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<center>The Crown Top Kings</center>
Formed in summer 2007 featuring Swing Commanders founder members Jesse, Pat and Graham with new guy/multi-instrumentalist Chris aka ‘Dusty’
Music Influences
The band’s influences include ‘old school’ country artists such as Hank Williams, Hank Snow, Johnny Cash, Tex Williams, Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, Pee Wee King, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Speedy West.
Mission Statement/General info
We play American roots music: Country, Western Swing, Rockabilly, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Rhythm and Blues, Jump Jive, Swing, Tex Mex, Cajun, Latin and Blues into our own danceable retro style with a modern feel….Cowboy Jazz if you like…it all has a Western feel.
We do plenty of familiar favourites in our set along with plenty of new songs with Chris and Graham sharing lead vocals and featuring Jesse’s infamous steel guitar style.
We want to have cross over appeal from the Country scene over to the Rock ‘n’ Roll/40’s Swing Jive scene. That’s why we mix styles and arrangements up. If we get the tempos to our songs right then people can Line-dance, Jive, Lindyhop, Charleston and Stroll….whatever they like!!
We’re keen to give audiences something cool to look at onstage so we’ll be playing our vintage guitars/drums and wearing our finery. Jesse’s been adding to his hat collection and Pat’s RAF uniform will be making the odd appearance too!
Members of the band
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Pat: Drums: Plays vintage Slingerland drums/Pink Sparkle Cocktail Kit and Paiste cymbals
Home town: Southport
Influences: Los Lobos, Tom Waits, Buddy Rich and Hank Williams!
Previous bands include: Swing Commanders, The Gemtones, The Stormkeepers
Quote: "Two things made me play the drums: Alexis Corner's Sunday night blues show on Radio One and seeing Blondie's drummer Clem Burke on TISWAS batter his way through Union City Blues!"
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Graham: Bass/Vocals: Plays Upright Double bass and a home made amplifier!
Home town: Ribchester
Influences: Hank Williams, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash!
Previous bands include: Swing Commanders, Wildkatz, The Barretas
Quote: "I was 10 when I saw Bill Haley and the Comets doing 'Rock around the clock' on Top of the Pops. From then on I knew I'd play the double bass and be in a band"
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Jesse: Guitar/Steel/Vocals: Plays: Home made Steel guitar and Gibson Chet Atkins Country Gent through a Fender Deluxe amp
Home town: Bolton
Influences: Chuck Berry, Speedy West and Thora Hird!
Previous bands include: Swing Commanders, Winchesters and The Bluenotes
Quote: "I had two fingers sewn back on after an accident and took up the guitar as psysiotherapy. I'd heard Chuck Berry at a school disco and it became the first song I ever learnt"
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Chris: Guitar/Sax/Vocals: Plays Selmer Super Action 80 Tenor/Gretsch 6120 Guitar/Fender Blues Junior amp
Home town: Blackburn
Influences: Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and of course Hank Williams!
Previous bands include: Doo-Be-Wah, 20 Century Rocks, Barettas
Quote: "I started in my teens when two guys from school turned up at my door and asked me to play guitar in a band. I thought they'd come to beat up!"
We engineer, recording and produce ourselves in our farmhouse studio.
Personal information
We all live in the North West of England/Lancashire. Jesse’s from Bolton, Graham’s from Ribchester, Chris is from Acrington and Pat’s from sunny Southport. As for our ages….well we’re all in our late 30’s and early 40’s with children…Grahams a granddad too!
Hopes for the Future
Plans for 2008 include the release of our first CD, developing the website www.crowntopkings.com to include a gig list and some free downloads of live material and live footage. We’re going to start writing together to so we’ll be doing original material soon too.
We want to draw a line under the Swing Commanders split and have fun playing music again. We enjoy and respect each other’s friendship and playing. We want to reconnect with our audience, give them something new, fresh and exciting and above all make people dance, sing and be entertained!
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CONTACT DETAILS
http://www.crowntopkings.com
Jessie on 07709921083
Pat on 07896896701
Its great to be able to feature new up coming bands as the CROWN TOP KINGS and I thank Pat for his time getting their details to me.