Keith Gemmell
Encyclopedia
Keith Gemmell is a rock music
ian and saxophone
player best known for being a member of British art rock
band Audience
from 1969 to 1972. He is now a music educator, author and journalist.
, London. He started by playing the recorder, and at the age of 13 was attracted to the clarinet
on hearing Acker Bilk's Stranger on the Shore
. He has cited his early influences as the British trad jazz
bands of the day, before hearing Georgie Fame
's Yeah Yeah
, which drove him to try the saxophone. By his late teens, he was "playing rock, jazz and blues saxophone at the age of 17 in smoky European clubs and US army bases ... backing the popular soul artists of the day."
Audience had no lead guitar
ist, and Gemmell's reeds replaced this traditional role in a rock band.
After Audience, Gemmell joined Stackridge
and played on their albums The Man in the Bowler Hat
, Extravaganza
and Mr. Mick
.
Following session work, he then joined the Pasadena Roof Orchestra
, with whom he toured extensively and remained with for 14 years.
, and still composes and arranges. He has written several instructional books concerning computer-based music and is regular writer for Music Tech Magazine
.
with Stackridge
with Pasadena Roof Orchestra
sessions
film soundtracks
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
ian and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player best known for being a member of British art rock
Art rock
Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, with influences from art, avant-garde, and classical music. The first usage of the term, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, was in 1968. Influenced by the work of The Beatles, most notably their Sgt...
band Audience
Audience (band)
Audience is a cult British art rock band which existed between 1969 and 1972, and reformed in 2004.The original band consisted of Howard Werth on nylon-strung electric acoustic guitar and vocals, Keith Gemmell on tenor...
from 1969 to 1972. He is now a music educator, author and journalist.
Early life and career
Gemmell was born Keith William Gemmell in Hackney Hospital, HackneyLondon Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, London. He started by playing the recorder, and at the age of 13 was attracted to the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
on hearing Acker Bilk's Stranger on the Shore
Stranger on the Shore
"Stranger on the Shore" is a piece for clarinet written by Acker Bilk for his young daughter and originally named Jenny after her. It was subsequently used as the theme tune of a BBC TV drama serial for young people that was also called Stranger on the Shore.The track, performed by Bilk "Stranger...
. He has cited his early influences as the British trad jazz
Trad jazz
Trad jazz - short for "traditional jazz" - refers to the Dixieland and Ragtime jazz styles of the early 20th century in contrast to any more modern style....
bands of the day, before hearing Georgie Fame
Georgie Fame
Georgie Fame is a British rhythm and blues and jazz singer and keyboard player. The one-time rock and roll tour musician, who had a string of 1960s hits, is still a popular performer, often working with contemporaries such as Van Morrison and Bill Wyman.-Early life:Fame took piano lessons from the...
's Yeah Yeah
Yeh Yeh
"Yeh Yeh" is a Latin soul tune that was written as an instrumental by Rodgers Grant and Pat Patrick and first recorded by Mongo Santamaría on his 1963 album Watermelon Man . Lyrics were written for it shortly thereafter by Jon Hendricks of the vocal group Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. This version of...
, which drove him to try the saxophone. By his late teens, he was "playing rock, jazz and blues saxophone at the age of 17 in smoky European clubs and US army bases ... backing the popular soul artists of the day."
Performing and recording career
Audience had no lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist, and Gemmell's reeds replaced this traditional role in a rock band.
After Audience, Gemmell joined Stackridge
Stackridge
Stackridge are a British folk, pop and progressive rock group who were at the height of their success during the early 1970s. The band's output is characterized by quirky humour and rhythmic catchy sing-along tunes....
and played on their albums The Man in the Bowler Hat
The Man in the Bowler Hat (album)
The Man In The Bowler Hat is the third album by the British rock group Stackridge. The album was produced by George Martin at AIR Studios, London and released in the UK by MCA Records. This was their highest charting album, peaking at number 23 in the UK Albums Chart.A different version of the...
, Extravaganza
Extravaganza (album)
Extravaganza is the fourth album by the British rock group Stackridge. The album was produced by Tony Ashton at AIR Studios, London.The album was originally released in the UK on Elton John's Rocket Records label. Stackridge was the first group signed to the new label.A different version of the...
and Mr. Mick
Mr. Mick
Mr. Mick is a rock album released by the British group Stackridge in 1976. Originally on Rocket Records, its catalogue number was ROLL 3.-Overview:...
