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m u s i n g s What an end to 2017. Robyn's and my wedding on the 10th December, with a small gathering of wonderful friends. My best friends Den and Ree up in the Waitakeres hosted us . Friends were from my business, and folk that think that friends in the industry are crazy, what a great mixture of beautiful hearts.. So now I actually have an 'er indoors'. The rings were delivered by drone. Our dearest love to Den and Ree for making it a wonderful day.
On the way up to the wedding venue, we stopped with friends Geoff and Helen in Otaki for 4 days and played Geoff's jazz festival. Fantastic occasion, great music from around the globe. The of course the wedding , then on our way back home did a concert at the Globe theatre in Palmerston North. Most enjoyable. Nice of Crissie and Ray Wolfe to grace us with their presence.
Back onto the Interislander to the South Island, then the long drive home to Christchurch. We hit the second day of the opening of the coast road through Kaikoura, (Since the earthquake damage) a fantastic trip, being entertained by the road crews on traffic duties. Home, and back to work recording our 2 projects, OOH LA LA (Solo) and STANDARD PROCEDURE, a standard song album done in the orchestral and Hammond with old friend Geoff Culverwell adding his magic flute and horns. Glad to say we are nearly there with this at this jucture. So pleased with it.
At this moment Robyn is guarding the garden, those pesky birds are stealing her tomatoes.
We are home after a short three week tour concerts in the North Island of New Zealand. We took our One Man Show 'AN EVENING WITH ROY PHILLIPS' to Levin, Wellington, Gisborne, Tauranga and Auckland. Thank you to all of you who attended the shows or participated in bringing them about... Staff and venues, all have done us proud.
We had no hotels motel stays anywhere. We had friends with wonderful food and hospitality. Pretty hard to have to leave idealic situations where we had the fortune to lift up the feet and lay the head. We are still smarting (oh the pain, but loving it) from the warm greeting we received from every venue. Makes an old muso glad he can still put it out.
Travelling from Christchurch to Picton on the detour to by pass Kaikoura is very lengthy but the vista is totally breath-taking. it was immensely rewarding to be travelling for hours through the scenic beauty that is New Zealand. Met up with my old friend and Horn player Geoff Culverwell, and glad to announce a new CD in the making. A Hammond, Horn, Orchestral collection of standards, called 'STANDARD PROCEDURE'. More about Geoff and my reunion soon.
Robyn ( ROBYN PROMOTIONS) is planning our next tour for the beginning of summer and the festive season. We have been asked to New plymouth, Whangarei and Palmeston North so far. we will look at these and other possible venues and get back to you.
Hi folks, back again after a break from my norm of studio, followed by studio, after that, the studio. Guess what, I'm back in the studio. My health is very much improved. Thanks for all your well wishes. I just have to keep taking the pills !
Robyn and I have organised a North Island 6 concert tour, we start in Wellington and end up in Auckland. Webmaster Alfie has posted tour dates and venues on the 'Gig Guide'. We are coming to a place near you, that's if you live in New Zealand. Doesn't everybody live in New Zealand ?
Two album projects are on the go in the GROOVE ROOM. ' OOH LA LA' -- 10 original tracks by Yours Truly. Project 2 is the fan suggestions for the album of 'Standard classics' I am giving them the PEDDLERS treatment, using a lot more Hammond. We are back on them straight after the tour.
Robyn's daughter Rebekah was married to Rob on 1st July. They are Mr and Mrs Nation. We are so happy about this union; we have a very proud mother, Robyn and best friend, Roy. They are a great couple.
Just one complaint. The bloody winter is here is for want of a better description #%*)^_$ awful. I will continue looking for my nuts !
Hi folks,
Sadness in the NewZealand music industry. a treasured and admired artiste has passed away. Ray Columbus left us last week after a long health battle. Our thoughts and love goes out to Ray's family. The icon of New Zealand's popular music will be greatly missed.
Rob and I performed a private concert in the North Island a short time ago, a most enjoyable event at a wonderfull venue. Thank you Christine and Vic, top people indeed.
Our brilliantly talented friends in Manchester Paul and Sarah Bratt finished and posted a great piece of puppetry entitled ROY PHILLIPS AND THE PEDDLERS, LIVE AT THE PICKWICK. The track was BLUE GROOVE. It has been received fantasticly well. Man, it brought back many memories for me at that time of my life. Paul has gifted me the puppets and instrument models and one might say that they are hanging about at our place now. Thank you my friends. On the same subject, if anybody can name all or most of the celebreties depicted in the video, and their are quite a few, we will send you a copy of the BLUE GROOVE cd. Get counting.....
