NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Family (band)

This is about the British rock band Family. For other uses, see Family (disambiguation). Look up family in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Family were an English progressive rock band formed in 1966, originally comprising Roger Chapman on vocals, John "Charlie" Whitney on guitar, Jim King on sax, harmonica, vocals and tin whistle, Ric Grech on bass, violin and vocals and Rob Townsend on drums. While never a big success in the United States, Family were quite successful in the UK and best remembered for vocalist Chapman's "electric goat" vibrato and wild, manic stage persona. Image File history File links Dollpic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England_(bordered). ... Leicester (pronounced ) is the largest city in the East Midlands of England. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2006 est. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... See also: 1965 in music, other events of 1966, 1967 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music Hot 100 No. ... See also: other events of 1973 list of years in music 1970s in music // January 9 - Mick Jaggers request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug bust, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones plans to tour the Orient. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Liberty Records was a United States based record label. ... Streetwalkers were a British rock band of the mid-1970s led by two former members of Family, vocalist Roger Chapman and guitarist John Charlie Whitney. ... Richard John Whitney (born June 24, 1944) John Charlie Whitney is a British rock guitarist and a former member of both Family and Streetwalkers. ... Roger Chapman on the cover of his 1996 album Kiss My Soul Roger Chapman (Roger Maxwell Chapman) is a British singer (born on 8 April 1942, in Leicester, England). ... Jim Cregan (born March 9, 1946 in Somerset, England) is a rock guitarist and bassist who has played with Family, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, and Rod Stewart. ... Edward Anthony Ashton (March 1, 1946 - May 28, 2001) was a British rock musician who played in the British rock band Family as well as in Paice-Ashton-Lord with Deep Purple alumni Ian Paice and Jon Lord. ... Rob Townsend (born July 7, 1947) is a British rock drummer who played for the progressive rock band Family from 1967 to 1973. ... Richard Roman Grech, November 1, 1946 â€“ March 17, 1990. ... James Leonard King (born February 7, 1941 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a former professional basketball player. ... John Weider (born April 21, 1947) is a British rock musician who is equally proficient on guitar, bass, and violin. ... John Michael Palmer (born May 25, 1943) is a British rock musician who was a key member in the progressive rock band Family. ... John Wetton in concert John Wetton (born June 12, 1949 in Derbyshire, England) is an English singer, bassist and guitarist. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2006 est. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... See also: 1965 in music, other events of 1966, 1967 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music Hot 100 No. ... Roger Chapman on the cover of his 1996 album Kiss My Soul Roger Chapman (Roger Maxwell Chapman) is a British singer (born on 8 April 1942, in Leicester, England). ... Richard John Whitney (born June 24, 1944) John Charlie Whitney is a British rock guitarist and a former member of both Family and Streetwalkers. ... Jim King (born in Northamptonshire, England, in 1945) was an original member of the British rock band Family. ... Richard Roman Grech, November 1, 1946 â€“ March 17, 1990. ... Rob Townsend (born July 7, 1947) is a British rock drummer who played for the progressive rock band Family from 1967 to 1973. ...

History

Family officially began in 1966 in Leicester in the Midlands, England, although the basis for the band had actually been in existence since 1962 when they were known as The Farinas and subsequently The Roaring Sixties. The original Farinas line up featured guitarist Charlie Whitney, Tim Kirchin on bass and Harry Ovenall on drums with Jim King on lead vocals. Ric Grech replaced Kirchin on bass in 1965 and Roger Chapman joined around the same time on vocals. American producer Kim Fowley suggested the band change their name to The Family based on their penchant for wearing double-breasted suits giving themselves sort of a mafia appearance--a look they soon abandoned in favour of a more hippy or bohemian image. Shortly after becoming Family, drummer Harry Ovenall was asked to leave and was replaced by Rob Townsend. Leicester (pronounced ) is the largest city in the East Midlands of England. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2006 est. ... Kim Fowley (born 1942) is an American pop and rock singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known for helping record the 1966 novelty record Theyre Coming to Take me Away, Ha Ha, recorded by Jerry Samuels under the name of Napoleon XIV. The B-side consisted of the A... The Sicilian Mafia (also referred to simply as the Mafia or Cosa Nostra), is a criminal secret society which first developed in the mid-19th century in Sicily. ... Hippies (singular hippie or sometimes hippy) were members of the 1960s counterculture movement who adopted a communal or nomadic lifestyle, renounced corporate nationalism and the Vietnam War, embraced aspects of Buddhism, Hinduism, and/or Native American religious culture, and were otherwise at odds with traditional middle class Western values. ... Bohemians, or gypsies, are inhabitants of Bohemia, in the Czech Republic. ...