.
Following session work, he then joined the Pasadena Roof Orchestra
Pasadena Roof Orchestra
The Pasadena Roof Orchestra is a contemporary band from England that specialises in the jazz and swing genres of music of the 1920s and 1930s, although their full repertoire is considerably wider. The orchestra has existed since 1969, although the line-up has frequently changed...
, with whom he toured extensively and remained with for 14 years.
Recent life and work
Gemmell is now a lecturer in Popular Music and Music Technology at MidKent CollegeMidKent College
MidKent College is a further education college in Kent, England. It runs courses from three separate campuses across Maidstone and Medway....
, and still composes and arranges. He has written several instructional books concerning computer-based music and is regular writer for Music Tech Magazine
Music Tech Magazine
Launched on 20 March 2003 Music Tech Magazine is the first magazine from Anthem Publishing.The magazine is targeted at engineers, producers and musicians and includes reviews of recording equipment and features articles on all aspects of music making...
.
Selected discography
with AudienceAudience (band)
Audience is a cult British art rock band which existed between 1969 and 1972, and reformed in 2004.The original band consisted of Howard Werth on nylon-strung electric acoustic guitar and vocals, Keith Gemmell on tenor...
- 1969 AudienceAudience (album)Audience is the 1969 debut album by British art rock band Audience. It was deleted shortly after its release and is now collectable in its original vinyl version, however the band were soon afterwards signed by Tony Stratton-Smith to Charisma Records....
- 1970 Friend's Friend's FriendFriend's Friend's FriendFriend's Friend's Friend is the second album by British art rock band Audience, released in 1970. It was originally intended to be produced by Shel Talmy but he dropped out and the band produced it themselves.-Side one:# "Nothing You Do" - 4:38...
- 1971 The House on the HillThe House on the Hill (album)The House on the Hill is the third album by British art rock band Audience and was released in 1971. At about the same time, a single "Indian Summer" reached number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100;...
- 1972 LunchLunch (album)Lunch is the fourth album by British art rock band Audience and was released in 1972. It was their last original release before the departure of Keith Gemmell and the band's breaking up for several years...
- 2006 Alive&kickin'&screamin'&shouting
with Stackridge
Stackridge
Stackridge are a British folk, pop and progressive rock group who were at the height of their success during the early 1970s. The band's output is characterized by quirky humour and rhythmic catchy sing-along tunes....
- 1974 ExtravaganzaExtravaganza (album)Extravaganza is the fourth album by the British rock group Stackridge. The album was produced by Tony Ashton at AIR Studios, London.The album was originally released in the UK on Elton John's Rocket Records label. Stackridge was the first group signed to the new label.A different version of the...
- 1974 Pinafore DaysThe Man in the Bowler Hat (album)The Man In The Bowler Hat is the third album by the British rock group Stackridge. The album was produced by George Martin at AIR Studios, London and released in the UK by MCA Records. This was their highest charting album, peaking at number 23 in the UK Albums Chart.A different version of the...
(US only) - 1976 Mr. MickMr. MickMr. Mick is a rock album released by the British group Stackridge in 1976. Originally on Rocket Records, its catalogue number was ROLL 3.-Overview:...
with Pasadena Roof Orchestra
Pasadena Roof Orchestra
The Pasadena Roof Orchestra is a contemporary band from England that specialises in the jazz and swing genres of music of the 1920s and 1930s, although their full repertoire is considerably wider. The orchestra has existed since 1969, although the line-up has frequently changed...
sessions
- 1979 The Innes Book of RecordsThe Innes Book of Records (album)The Innes Book of Records is the third solo album by Neil Innes and was released in 1979 to accompany the BBC television series of the same name...
- 1982 Off the RecordOff the Record (Neil Innes album)Off The Record is the fourth solo album by Neil Innes and was released in 1982 featuring songs from the second and third BBC television series of "The Innes Book of Records".-Side one:# "Libido" - 3:27# "City of the Angels" - 3:13# "Them" - 3:22...
film soundtracks
- 1969 Bronco BullfrogBronco BullfrogBronco Bullfrog is a 1969 British black-and-white film directed by Barney Platts-Mills and stars Del Walker and Anne Gooding. It is set in London's East End and features the suedehead subculture...