ROGER LAMBOURNE

I was born in Elmswell Suffolk in January 1947, attended the local primary school then on to King Edward VI Grammar School Bury St. Edmunds.

Music was always there from the first day I remember. I suppose the first instrument I picked up was a mouth organ. I just loved music, even whilst at primary school I was into jazz…particularly jazz guitar stuff.

First band was called The Ketas, latterly  changed name to Nelson’s Column.

I stayed with this band for about  15  years or so first as a wannabe guitarist but grew into a bass player.

Line up changed over the years as did the style of music…..from a Soul band playing the Otis Reddin,  Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave,etc….mixed in with a bit of Georgie Fame…transgressed into Chicago,  BS&T, Yes and then eventually into out and out harmony….Doobies, Steeley Dan, Hollies, Fortunes et al.

Work then took me away from Suffolk and I linked up with a 4 piece playing the chart stuff of the day in Cambridgshire.

Left the music behind unfortunately for a number of years….her indoors and all that……moved to  the North West and met up with an outfit called the Chester Continentals.

Re recordings, as The Ketas, we did cut a disc with Georgie Fame stuff on it…no idea what happened to the copies

Success wise…….no fame or fortunes I’m afraid however Nelson’s Column worked for probably 12 of those 15 years as the support band to the big boys of the day. Worked on the same stages throughout East Anglia and the Home Counties as  The Who, Billy Jay Kramer, The Kinks, Rory Gallagher….(that was up your way in ……a smallish kind if night club place….I think it was known as Norwich Gala then) , Mary Wells, Sweet, Pretty Things and Status Quo…..and more. By now we are an accomplished harmony act, did a bit of cabaret  mainly on the American Bases in East Anglia where once we finished up backing Jackie Trent who asked if we would like to tour with her in South Africa as her backing band…….I was still an apprentice then….and Dad wouldn’t let me…….so I guess to have the privilege to work with these guys and others like them,  might be regards as a measure of some success. [sent in by Roger]