Born Valentine’s Day 1946, Luton, England. In my early teens I got into traditional jazz as a result of my brother finding a wind-up gramophone and a 78 rpm record of Sidney Bechet on a demolition site. I first met with the blues when Chris Barber introduced American bluesmen like James Cotton and Champion Jack Dupree to British jazz clubs. My greatest musical influence was Sonny Terry and I hitched around the country to see him with Brownie McGee every time they came over. After a period of bumming around Britain,  I learned blues harp crossed style while in a commune in Mevagissey in the early 70’s.                                                                    My influences are rock, soul, r&b, reggae, skiffle, British and American folk music and world music. Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Sonny Boy Williamson, Alexis corner, Cyril Davies, Long John Baldry and many others are all primary influences.  (Named my daughter after Ella Fitzgerald!) I hitched to the last Isle of Wight festival to hear Hendrix, Leonard Cohen and Richie Havens. Attended Cornish folk clubs in the   70’s and teamed up with a 12 string guitarist to play blues and experimental jazz. (Duo called Psycho-Neuro Fusion!)  I left Cornwall ‘81 and moved around Britain rarely playing for 12 years. When I settled in Nottingham for a few years I teamed up with a guitarist as Strange Brew playing blues, soul and folk, and  joined The Wrinklies (what a stupid name!) doing 60’s and 70’s rock and pop.  I moved back to Cornwall and reformed Strange Brew with a different guitarist  and a bass-man Jan 04. Later the same year teamed up with Bob Love forming Strange Love.  .