On a more serious note, I have been advised to take time out from my music, and the studio work. for a deserved rest which Robyn and I have not had in a long time. Sorry, there will be a delay regarding the new c.d OOO LA LA. This is not serious but still a health matter to which we must adhere to. Kenny Baker RIP - September 2016 Sadly, I lost another good Buddy the other day, star of 'Star Wars' Kenny Baker -- R2D2. Back in the 60's and 70's the PEDDLERS and Kenny's 'MINI TONES' would meet up at gigs sharing bills. Kenny would always choose one moment during our show, during Trevors drum solo, when Trev was down at a quiet and expressive part just using his fingers on the drums. Our little friend would run out on the stage, stand under one of the ride cymbals and shout, "Would someone show me the way to the Wanking chinese restaurant?" God look
after you now my friend.
OOO LA LA is progressing well, I am very happy with the B/Ts, just got to get my vocals up to scratch - (got a bit of a problem with my lungs at the moment). I have been inundated with requests for a PEDDLERS style album, standard type songs with that Hammond thing goin' on. So I thought I would throw out the idea for songs to our PED'S fans.
Send me your requests. This idea really appeals to me, do it by the 'info' email. Should be interesting. I have already put down 3 tracks 'SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY', 'LET IT BE' and 'AUTUMN LEAVES'. Nice to seriously get back to the HAMMOND and Orchestral arrangements again.
Thanks for your come-backs, always great to hear from you. Impersonator Quite some time ago bassist Bruce Kerr, Drummer Micky Otutaonga and myself performed a concert at the Auckland Sky Tower called PEDDLERS REVISITED. It was kinda nice stepping back in time and re-enacting what the original trio did for a living. A very enjoyable concert it was .
After the performance I did my usual stint signing records out front of the theatre. All was very amiable until I was verbally attacked by a very irrate punter, for want of a description, an arsehole. He lent over the counter and bellowed "Aren't you ashamed of yourself inpersonating Roy Phillips?" I informed this arsehole that for all my sins, I was indeed Roy Phillips. "Bollocks", he retorted, "Roy happens to be a friend of mine and we had dinner only last week."
All the lovely troupes buying my albums were amused by this added attraction for the evening. I apologised profusely to the 'arsehole' and told him that I would never do it again and please accept my most sincere appologies. With that he concluded by waving his index in a frightening display of total distain and chasdisement and left the theatre to hearty applause from the lovely people around me. Sad, eh!
Had a great mini tour with Chris Cain and Rodger Fox big band. Wonderful musicians and people to share a stage with, I will be doing more with Rodger in the near future, this time in the South Island of New Zealand.
OOO LA LA is going well, still on schedule for November release. It was my birthday a month ago. Robyn got my usual bottle of single malt, I don't remember the day at all...
Cheers from Robyn and I and Christchurch New Zealand.
Strange title for the up-coming album. It came about during my solo show 'AN EVENING WITH ROY PHILLIPS' when I brought to the audience's attention that I was wearing a new suit. The guy was wearing torn jeans and a hoodie. I could tell immediately he was used to going to the theatre. Robyn sugessted that was going to be the title.
I love writing and recording original material. I have the luxury of time and a beer fridge. By the way, after 60 years of smoking cigarettes, cigars, hooka's and of course the 'Good Stuff', I have ceased, and am now in the 4th month. Only another 4 years to completely get it out of the system... Robyn is in her second year of abstinance. Now before I completely loose your attention here's what's been occuring.
The video of 'BLUE GROOVE' from the album of the same name is currently being shot in Manchester by Paul Bratt. Paul has built the puppets of the old PEDDLERS Trevor Morais, Tab Martin and yours truly, and making them perform in our old stamping grounds THE PICKWICK CLUB. The story line is complete and filming will take up to 6 months. Strange thing is, Paul lives only a stones throw from where we formed the Ped's and even drinks in the same Pub opposite our old friends at GRANADA TELEVISION and Coronation Street. Small world. Keep you posted re the filming.
OOO LA LA is going great guns, a few tracks I am having a little difficulty with my lyrics, especially a track entitled WHAT A DAY, A story of a wee friend of mine on a day out in her world and that time of getting them off to the land of Nod. Got a new Studio keyboard ( M-AUDIO ) For a year I have not been able to play 3 notes on the old keyboard, The after sales service in New Zealand is diabolical, particularly with musical instruments, we are also robbed by their pricing structure.
I have 4 concerts to do with THE RODGER FOX BIG BAND in March together with Blues legend Criss Cains. The shows are entitled CAINS MEETS PHILLIPS. Looking foward to it .
Till the next ranting from me.
