Sailor is a British pop group mostly famous in the 1970s. Much of the best material revolved around sailors' adventures on shore leave, especially in the "red-light quarter". Dressing in sailor gear that went with the image, they might easily be dismissed as something of a novelty act, but created some enduring and finely crafted pop music. The group's leader, Georg Kajanus (real name Georg Hultgreen), had previously had minor success as a songwriter, notably by penning 'Flying Machine' for Cliff Richard in 1971 - though ironically it was Richard's first UK single that failed to reach the Top 30. For popular music (music produced commercially rather than art or folk music), see Popular music. ... In music, a band is a company of musicians, or musical ensemble, usually popular or folk, playing parts of or improvising a musical arrangement on different musical instruments. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... A red-light district is a neighborhood where prostitution is a common part of everyday life. ... Georg Kajanus (Georg Johan Tchegodaieff Kajanus) is a composer and singer/songwriter. ... Sir Cliff Richard OBE, birth name Harry Rodger Webb (born 14 October 1940) is a major pop star and singer from England. ...

Another of the group's trademarks was the 'Nickelodeon', a scratch-built contraption of pianos, synthesisers, glockenspiels, etc. that allowed the four-man band to reproduce on stage the complex acoustic arrangements that they had done in the studio.

The group's first British single, 'Traffic Jam', attracted considerable airplay on radio on release in 1974, but it was 'A Glass of Champagne', issued late the following year, which gave them their breakthrough in that country, reaching No. 2. The follow-up, 'Girls, Girls, Girls' also made the Top 10, though of their subsequent singles, only 'One Drink Too Many' registered in the Top 40.

The original line-up of Sailor split up at the end of the 1970s. Phil Pickett and Henry Marsh released more material as Sailor with Gavin David and Virginia David in 1980. Afterwards, Henry mainly composed music for television, Georg released three albums with "DATA (band)", Grant took up teaching chemistry, while Phil enjoyed success touring with "Culture Club" and co-writing the now classic hit "Karma Chameleon". DATA was an electronic music band created in the late 1970s by Georg Kajanus, creator of such bands as Eclection, Sailor and Noir (with Tim Dry of the robotic/music duo Tik and Tok). ... Culture Club was a popular 1980s British pop group, perhaps most noticeable for their gender-bending frontman Boy George. ...

In 1989 a dream for Sailor and its fans came through: A new album, after a ten year silence, two new hit singles "The Secretary" and "La Cumbia", songs which are firm favourites at their concerts and which re-establish the band as a force to be reckoned with in the 90s. They started touring again and performed at many TV shows and "Oldie Nights" from then on.

In 1995 Georg Kajanus departed the band to pursue a solo career. The arrival of Peter Lincoln, a respected and talented guitarist and singer, gave new life to Sailor. Their first live album "Live In Berlin" was recorded in the new line up.

Original member Henry Marsh left the band in 1999 and was replaced by Anthony England on the left side of the Nickelodeon. In May 2001 Anthony England left the band again to be replaced with a new passionate and talented musician, Rob Alderton. In the new line-up Sailor recorded their first DVD at a very special UK headline concert in November 2002.

In 2004 Sailor were voted the 45th most successful pop band of the last 40 years in Germany, surrounded by "Genesis" on 46 and "Culture Club" on 44. Their first and only Sailor book "A Glass Of Champagne - The Official Sailor Story" with 352 pages and over 120 photographs (mostly unpublished) was released in June 2004. Culture Club was a popular 1980s British pop group, perhaps most noticeable for their gender-bending frontman Boy George. ...

In July 2005 Rob Alderton left the ship. A few weeks later original Sailor member Henry Marsh returned to his place at the Nickelodeon.

July 2006 saw the world premiere of "Sailor, The Musical Journey" at the Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, Scotland. Written by Bill Blenman, the new musical was comprised entirely of Kajanus compositions and imaginatively taped into Kajanus’ early ‘70’s creation of sailors on shore leave and red light districts. The musical also featured two new, previously unheard compositions by Kajanus. The Royal Burgh of Dunfermline (in Gaelic, Dùn Phàrlain) is a former city in Fife, Scotland. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by... The Fantasticks was the longest-running musical in history Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining music, songs, spoken dialogue and dance. ... A sailor is a member of the crew of a ship or boat. ... Shore Leave is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ... A red-light district is a neighborhood where prostitution is a common part of everyday life. ...

