuition on a one on one basis and play with two bands, one is my original band, Sons of the Desert www.thebrats.co.uk and Skaville, playing Ska and old Trojan music.

We still travel all over the UK and occasionally Europe to play. The next thing is now to pass on my knowledge to other people who would like to play the saxophone too. This is the purpose of the site. I was going to do online lessons - but, other people do that so there is a link to a good site on the menu on the left, enjoy.

Uncle Eddie

I found out recently that I had an uncle who palyed the lead alto for seven years with the "Joe Loss Orchestra" from 1934 till 1941. Eddie traveled the world playing the saxophone. His words of wisdom where "Scales, practice your scales. You cannot play without them!" He is so right. Here is a link to a short poem entitled "What is Music" penned by Eddie Pratt. [More to come about Eddie as I do my research].