God Bless
Greetings from 'THE GROOVE ROOM' We are working on the latest album 'OOO LA LA' 2015 was an eventful and emotional year for us. We celebrated the release of 'BLUE GROOVE' and thanks for your great support. We also had our fair amount of sadness with Robyn losing her son Paul and her mother Ngarita.
The most amazing thing about this planet we live on is that we do not seem to learn from our mistakes. We have to tolerate what surrounds us and accept evil practices as an every day occurance. I always believed that music soothed and cured. Wishful thinking eh!
Robyn and I hope and wish you the best upcoming ever.
MP3 Podcast with Roy Here's a new downloadable MP3 podcast (128Mb) from Southern FM in Victoria Australia, featuring a good interview with Roy and some great music. It weighs in at 2 hours and 20 minutes - you can listen live or download the MP3.
Joe Cocker Joe was a gentleman.
See you Buddy!
New album release It's been a long time in the making, but 'Yer Tis' The interuptions came in the form of earthquakes and far too many bottles of New Zealand Sav Blanc. Whoops! I am only being serious. It's our sincere wish that you enjoy this laid back, bluesy work.
BLUE GROOVE is the first production from The Groove Room. The last track FIRST LIGHT is dedicated to alll of the long suffering folks of Christchurch.
Read a rather nice review from NZ Musician magazine.
Another devastating Christchurch earthquake Dear Friends,
So many hearts are broken here in our city of Christchurch New Zealand, ours included. So many funerals, so many lives lost, so many futures shattered, so many hopes crushed.
Emergency powers, Government and organisations have performed with brilliant fore and back sight. So many health issues, physical, mental, religous and hidden personal issues are at the core of our problems. God is certainly not to blame, scientists are not to blame, powers of government are not to blame. But we all seek an answer.
What we are given by the powers that be (scientists etc) is that within given times and history dictates future events. "What a load of bollocks!" as we Brits say.
This calamity has broken hearts - but not the souls of our community. As I speak the aftershocks still instill terror. My Robyn as a teacher has to set examples to her students, but the job she has is now physciateric, which she would agree is above and beyond her experise. Her school (Hagley) is due to re-open sometime next week, with one councilor to take the mantle of responsibility. Her classroom is still unsafe, the hidden dangers are still there from the September 2010 quake.
We will re-build Christchurch. Our contribution will be a drop in the ocean, but the proceeds of my new album
'BLUE GROOVE' will help if only a mere fraction. My dear friends, when you see this product offered, think of the citizens of our great community.
We are going to the first of many funerals tommorow - Friday 11th March, for our great and dear friend Murray Wood who owned and ran CTV here in Christchurch. Murray was also an awesome keyboard player and a great
help in my digital "thickness" (as he called it) during the preparation of my new recording. We saw him 4 days before the tragedy at our home.
Thank you for your support. Our love to all. Christchurch earthquake, recording new album Hello,
In answer to many requests regarding our health and well being during this tragedy that has
happened in our home in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Much of our city is in total chaos and shock at the recent 7.1 earthquake. Our local authority, Government and Earthquake Commission have been so brilliant in controlling this horrifying situation. The devastation is widespread throughout Canterbury. Thank God we have lost no-one, that in itself is a huge miracle. All this reminds me so much of us Brits during and after the second world war; a Christian attitude towards fellow man will always score with the soul of mankind.
Robyn and I escaped very lightly with practically no damage to our house, only a few contents suffered. As we chat, the after shocks are continuing to remind us of the initial
quake.
Life must go on regardless. The new album project 'BLUE GROOVE,' a collection of my original songs, is going well. Having never followed the trends and whims of this music business, my songs are free from influences of what I call 'the musically void times' where everything has to sound, feel and emulate what has gone 5 minutes before. Trends are the blight of our lives and the industry invents so many genres that are lacking in creative inspiration.
Thank you all so much for your well wishes and kind consideration for my family and I.
God bless ya. A sad loss, Sir Cliff, Peddlers Revisited May 2010 Hello,
I live in one of the most beautiful and relatively peaceful countries that God created. Sure, we have our fair share of 'nutters and uneducated cretins' who ruin our solace. Just recently a few of these mindless souls have committed offences against society that defy understanding. They have taken us to less than third world thinking, belief and Christian attitude.
Robyn , my partner, lover, critic and best friend is a teacher, whom, together with her other teaching colleagues at a college here in Christchurch, has witnessed one of these tragic events many teens go through; that of being lost, misguided and unable to get to grips with today's world. Ben, a student at the school suffered acute depression, this was recognised by all the staff, and steps were taken to understand and help him. I know, I heard about it every night for a long time. Counseling and professional help was always at hand for Ben. He was a very bright student.
