Roger Williamson and East Light

There is a lot more about Roger Williamson on his site, Art, music, biography etc. http://rogerwilliamsonart.com/

Roger Williamson is a Coventry singer songwriter, musician and band leader, artist, author and occult Bookshop proprietor now living in Minneapolis.

Prominent both on the Coventry folk scene and band scene in the 1960's and 70's Roger now lives in Minneapolis and runs the Magus Book store. We first blogged about Roger on the former Hobo Vox site and Roger got in touch with us and sent us half a dozen tracks which were published both on the site and via The Broadgate Gnome's Gnome Label.

My first recollections of Roger Williamson was at the Coventry Arts Umbrella Club where he used to hang and often play, both in performance and informally in the coffee bar area. I was introduced to him by Esther Breakwell in 1970. In 1970 Roger's band East Light played Pete Waterman's progressive music Venue at the Walsgrave in Coventry. I used to do the door duty and help the bands set up for Pete at the Walsgrave and still have ticket for that gig with East Light. However Roger's musical journey began long before that as we hear in his biography -

Once Upon a Time 6 tracks by Roger Williamson from Coventry Music Scene on Vimeo.

Tracks on the above video of Roger'sCD Once Upon a Time in 70's

ROGER WILLIAMSON - BIO
My first adventures into playing music were inspired by listening to rock and roll transmitted on Radio

East Light

Luxemburg late at night.  I would pick up this station on a home made crystal set when I was supposed to be asleep.   A couple of years later, probably around 1963, I would go and listen to bands on Wednesday nights at the Orchid Ballroom on Primrose Hill Street.  This was about the time of the Beatles release “With the Beatles” album.  I remember there was a large copy of the cover projected on the back of the stage.

There was also the Sombrero coffee bar next to Pool Meadow bus station which had the most amazing juke box.  This juke box was fabulous and I’ll never forget hearing Bo Diddly singing Pretty Thing.  This would have been around 1962.   I discovered a whole other world different from my upbringing.

In 1964 I played bass in a band called the Elements which included Paul Saunders on lead guitar and John Underwood on guitar.  After the Elements I played Bass for the Red White and Blues and then in 1966/67 left them to play bass for the Darkness.  The Darkness was originally going to be Alex Sun and the Darkness but Alex the singer dropped out.

There were great venues we played at, Chesford Grange on Saturdays, Plough on the London Road the Avonside Country Club and The Navigation Inn.  Chesford Grange was great on Saturday nights.  It had two stages, as one band took a break the second band came on.  This was all going on while ballroom dancing took place upstairs, all very bazaar.  After finishing at Chesford Grange around 11pm we would often move to the Avonside Country Club and play there until the early hours.

Began singing on the Coventry folk scene in 1967.  In 1969 I formed East Light with Paul Saunders  and we moved to London.  We played as East Light for a few months before Paul emigrated to Canada.  I continued to play in and around London folk clubs for the next few years until I joined a reformed Dando Shaft in the early 70’s with Martin Jenkins, Ted Kay and Bill Bones.  Martin Jenkins and I busked in the London underground to rehearse each others songs and earn a few bob.  This lasted for about six months until Martin Jenkins and Ted Kay moved back to Coventry.  I went back to the folk scene performing on my own until forming the Roger Williamson Band in 1974.

I moved to the USA in 1985.  I wrote The Sun at Night which was released in 1989 it was reprinted in Labyrinth: Tales of a Rite of Passage about a year later, Lucifer’s a Basic Handbook of Lucierian Sorcery in 1994 reprinted in 2002, Black Book of the Jackal in 2000 as a limited signed and handbound edition, this was released in soft cover in 2006, Calling up the Spirits was released a couple of years later, Howling at the Sky in 2002 and Lucifer Diaries in 2004.  Lucifer Diaries was released as a limited edition signed and numbered hardcover and as a softcover.  I released a limited edition compact disc “On the Arrival of the Machine and its Mode of Operation” in 2003 for which my son Luke provided the music.   Tarot of the Morning Star deck of 22 cards due to be released October 2007

1997 followed by

Opened Magus Books in September of 1992.

Broadgate Gnome (Comment from the former Hobo website on Vox 2007)

Ooo, I had forgotten all about the Sombrero, slightly more pop,,p,y crowd than the Ship's wheel and a Stoke Park annex around 4.00.  Tried to be a bit like the London coffee bars and more or less succeeded. Chesford Grange was good music ,,very much a couples type of place though, mainly for those with transport as it was awful to get to and a sod to get back from if you couldnt get a lift,,,,no street lights, or pavements and having to walk past   cows.