Family's debut single "Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens" / "Gypsy Woman" was released by Liberty in the autumn of 1967. While the single received much praise from critics, it received very little airplay, due to its rather complex, uncommercial nature. Family's debut album Music in a Doll's House was finally released in July 1968; produced by former Traffic member Dave Mason. Mason also contributed one composition to the album "Never Like This" - the only song recorded by Family not written by a band member. Music in a Doll's House charted respectably in the UK and, like their debut single, received praise from the critics as well as getting considerable airplay from well-known British radio personality John Peel. The sound of this album was largely based around Chapman's rather odd vocalisations, Grech's classically trained violin playing and the jazzy reed and horn work of King which, while very psychedelic in nature, sounded far more sophisticated and mature than a lot of other albums of the genre. Some criticised the album for being restrained in comparison to their wild live performances which had gained them a respectable cult following in their homeland. Family's 1969 follow-up Family Entertainment toned down the psychedelic experimentation of their previous offering, although it was equally eclectic and complex and featured their first UK hit "The Weaver's Answer". Music in a Dolls House is the debut album by progressive rock group Family, released in July 1968. ... Traffic was a rock band from Birmingham, England, formed in late 1966 by Steve Winwood with Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason. ... Dave Mason, born David Thomas Mason, May 10, [[1946], is a multi-talented musician -- singer, songwriter, and guitarist -- from Worcester, England, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic. ... Autobiography John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE (30 August 1939 â€“ 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, and journalist. ... Family Entertainment was the second album from the British progressive rock band Family, released in February 1969. ... The Weavers Answer is a song by the British progressive rock band Family that is the first track on their 1969 album Family Entertainment. ...

With the UK success of Family's first two albums, they decided to try to conquer the US, although they were faced with many setbacks which all but killed any chance of a successful career in the States. Before their 1969 US tour, Ric Grech, whose violin playing had been very integral to Family's sound, unexpectedly left to join Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker in the supergroup Blind Faith and was replaced by former Eric Burdon and the Animals bassist John Weider. The biggest blow to Family's US career involved their first concert at Bill Graham's Fillmore East, sharing the bill with Ten Years After and The Nice in which Chapman, during his normal manic stage routine, lost control of his mike stand which came within inches of decapitating Graham. This nearly got Family pulled from the bill at the Fillmore, although they were spared as long as Chapman performed on stage with his arms pinned at his side. While Family and Graham reconciled their differences, Family's reputation in the US sadly never recovered from the incident. After the tour, Jim King was relieved of his position in the band due to "erratic behaviour" and was replaced by multi-instrumentalist John "Poli" Palmer on keyboards, vibes and flute. Stephen Lawrence Winwood (born May 12, 1948 in Great Barr, West Midlands) is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who, in addition to his solo career, was a member of the bands the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and Blind Faith. ... The famous Clapton is God graffiti Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born 30 March 1945), nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award winning English guitarist, singer and composer, who is one of the most respected and influential musicians of the 20th century,[1] garnering an unprecedented three inductions into the Rock and... Peter Edward Ginger Baker (born August 19, 1939, Lewisham, South London) is an English drummer who gained fame as a member of Cream from 1966 until 1968. ... There are other articles with similar names; see Blind Faith (disambiguation). ... Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941, in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne) was the lead singer of The Animals and later of War. ... The US edition of The Animals self-titled debut album. ... John Weider (born April 21, 1947) is a British rock musician who is equally proficient on guitar, bass, and violin. ... Cover of Bill Graham Presents Bill Graham (January 8, 1931â€“October 25, 1991) was a well-known concert promoter, who flourished from the 1960s until his death. ... Fillmore East was promoter Bill Grahams rock palace in the East Village area of New York City. ... Ten Years After is a British blues rock band popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... Keith Emerson, Lee Jackson, Brian Davison, Davy OList, circa 1967-68. ... John Michael Palmer (born May 25, 1943) is a British rock musician who was a key member in the progressive rock band Family. ...