But out of school, he mixed with useless friends with not a single goal in life. Ben paid one of said useless friends $2000.00 to get someone to end his life. He took the money, and together with a rope went to a local park, arranged the rope over a tree, said goodbye to Ben and left the lad to get on with it. He did. At the recent court case the 'assisted suicide' charge and conviction of this ' friend' was 8 months home detention. Can anybody give me a clue as to New Zealand law regarding giving someone convicted of such an evil crime a sentence where he basically has his leg smacked and is allowed to carry on doing the same things he was doing, anyway? This has
really pissed off just about everybody, not only at school but throughout our nation. What on earth is happening to our society ?
With the advent of getting our own recording studio, there is a lot of work in progress, should have done it years ago. I am in the middle of writing and recording a song for my late friend and peer Billy Preston. He would most probably kick my arse if he knew what I was saying and playing regarding his life. I like it anyway.
Rob and I are off to see 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows' on the second of March, and taking her darling Mum Ngaire (93 years old) along. She is a long time fan of Sir Cliff. As for me , The Peddlers shared an office with them in the mid-sixties, so I have a bit of catching up to do with them again.
The Peddlers Revisited tour is set for May this year (New Zealand) Promoter Brian Richards in Auckland is at it with the date situation as we speak. Looking foward to playing all that old stuff again, great fun, together with Bruce Kerr (Bass) Micky Otutaonga (Drums) and front of house sound engineer, Doug Jane, (check out MySpace for a few tracks) on the sliders.
Something from the past. During the late 60s, The Peddlers were working Batley Variety Club in Yorkshire. After the show we were ushered into a small private bar in this fabulous club to meet the local newspaper critic, a man in a 'Family at War' style suit, clutching a half drunk pint. He said " I have been writing crit's for paper for 30 years, I've crit for Our Gracie, Sammy Davis ,Billy Eckstein, the list goes on. I have always been constructive because I know you people in show business appreciate constructiveness." Our drummer, Trevor Morais, told him that we also understood that part of the learning period in this industry. The critic swallowed the remainder of his pint and said "Good, 'cause your crap!"
Thank you to Web-master Alfie West, Dereck 'Delboy' Wales (Roy Phillips My Space) and John and Roy Grayson 'Peddlers UK'.
May the God of your choice always be very close at hand. Kiwi Radio, Peddlers Revisited, antique lighting Hello,
Thank you all for your support of my site and the promoted products. Your personal emails are most welcome, I do my best to answer each and every one of them. If fact, a lot of great ideas come from them with suggestions for new recording projects. I have just started another album, I will keep you up to date with that in the near future.
During tours throughout New Zealand the only contact with civilisation is the radio. I, for one, am horrified about the one genre the majority play 24 hours a day. We are not all 13 years old. I have personally met some of the producers of these shows and am amazed at the lack of knowledge regarding our music industry. One eyed or no eyed? Giving the people what they think they want, not what they really want. Would someone sound the alarm button, New Zealand does not believe in educating the listening public. I think a huge amount of wonderful and educational music is completely ignored by these so called producers and presenters. I hope my whinge, shared by a lot of my peers, reaches the deaf media. Our young and not so young can be educated to the richness of the music… period.
My partner/manager/agent Robyn, together with Auckland promoter Brian Richards convinced me to do a concert at the Sky City Theatre, "PEDDLERS REVISITED'. My friend Bruce Kerr (Bass) and drummer Micky Ututaonga played to a capacity house. Recording engineer Doug Jane drove the desk out front, also recorded the show.
Playing a lot of those old Peddler arrangements plus new compositions back on the beloved Hammond certainly brought back memories. A tour of New Zealand concerts is being planned for early in the New Year. My own show AN EVENING WITH went to the West Coast (South Island NZ) for a concert, only to find out that any kind of lighting plot could not be rehearsed before the show, reason being that the technician worked for the local council and had
to go to his home for dinner before the concert.
He arrived half an hour before curtain up. I had to stage whisper instructions with the audience seated. He put on industrial rubber gloves, sat down side stage awaiting instructions. The lighting system was circa 1940, metal leavers etc.
The introduction was made, I instructed him 'Full Up!' He did so, and a blinding flash filled back stage. He went A over T five metres from the controls. I stopped the show and asked him if he was all right. "Sure", he said. "That always happens."
Special thanks to my webmaster Alf West, John and Roy Grayson (Peddlers UK site), Derek 'Del-Boy' Wales (Roy Phillips My Space) and of course my Robyn. I love her very much, she still loves Willy Nelson! And of course, you all.
May the God of your choice always be at your side.
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