In 2007 Roger Williamson contacted us via e mail after we had put up an initial post on his band East Light - and he sent us half a dozen tracks which will be uploaded here via You Tube. Roger Says in his e mail...

"I remember it being a wonderful and exciting time but then of course it was the 60's.  There were so many small folk clubs in the back rooms of pubs, The Fox and Vivian in Leamington, others in Warwick and Stratford and so many in Coventry.  Such a lot of talent as well June Tabor, Rod Felton, Martin Jenkins just to name a few.  It was a great time to grow up in. I have lived in Minneapolis for about the last 23 years and started Magus Books 15 years ago.  Magus is in Dinkytown next to the University Of Minnesota, Minneapolis on 4th Street SE, which is immortalized in BobDylan's Positively 4th Street.  He used to live across the street from the store.  I have written several books since moving here, The Sun at Night, set in London, The Black Book of the Jackal, Lucifer Diaries and Howling at the Sky.  These are all available from Magus or Amazon USA.  I recorded a limited edition CD, "On the Arrival of the Machine" a couple of years back which is myself reading some of my short stories set to music by my son
Luke."

Roger Williamson - The Artist - Roger's Art Website http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/r/roger/

Roger Williamson - Book Shop Owner
About Magus Books http://www.magusbooks.com/main/links.htm
Magus Books began business at high noon on September 1st, 1992 with the commitment of supplying new and used religious, metaphysical and thought-provoking books to the community at large.

You will discover upon inspecting our inventory that we do not subscribe to any one belief system, as we realize that what is right for one person's quest of self-discovery is not necessarily right for the next person. Therefore our selection of titles covers a wide range of material including Wicca, Buddhism, Hindu, Christianity, Islam, Alchemy, Voodoo, Santeria, Magic, Freemasonry, Tarot, Astrology, Palmistry, Dowsing, Mythology, Herbalism, Alternative Healing, Celtic Mythology, Norse Mythology, Native American, Psychedelic, UFO'S, Lost Civilizations, Martial Arts and other subjects.  We supply herbs, candles, oils, incense, tapes, compact discs and jewelry. Our focus has always been to develop individuality, to encourage interested parties to explore themselves and the environment, and to seek out our own untapped potentials.

Roger Williamson CD Once Upon a Time in the Seventies
Cover Art - A Strange Guitar by Roger Williamson
1.Shadows 2.End of the Night 3.Maybe 4. Big G 5.Shadows and the Urban Exile 6.Spellbound - Copyright Roger Williamson

Roger Williamson - Acoustic guitar and vocals
Delta McCloud - Lead guit. / backing vocals
Peter Locket  - Lead guitar
Danny Wilding - Flute

This version of Shadows in the Night by Roger Williamson was already on YouTube uploaded by Kathmandu56 and recorded 1980 "A Roger Williamson song we recorded in about 1980.  Roger singing with Vic on piano and Bryson playing far too much on the drums as usual, but ya gotta love him. Dead now of course as well as Vic."

This is another version of Shadows in the Night which Roger sent us in 2007 for the original Hobo site and which featured on his CD. Roger called the song just 'Shadows'

The End to the Night - Roger Williamson

Maybe by Roger Williamson

For a short while Roger Williamson played with the legendary Coventry folk band - Dando Shaft.

Visit Roger Williamson's site here - 

http://rogerwilliamsonart.com/roger-williamson-band-1970s/

ROGER WILLIAMSON IS ALSO ON REVERBNATION

Listen to more of his songs Here http://www.reverbnation.com/rogerw

Other relevant pages of his website http://rogerwilliamsonart.com/?page_id=906&preview=true

On The Arrival Of The Machine And Its Mode Of Operation: An Occult Adventure

http://rogerwilliamsonart.com/studio-sessions-1969/ Studio sessions 1969 / 70

Roger Williamson is featured on The British Music Archive where you can find out more information and tracks. 

http://www.britishmusicarchive.com/W/208-roger-williamson

Thanks to Dave Cooper and Ted Kay's son for this photo of Roger with the reformed Dando Shaft c
1972

Dando Shaft 1972 version with Billy Bones, Roger Williamson, Ted Kay and Martin Jenkins.