With Family's 1970 release A Song For Me, they developed a more aggressive sound, dominated by Whitney's tight guitar lines and Palmer's keyboard and vibraphone work. Family's new line-up and sound gained them an even larger European following and they played at several major rock festivals including the 1970 Isle Of Wight music festival and Holland's Kralingen Festival. Both performances were documented in the festival documentary films Message To Love (there was no performance shown in this film, only a part of one song played as soundtrack) and Stomping Ground. Family's follow-up album Anyway featured a side of a live performance of new material at Fairfields Hall in Croydon, England, as well as a side of new studio recordings. In 1971 Weider left to join the band Stud and was replaced by former Mogul Thrash bassist John Wetton. Much like Grech in the original line-up of the band, Wetton also shared vocal duties with Chapman, and this line-up recorded the two albums Fearless (1971) and Bandstand(1972) which were both quite successful in both the UK and the States. A Song For Me is the third album from the British progressive rock band Family, released in January 1970. ... The Isle of Wight is an English island and county, off the southern English coast, to the south of the county of Hampshire. ... Documentary of the Isle of Wight Festival 1970. ... Stomping Ground is Goldfingers third official album that was released on March 28, 2000. ... Anyway is the fourth album from the British progressive rock band Family. ... Stud is a British folk-rock band from the early seventies that featured Taste bassist Charlie McCracken and two members of Family, former bassist John Weider and future bassist Jim Cregan. ... Mogul Thrash was a progressive rock band from the United Kingdom active in the early 1970s. ... John Wetton in concert John Wetton (born June 12, 1949 in Derbyshire, England) is an English singer, bassist and guitarist. ... Fearless was the fifth album from the British rock band Family, which was released in October 1971. ... A bandstand built in 1912 stands in the grounds of the Horniman Museum in London Jedforest Instrumental Bandstand built in 2006 stands in the shadow of Jedburgh Abbey Scottish Borders Eastbourne bandstand opened in 1935 A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, or pier...

In mid 1972 Wetton left Family to join the newly re-formed King Crimson and was replaced by bassist Jim Cregan, and at the end of this year Poli Palmer also left the band and was replaced by keyboardist Tony Ashton, formerly of Ashton, Gardner and Dyke. In between Wetton's departure and Palmer's exit, Family toured the United States and Canada was the warmup act for Elton John; though far more successful than their eariler North American concert dates, it was not the breakthrough in the New World the band were looking for. In 1973 Family released It's Only a Movie which would be their last studio album. King Crimson is an English musical group founded by guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Michael Giles in 1969. ... Jim Cregan (born March 9, 1946 in Somerset, England) is a rock guitarist and bassist who has played with Family, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, and Rod Stewart. ... Edward Anthony Ashton (March 1, 1946 - May 28, 2001) was a British rock musician who played in the British rock band Family as well as in Paice-Ashton-Lord with Deep Purple alumni Ian Paice and Jon Lord. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE[1][2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is an English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Its Only A Movie is an album of nine songs from the British progressive rock band Family, released in 1973. ...

Family gave their final concert at Leicester Polytechnic on 13 October 1973. Chapman and Whitney continued to record as the Streetwalkers which included former Jeff Beck vocalist Bob Tench. De Montfort University is one of two universities situated in the city of Leicester, England; the other institution of higher education being University of Leicester. ... Streetwalkers were a British rock band of the mid-1970s led by two former members of Family, vocalist Roger Chapman and guitarist John Charlie Whitney. ... Geoffrey Arnold (Jeff) Beck (born June 24, 1944 in Wallington, Greater London, England) is a guitarist and songwriter. ...

Discography

Albums

All albums after Song For Me released in the U.S. by United Artists Records. Music in a Dolls House is the debut album by progressive rock group Family, released in July 1968. ... Family Entertainment was the second album from the British progressive rock band Family, released in February 1969. ... A Song For Me is the third album from the British progressive rock band Family, released in January 1970. ... Anyway is the fourth album from the British progressive rock band Family. ... Fearless was the fifth album from the British rock band Family, which was released in October 1971. ... Bandstand is the sixth studio album from the British progressive rock band Family. ... Its Only A Movie is an album of nine songs from the British progressive rock band Family, released in 1973. ...

Singles

The single In My Own Time was included in the U.S. version of Anyway (United Artists, 1971). No Mules Fool is a song from the British progressive rock band Family released in October 1969. ... The Weavers Answer is a song by the British progressive rock band Family that is the first track on their 1969 album Family Entertainment. ...

Compilations

Old Songs New Songs is a compilation album of ten previously released songs and one remake from the British progressive rock band Family, released in March 1971. ...