In September 2006 Peter Lincoln decided to leave Sailor after ten years to join "Sweet (band)". Afterwards, Henry's son Oliver Marsh joined the band as their new singer to continue the journey... And they are still sailing. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

In September 2006 the single 'A Glass of Champagne' was used on a high-profile TV advertisement by Marks and Spencer. Marks and Spencer plc (known also as M&S and sometimes colloquially as Marks and Sparks) is the largest retailer in the United Kingdom by sales. ...

Band members

• Georg Kajanus: (born Prince Georg Johan Tchegodaieff, 9.2.1946, in Trondheim, Norway) 1973-1979, 1990-1995
  • lead vocals, 12-string guitars, acoustic guitars, charango, Veracruzana harp, harmonium, synthesisers, "Klockwork machinery"
• Henry Marsh: (born Ian Henry Murray Marsh, 8.12.1948, in Bath, Somerset) 1973-1999, 2005-present
  • Nickelodeon, accordion, piano, marimbas, synthesised brass and reed, synthesisers, acoustic/electric guitars, computer programming, vocals
• Phil Pickett: (born Philip Stuart Pickett, 19.11.1946, in Münster, Germany) 1973-present (except Checkpoint)
  • bass Nickelodeon, piano, guitarron, synthesised strings, calliope, xylophone, bass, cruz bass, Hammond organ, mandolin, autoharp, vocals (lead vocals on Dressed for Drowning)
• Grant Serpell: (born Stephen Grant Serpell, 9.2.1944, in Maidenhead, Berkshire) 1973-1979, 1990-present
  • drums, percussion, vocals
• Gavin David: 1980
  • vocals
• Virginia David: 1980
  • lead and backing vocals
• Peter Lincoln: 1996-2006
  • 12-string and 6-string acoustic guitars, electric guitar, charango, lead vocals
• Anthony England: 1999-2001
• Rob Alderton: 2001-2005
  • Nickelodeon, accordion, vocals
• Oliver Marsh: 2006-present
  • guitar, lead vocals

Georg Kajanus (Georg Johan Tchegodaieff Kajanus) is a composer and singer/songwriter. ...

Discography

Albums

• Sailor (1974)
• Trouble (1975)
• The Third Step (1976)
• Checkpoint (1977)
• Hideaway (1978)
• Dressed for Drowning (1980)
• Sailor (1991)
• Street Lamp (1992)
• Legacy: Greatest and Latest (1996) – compilation with some new songs, including a version of Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon", which Pickett co-wrote
• The Very Best of Sailor (1997) – new studio versions of back-catalogue songs
• Live in Berlin (2002) – re-released as A Glass of Champagne (2003)
• Sailor: Buried Treasure (2006)

Culture Club was a popular 1980s British pop group, perhaps most noticeable for their gender-bending frontman Boy George. ...

Notable singles

• "Traffic Jam" (1974)
• "A Glass of Champagne" (1975) – the most successful, held off the UK Number One spot by Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and ABBA's "Mamma Mia"
• "Girls, Girls, Girls" (1976)
• "Stiletto Heels" (1976)
• "One Drink Too Many" (1977)
• "Down By The Docks" (1977)
• "All I Need Is a Girl" (1978)
• "Stay The Night" (1978)
• "La Cumbia" (1991)
• "The Secretary" (1992)

Queen are an English rock band formed by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor in London, England in 1970 from the remains of Smile, with John Deacon completing the lineup the following year. ... Bohemian Rhapsody is a song written by Freddie Mercury, originally recorded by the band Queen for their 1975 album A Night at the Opera. ... ABBA (1972–1982) were a Swedish pop music group characterised by a generally uplifting but melancholic sound. ... For the play of the same name, please see Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia is a song from ABBAs third album, ABBA, and was first released on the ABBA album in April 1975. ...

External links

• SAILOR CLUB
• Georg Kajanus Web Site
• Georg Kajanus at Myspace