Alan Bown RIP

December 17, 2014 by Dave Allen 10 Comments

AW is ‘down under’ so probably has not seen the updates yet but the news is confirmed that Alan Bown has died. The trumpeter was in John Barry’s Seven before launching his Alan Bown Set, who as a soul band played six times at the Birdcage and as their music shifted they certainly played at Manor Court and maybe the Brave New World. Of the new stuff I did like their cover of Dion’s “My Girl the Month of May” – and Jess Roden was a fine singer of most things.

I’ve told my two AB stories before but they’re worth another spin I think:

Harlem Speakeasy added brass and went very ‘soulful’ in late 1967 (bucking the trend!) and the Alan Bown Set were a big musical influence. In the Spring of 1968 we were ‘conned’ by the notorious Don Arden into believing Mickie Most wanted to record us and after a frank exchange of views in his Soho office we went to a cafe in Denmark Street. We were discussing the disappointment when a guy who overheard us revealed that he was a ‘roadie’ with Alan Bown. They had just split from their agency who were looking for a replacement. We followed up this chance link which led directly and almost immediately to a recording contract with Polydor and an agency deal with Chrysalis.

That was in 1968 and while it didn’t work out and I went off to college (in 1971) I kept playing. In late 1974 news came through to our Students’ Union of a national student talent contest with money prizes and free beer for all participants from the sponsors Tartan Brewers. There were two sections, rock and folk, and at the time I was in a college country blues duo with a guy called Bob. We ‘expanded’ the group to a seven piece (washboards, harmonicas, fiddle, more guitars – including Denis the Mook) called ourselves Skys Is Cryin’ and went off to Worthing College for the first heat, judged by DJ Phil Drummond.

We won that heat as a folk act. Then we won the next heat at Thames Poly, then we won the semifinal at Reading Uni, where by now there was also a main act (Geordie I think). So to the Final at Hammersmith Odeon in April 1975 with Steeleye Span. We won that too and Bob Harris presented the cheque not just for the best student folk group in the UK but the overall prize (£750)

So what’s that got to do with Alan Bown you ask?

He was Chairman of the Judges

I always thought that a third chance encounter with him and my musical career would really take off.

But sadly it’s too late now. Nonetheless thank you Mr Bown, for two thrilling opportunities

Rest In Peace