Personnel

Musicians

Roger Chapman on the cover of his 1996 album Kiss My Soul Roger Chapman (Roger Maxwell Chapman) is a British singer (born on 8 April 1942, in Leicester, England). ... Richard John Whitney (born June 24, 1944) John Charlie Whitney is a British rock guitarist and a former member of both Family and Streetwalkers. ... James Leonard King (born February 7, 1941 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a former professional basketball player. ... Richard Roman Grech, November 1, 1946 â€“ March 17, 1990. ... Rob Townsend (born July 7, 1947) is a British rock drummer who played for the progressive rock band Family from 1967 to 1973. ... John Weider (born April 21, 1947) is a British rock musician who is equally proficient on guitar, bass, and violin. ... John Michael Palmer (born May 25, 1943) is a British rock musician who was a key member in the progressive rock band Family. ... John Wetton in concert John Wetton (born June 12, 1949 in Derbyshire, England) is an English singer, bassist and guitarist. ... Jim Cregan (born March 9, 1946 in Somerset, England) is a rock guitarist and bassist who has played with Family, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, and Rod Stewart. ... Edward Anthony Ashton (March 1, 1946 - May 28, 2001) was a British rock musician who played in the British rock band Family as well as in Paice-Ashton-Lord with Deep Purple alumni Ian Paice and Jon Lord. ...

Session Musicians

Dave Mason, born David Thomas Mason, May 10, [[1946], is a multi-talented musician -- singer, songwriter, and guitarist -- from Worcester, England, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic. ... Nicholas Nicky Hopkins (February 24, 1944 in Ealing, West London â€“ September 6, 1994 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA) was an English musician who featured on scores of the most important British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s and 1970s, playing piano and organ. ...

Producers

John Gilbert may refer to several people: John Gilbert (actor) John Gilbert (naturalist) John Gilbert (painter) John William Gilbert (British, Labour Party politician) John Gilbert (Canadian politician) (NDP) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... David Mason is an English trumpet player now in retirement. ... Jimmy Miller (1944-1994) was a Brooklyn-born record producer who produced albums for The Spencer Davis Group (in fact, he co-wrote the song Gimme Some Lovin with Steve Winwood), Traffic , Blind Faith, Bobby Whitlock and The Rolling Stones (all albums from Beggars Banquet to Goats Head Soup), New... Glyn Johns (born 1942 in Epsom, England) is a recording engineer and record producer who has worked with such artists as The Beatles, The Steve Miller Band, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Eagles, Eric Clapton, The Clash, Midnight Oil and the Blue Ã–yster Cult Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou... George Chkiantz is a recording engineer in London who has been responsible for the engineering on a number of well-known albums, many of which are considered classics, owing in part to the high-quality of the recordings. ...

External links

Categories: Articles lacking sources from January 2007 | All articles lacking sources | 1960s music groups | 1970s music groups | English musical groups | Leicester musical groups | Progressive rock groups | Peel Sessions artists | Musical groups established in 1966 Roger Chapman on the cover of his 1996 album Kiss My Soul Roger Chapman (Roger Maxwell Chapman) is a British singer (born on 8 April 1942, in Leicester, England). ... Richard John Whitney (born June 24, 1944) John Charlie Whitney is a British rock guitarist and a former member of both Family and Streetwalkers. ... Jim King (born in Northamptonshire, England, in 1945) was an original member of the British rock band Family. ... Richard Roman Grech, November 1, 1946 â€“ March 17, 1990. ... Rob Townsend (born July 7, 1947) is a British rock drummer who played for the progressive rock band Family from 1967 to 1973. ... John Weider (born April 21, 1947) is a British rock musician who is equally proficient on guitar, bass, and violin. ... John Michael Palmer (born May 25, 1943) is a British rock musician who was a key member in the progressive rock band Family. ... John Wetton in concert John Wetton (born June 12, 1949 in Derbyshire, England) is an English singer, bassist and guitarist. ... Jim Cregan (born March 9, 1946 in Somerset, England) is a rock guitarist and bassist who has played with Family, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, and Rod Stewart. ... Edward Anthony Ashton (March 1, 1946 - May 28, 2001) was a British rock musician who played in the British rock band Family as well as in Paice-Ashton-Lord with Deep Purple alumni Ian Paice and Jon Lord. ... Music in a Dolls House is the debut album by progressive rock group Family, released in July 1968. ... Family Entertainment was the second album from the British progressive rock band Family, released in February 1969. ... A Song For Me is the third album from the British progressive rock band Family, released in January 1970. ... Anyway is the fourth album from the British progressive rock band Family. ... Fearless was the fifth album from the British rock band Family, which was released in October 1971. ... Bandstand is the sixth studio album from the British progressive rock band Family. ... Its Only A Movie is an album of nine songs from the British progressive rock band Family, released in 1973. ...

Contents

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