Jess Roden

Biography

Roden's first band was The Raiders followed by The Shakedown Sound which also included the guitarist, Kevyn Gammond, and keyboard player August Eadon (aka Gus Yeadon).

In 1966, he joined The Alan Bown Set as their new lead singer. Although their records rarely charted, Roden and the band did pick up a considerable fan base in London, and belatedly became a minor star on the Northern soul scene, with the release of their single, "Emergency 999".

He remained with the Alan Bown through to the late 1960s, but left after recording the album The Alan Bown! His vocals were re-recorded by his replacement Robert Palmer for the UK release of the album, although Roden's original vocals remained on the US release. Roden later appeared as a backing vocalist to Palmer on his 1983 appearance on The Tube.

In 1970 Roden returned to Worcestershire and formed Bronco who toured extensively with Island Records' label-mates Traffic, Free, Mott The Hoople, Fotheringay and John Martyn but left after two albums to embark on a solo album. During this period, he also sang on Wildlife, the third Mott the Hoople album, and sang and played on albums by Carol Grimes, Jim Capaldi, Sandy Denny, and sang lead vocals on Keef Hartley's 1973 album Lancashire Hustler.

His solo album plans were sidelined when, in the same year, he was asked to team up with ex-Doors John Densmore and Robby Krieger in The Butts Band, together with Phil Chenn (bass) and Roy Davies (keyboards). Their first album was recorded in London and Kingston, Jamaica and released in America on Blue Thumb and Island (rest of the world). The Butts Band played a short US tour (including multiple dates at New York's Max's Kansas City), a handful of British dates (including opening for The Kinks at London's Finsbury Park Astoria, later The Rainbow Theatre) as well as recording one session for BBC TV's The Old Grey Whistle Test after which Roden, Chenn and Davies left the group.

Roden finally emerged as a solo artist in the mid 1970s on Island Records, with his 1974 self-titled solo album. It was recorded at Olympic and Basing St Studios in London as well as at Sea Saint Studios in New Orleans, Louisiana, and included contributions from Allen Toussaint and The Meters from the US sessions and in London, "Rabbit" John Bundrick and Mick Weaver (keyboards), Steve Webb (guitar), Richard Bailey and Simon Kirke (drums).

He then formed The Jess Roden Band (originally Iguana – based in Southampton). The initial album sessions were with Steve Smith (and featured Steve Winwood on Hammond) but these were eventually discarded in favour of producer Geoff Haslam with whom the group's first two studio album were recorded – Keep Your Hat On and Play It Dirty, Play It Class. Always a major touring draw, the band never achieved significant record sales and disbanded in early 1977 just after the release of their live album, Blowin' which was recorded during capacity shows at Birmingham Town Hall and Leicester University during Autumn 1976. Their final show was, however, also recorded and later issued as Live at the BBC.

Following the ending of the JRB, Roden relocated to New York City and cut two further solo albums for Island (The Player Not The Game and Stonechaser) after which his association with Island ended. He formed The Rivits with Peter Wood (who had co-written Year of the Cat with Al Stewart), for one album Multiplay; the album was released by Antilles in North America and via Island for the rest of the world. The Rivits played two UK shows only; one in Stamford in Lincolnshire, the other at The Venue in Victoria, London.

During initial sessions for a second Rivits album that had begun to be recorded at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas, Roden sang back-up vocals for Grace Jones Pull Up to the Bumper. With the sessions incomplete (Woods had to leave to re-join Pink Floyd's band of musicians for The Wall tour) and on returning to New York, Roden and Island parted for the final time.

He began a new career as a graphic artist while, at the same time, recording Seven Windows, an album that was produced by Steve Dwire (who had played bass on The Rivits' album) and A. T. Michael MacDonald that featured the cream of New York-based session players / arrangers (including Elliot Randall, Mark Egan, Jack Waldman, Rob Mounsey, Michael Dawe, Lou Marini and Paul Buckmaster). Just before the album was released, Roden returned to live and work in the UK.

Combining graphic art with music, he recorded two albums with a new band, The Humans (named by Jim Capaldi) with a line-up that featured Gary Grainger, Bill Burke and Nick Graham; the group also recorded with Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi. Subsequent to the release of both records and due to work commitments, Roden's live appearances became increasingly rare with occasional performances with the SAS band that featured the likes of Roy Wood, Roger Taylor, Brian May, Paul Young.

In 2009, Lemon Recordings (a subsidiary of Cherry Red) issued a 'Best Of...' and, a year later, BGO issued both Bronco albums as a single CD package.

During the winter of 2009, deep archive research began into a full-scale Anthology – designed to encompass Roden's entire musical career. During this process, well over 800 pieces of music were logged (and in the vast majority of instances, digitised for the first time) from which a career defining Anthology has been compiled. The set Hidden Masters: The Jess Roden Anthology – which includes over 50% of previously unheard material – was issued as a limited edition, 1st pressing of 950 copies, 6-CD set by Hidden Masters in 2013.

Solo

The Jess Roden Band

Alan Bown

Bronco

The Butts Band

The Rivits

Seven Windows

The Humans

Compilations

Other appearances