Roger Williamson's earliest band from the early 60's - The Tears. From left to right John Wright drums, Paul Saunders lead guitar, Roger Williamson bass.

ONE DAY THOMAS (MARTIN JENKINS)

ONE DAY THOMAS c 1973

This was Martin Jenkins new band after Dando Shaft. Martin had played with Mathew's Southern Comfort - From Hobo Magazine 1973

"Mathew's Southern Comfort has, I'm told, been graced with the talents of Coventry's Martin Jenkins, late of the Coventry band Dando Shaft. Martin, who has written some incredible songs including Whispering Ned, Waves Across the Ether) and plays Mandolin, flute and fiddle (etc.). Martin has been featured as a guest on a previous Southern Comfort tracks" 

Martin Jenkins. Photo Copyright of Dave Trinder

Martin Jenkins (ex Dando Shaft) - Mandolin / guitar / fiddle / flute / banjo / vocals


Barry Skinner - guitar / vocals (A leading professional folk singer and pioneer of the Coventry folk scene in the 60's / 70's)

John Mackintosh - double bass (Member of assorted groups including the Coventry Mummers and Sneaks Noise / Earlsdon Morrismen / Phoenix Jazz band)


I met Martin Jenkins in Broadgate, Coventry while doing Hobo magazine not long after Dando Shaft had split up and he told me about his new electric folk band - One Day Thomas. Below are some pieces from the Coventry Evening Telegraph and Hobo Magazine.


From Hobo Magazine

One day Thomas - Martin Jenkins

ONE DAY THOMAS is the name of Martin Jenkin's new band (formerly of Dando Shaft)
"The new band features other established personalities such as Barry Skinner on guitar and vocals / John Mckintosh on double bass and John Astle on drums. Martin plays guitar, fiddle, mandolin and flute. They are of course an electric band and most of the material is far removed from that of Dando Shaft. They play mostly jigs and reels and electrified folk songs."



Not long after Martin was back with Dando Shaft version 2 including Baz Andruszcko and Rod Felton for a play at the Belgrade Theatre c1974

Colin Armstrong - Coventry Singer-Songwriter / Artist

Colin Armstrong in the 70's

Colin Armstrong - one of the Top Coventry singer songwriters and artists to come out of Coventry.
I met Colin in 1971 when he was playing in Music Box with Rob Armstrong (the renowned Coventry guitar maker and musician) who made the album Songs of Sunshine in 1971. They were playing the Plough Club (London Road) with Dando Shaft and i tried to book them for the Umbrella club only I think they split up not long after.

HOBO MAGAZINE AND WORKSHOP -
Colin featured a few times in HOBO magazine and the local press (which can be seen below). I had a lot of respect for Colin as a singer songwriter, artist and a friend. Colin was well involved with the Hobo Workshop at the Holyhead Youth Centre in 1974 / 5 where we encouraged new bands and artists who were struggling to get first gigs. Colin often performed for us in between the bands and took an active and advisory role on the Workshop's management committee and was indeed a great advocate for it. It's thanks to Colin that Hobo was mentioned on the original Broadgate Gnome Music Directory site initiated by Ian Green and Paul Leather - and through that mentioned in the book Godiva Rocks - Pete Chambers - a comprehensive guide to Coventry music new and old. (Thanks for that Colin - if you read this).

Colin Armstrong in his bookshop

FORGING HIS CAREER AS A SINGER SONGWRITER AND ARTIST
Colin was making great leaps forward towards developing his career in songwriting and art during the Hobo period as the press cuttings show. He won the Midlands are heat of the National folk / rock contest and was entered into the semi-finals. The top prize was a recording contract with EMI. He was judged the best soloist act from all over the West Midlands. He was the only one from the area chosen to go through to the national semi finals. He did 10 minutes with three of his own compositions -  Country Boy, Country Bound; Blues for Glenda; Heaven and Hell.

Colin Armstrong

He described his music at the time as Funky Folk. Like many, he'd made the trek to London to try and get a contract and sell some songs but without success. Colin was an engineer by trade and also an Abstract Artist. His work had been displayed at the Minster Gallery, the Kongoni Cafe and Methodist Central Hall and Warwick University, Herbert Art Gallery and Belgrade Theatre. Colin did a certain amount of recording, radio and television work. (See the press cutting was from Coventry Evening Telegraph c 1978 / 9.)

