Southern Gold

Songs

THE BAND

Tony: Guitar and Vocals

Tony's entry into the world of music began at around 7 years old when he was encouraged to learn piano by his parents, both of whom were very musical, his Dad was a prolific and well known professional composer of music, writing operas and modern classical music along with TV themes and incidental music. Although Tony did enjoy the piano he and his two brothers (who are also very musical) really wanted to play guitar after hearing The Beatles and Hank Marvin on the radio! However, ‘pop’ music was heavily frowned on at home, and even his attempts at Boogie Woogie piano were considered heavy handed nonsense. So he didn’t get to buy a guitar and do the music he loved until he left school and started work. In his early twenties he started writing songs.

Playing in a band wasn't something he felt confident about so he saw an opportunity to join a country band on bass, which he thought might be a good start… it wasn’t as easy as he thought it would be, especially when you actually know very little country music. However he ended up playing with the band for two years which proved to be an excellent training ground and it sparked a love for the genre.
Tony then started playing guitar and bass in various bands and studios, even joining a great band as lead guitarist that was to be signed by the Pink Floyd management, sadly that didn’t happen but he did receive a compliment for his guitar playing from David Gilmour, a guitarist that Tony had admired for his playing and sound for years.

Tony left the "big smoke" for the West Country in 1980. Initially, life after London was a struggle. Eventually though, he managed to ditch the day jobs and spent the next 25 years as a professional musician. Now, before you picture a rockstar lifestyle, think less limousines and champagne and more sweaty clubs, smoky pubs, and the occasional festival. He played solo and in bands, and ended up doing thousands of gigs, all the while the songwriting continued.
Over the years, Tony had brief encounters playing with some interesting folks, from Edgar Broughton and Gary Numan in the early days to Mark Knopfler and Jethro later on, (Jethro was an excellent singer as it turned out, as well as a fabulously funny man).

The last 5 years of his professional career was spent putting himself through University in order to use his recording and gigging experience to get a degree in music technology and a PGCE in teaching. These together enabled him to get off the gigging roundabout and start teaching music technology at Weston Technical College, all the while still writing songs.

More recently Tony answered an ad in a local paper and found Bill, an enjoyable partnership had started. Ray, who is an excellent bass player that Tony had played with in bands before, joined shortly after and we began exploring the songs we’d like to add to our repertoire. Tony introduced one of his songs and was surprised and encouraged when they requested more of the same. He was pleased to be able to dust off some of the many songs that he's penned, recorded and produced at home over the years, and do something he never believed he’d do; start playing his original songs with a band. We felt it was time to bring in a fourth member of the band, Denver joined us and Southern Gold was born. He's now found some excellent like-minded musicians who are happy to share his vision. The band is presently preparing to launch itself onto the West Country scene.

Denver: Vocals and Guitar

Denvers musical life started early, with his parents taking him every weekend to his Uncles bands gigs. At the age of 6, he had a little spot of 3 songs, singing with the band and at 9 started to learn guitar. By the age of 15, he was the lead guitarist in his Uncles band and has never really stopped gigging since.
His musical tastes are varied with the Eagles, Boston, Meatloaf & ELO, being lifelong listening, to more recent country artists, Alison Krauss & Chris Stapleton. Then the “ Crooners” of the 40’s & 50’s, Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett and a variety of Classical Music as well, quite an eclectic mix all in all.
Throughout the decades, although still needing a “Day Job” to pay the bills, he regularly played 3 to 4 nights a week in various cover bands. His musical career has involved lots of variety, being in support bands playing gigs with touring 60’s artists like Marmalade, Edison Lighthouse & Billy J Kramer in the 70’s, to corporate work in variety events with comedians like Frank Carson, Tom O’Connor & Joe Pasquale. Playing in every guise from Solo work to fronting a 10 piece Soul Band & Singing with a 20 piece Swing Band, he’s had an interesting and he says, very enjoyable musical journey.
Now another first, playing & singing Original country material written by the talented Tony Kay in “Southern Gold” a Country Rockin’ Blues Band, heading your way soon

Bill: Drums and Vocals

Drummer Bill first had drum lessons at 12 years old, (many many years ago now!) paid for by big sister and singer Marilyn, with the drummer of the professional band she sang with.
Bill went on to help form a school band with his future wife's brother, where he learnt how tough and unforgiving audiences can be!
After leaving school he played with numerous semi-pro and pro bands. Over the years he has played with 25 plus bands including several ballroom dance bands in the early years, where having to learn to play various styles was a great training ground. The numerous deps and bands ranged from duos to 11 piece soul bands and a few times with brass bands and supporting the Delfonics in Wales!
Musical styles played range from dance bands, country, blues, soul, rock to Heavy metal and Latin music, and dancing has been a great influence.
Venues range from pubs and clubs, American Air force bases to Holiday camps and even a summer season in a hotel on Weston Super Mare sea front.
He has also done several stints in the orchestra pit backing Musicals at the Playhouse and Blakehay Theatres in WSM and backing cabaret artists, and has helped out at a junior brass band as drum coach.
He describes himself as a jack-of-all-trades drummer and is not a fan of the drum solo!
Joining forces with Tony in a couple of projects and realising what a good songwriter Tony is has given Bill a renewed love of playing, and together with Denver and Ray adding an extra dimension, he is really enjoying bringing Tony's songs to life with his latest project of Southern Gold!

Ray: Bass Guitar and Vocals

Stories told in sound