From Hobo issue 1 June 1973) -
"Congrats to Colin Armstrong in reaching the Semi-finals in the Melody Maker National Rock/Folk contest and also to Just Jake, Willow, Naked Light, Just Before Dawn, Bumble and all the other Coventry bands / artists that took part. More on them if poss - later."

From Hobo Issue 4 (Unpublished version)
"Coventry singer - songwriter COLIN ARMSTRONG, who reached the semi-final in the Melody Maker contest last year, is to entre again this year...Lotza luck Colin..."

While involved with the Hobo Workshop - Colin formed a little band with  Bob Rhodes (the detached youth worker involved with the Hobo Workshop) and Myself - Trev Teasdel. The band didn't get beyond a few rehearsals at the Canal Basin and Holyhead Youth Centre but the material involved covered some of Colin's and my songs and a few standards favoured by Bob Rhodes such as Summertime; a Peter Paul and Mary song and Jerry Lee Lewis song and the current I Hear you Knockin'. I don't think we got as far as naming the band but finding time for rehearsals was difficult with Bob's work commitments and I was full time at Henley College on a Social Studies Course and the band split before it had got off the ground but the sessions were fun and I learnt a lot from Colin's approach to writing and playing.

We were in admiration of Colin's Gibson Acoustic which we figured had set him back a bit but Colin explained that he saw it in a second hand shop in Cov going very cheaply (because the shop keeper didn't know the value of Gibson guitars!), so Colin used his rent money to buy it. He obviously made great use of it through his performances and writing.

More recently Colin ran his own shop - Armstrong Books and Collectables in Albany Rd.

Folklore (Coventry folk band)

FOLKLORE
C    1969 - 81 (and beyond)
Traditional Folk Band.
Line up
(Barry Jackson is in the middle with glasses - Roland Matthews with the guitar)
Graham Holt

Alan Rowe

I came across Folklore in 1974 / 5 while studying at Henley College. Although a Social Studies A' level course, I took an Art O' level. Our tutor was Barry Jackson, (always much more than an art teacher). I discovered just how wide his talent was as time went on. Barry was an acknowledge artist in his own right - as the press cutting below shows and also designed the cover of Coventry Arts Umbrella's own literary Journal Umbrella in the 50's / early 60's. The magazine is noted for a rare article by Philip Larkin http://coventryartsumbrella.blogspot.com/2011/06/not-places-fault-phillip-larkin-in.html

I started the Hobo Workshop (at the Holyhead Youth Centre) while at Henley College and Barry was very encouraging. In the discussion about music it came out that Barry was a multi-instrumentalist and often brought in unusual instruments for drawing and play them too. He revealed that he was one of the founder organisers of the Henley College folk club at the New Inn, Longford with acts on such as The Yetties, Derek Brimstone, The McCalman's and a member the longstanding folk outfit - FOLKLORE. The club had had various homes including the Biggin Hall Hotel.


Folklore Room For Company via Alan Rowe

Norman Wheatley

The band were formed around accountant Graham Holt, GEC Engineer Alan Rowe, Henley College lecturer Roland Mathews and artist / art lecturer / musician Barry Jackson who could play more than 12 instruments - Barry Joined in 1973. Their 2nd album was called Eine Klein Folk and was produced by local radio presenter (Radio Mercia/ BRMB / singer songwriter / poet Norman Wheatley. Norman was the organiser of folk sessions at the Coventry Arts Umbrella in the early 70's and a prominent member of the Umbrella poets.

Described by CET (Sat Nov 14th 1981) as the longest running folk outfit.

CET go on to say ‘Folklore was established in 1969 around accountant Graham Holt, Alan Rowe (an engineer at the GEC) and Roland Matthews (A lecturer) when they formed the Henley College Folk Club at Bell Green’. Artist and art lecturer, Barry Jackson (a talented musician who can play more than 12 instruments, joined in 1973.’

News from Gillian Parnell Folklore have a vinyl album from 1977 album titled Room For Company. Hoping we can get some audio from it on here.

The album cover - newly added thanks to Nick Knibb - Coventry Two Tone poet.

Gaps of The Selecter with Roland Matthews (journalist /lecturer /musician)

Their 2nd album was called Eine Klein Folk and was produced by local radio presenter (Radio Mercia/ BRMB / singer songwriter / poet Norman Wheatley. Norman was the organiser of folk sessions at the Coventry Arts Umbrella in the early 70's and a prominent member of the Umbrella poets.