Mike Elliott (saxophonist)
Encyclopedia
Mike Elliott is a saxophonist who was born in Jamaica
on 6 August 1929. He played on Ska recordings in the early 1960s as well as some Pop / Soul hits in the late 1960s.
who were a house / studio band led by Jamaican trombonist Rico Rodriguez
. Besides Rodriguez on Trombone and Elliott on saxophone, the band included another saxophonist Lovett Brown and Jackie Edwards on piano etc. They played on early 1960s Jamaican Ska recordings issued on the Planetone label such as "Hitch & Scramble" (recorded in 1962).
He had also recorded a handful of records under his own name, two of them on the Planetone label in 1963. These two Planetone singles were shared with other artists. His recording "This Love Of Mine" appeared on the flip side of Terry Moon's "Moon Man"
and it would actually appear again later appear on the Carnival label in 1964 as the flip side to Young Satchmo's "Things Are Getting Better". The other track he recorded on the Planetone label, "J.K. Shuffle" is possibly a dedication to former American president John Kennedy who was assassinated in 1963 and at that time was seen as something of a saviour.
He had also been a member of The Cabin Boys
, led by Colin Hicks the brother of British rock 'n' roll singer Tommy Steele
, and had played with jazz saxophonists Tubby Hayes
and Ronnie Scott
.
who had million selling hits with "Baby, Now That I've Found You" and "Build Me Up Buttercup
" etc. At 38 years of age he was the oldest member of the group and was nearly 20 years older than the youngest member of the group 18 year old Tim Harris. He was part of their three man brass section playing Tenor Sax along side fellow Jamaican tenor saxophonist and flautist Pat Burke and Dominican trombonist Eric Allendale
. He played on their first three hit singles, "Baby, Now That I've Found You", "Back On My Feet Again
" and "Any Old Time (You're Lonely And Sad)
". He also played on their PYE debut album "From The Foundations", a live album "Rocking The Foundations" and on three Foundations tracks at a John Peel
session in January 1968.
In 1968 The Foundations were experiencing some problems within their group as well as problems with their songwriter and producer Tony Macaulay
who wouldn't allow them to record their own compositions. Around that time the band had recorded a track called "It's All Right", a live favourite of theirs and quite possibly the last Foundations recording he played on. He left around the same time as the Foundations lead singer Clem Curtis
, who left to pursue a solo career.
Some sources say that Elliott's departure signalled the internal dissatisfaction. He wasn't replaced.
It is also rumoured that Elliott had some involvement with another Reggae single released on Supreme
SUP 225 by Eugene And Burst and backed with a track by Denzil And Burst. The songs were "Let It Fall" on side 1 and "Can't Change" on side 2. This was released on the label in 1971. The Denzil on this recording is Denzil Dennis
. Elliott along with Eddie "Tan Tan" Thornton
and Sonny Burke had previously recorded with Denzil Dennis.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
on 6 August 1929. He played on Ska recordings in the early 1960s as well as some Pop / Soul hits in the late 1960s.
Early 1960s
Elliott was a member of Rico's ComboRico's Combo
Rico's Combo were a studio band, that recorded on the Planetone label in the early 1960s.-History:The group, led by the Jamaican trombonist Rico Rodriguez, recorded some ska records for the Planetone record label in the early 1960s...
who were a house / studio band led by Jamaican trombonist Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez MBE , also known as Reco or El Reco, is a ska and reggae trombonist. He has recorded with many producers, including Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, and Lloyd 'Matador' Daley...
. Besides Rodriguez on Trombone and Elliott on saxophone, the band included another saxophonist Lovett Brown and Jackie Edwards on piano etc. They played on early 1960s Jamaican Ska recordings issued on the Planetone label such as "Hitch & Scramble" (recorded in 1962).
He had also recorded a handful of records under his own name, two of them on the Planetone label in 1963. These two Planetone singles were shared with other artists. His recording "This Love Of Mine" appeared on the flip side of Terry Moon's "Moon Man"
and it would actually appear again later appear on the Carnival label in 1964 as the flip side to Young Satchmo's "Things Are Getting Better". The other track he recorded on the Planetone label, "J.K. Shuffle" is possibly a dedication to former American president John Kennedy who was assassinated in 1963 and at that time was seen as something of a saviour.
He had also been a member of The Cabin Boys
Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys
Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys were a British rock and roll band, led by Colin Hicks, the younger brother of singer Tommy Steele.-Career:In November 1957, the British music magazine, NME, reported that Steele's manager, Larry Parnes had signed up Hicks, and that Hicks would undertake a ten week...
, led by Colin Hicks the brother of British rock 'n' roll singer Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele OBE , is an English entertainer. Steele is widely regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star.-Singer:...
, and had played with jazz saxophonists Tubby Hayes
Tubby Hayes
Edward Brian "Tubby" Hayes was an English jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his tenor saxophone playing in groups with fellow sax player Ronnie Scott and with trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest British jazz instrumentalists.- Early life :Hayes was born...
and Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott was an English jazz tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner.-Life and career:Ronnie Scott was born in Aldgate, east London, into a family of Russian Jewish descent on his father's side, and Portuguese antecedents on his mother's. Scott began playing in small jazz clubs at the age of...
.
Mid to late 1960s
By 1967 he was a member of the multi-racial English soul group The FoundationsThe Foundations
The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" , written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" The Foundations...
who had million selling hits with "Baby, Now That I've Found You" and "Build Me Up Buttercup
Build Me Up Buttercup
"Build Me Up Buttercup" is the name of a song written by Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay, and released by The Foundations with Colin Young singing the lead vocals in 1968. This was the third major hit for The Foundations. Colin Young replaced Clem Curtis in 1968 and this was the first Foundations hit...
" etc. At 38 years of age he was the oldest member of the group and was nearly 20 years older than the youngest member of the group 18 year old Tim Harris. He was part of their three man brass section playing Tenor Sax along side fellow Jamaican tenor saxophonist and flautist Pat Burke and Dominican trombonist Eric Allendale
Eric Allendale
Eric Allendale was a trombonist, songwriter, occasional singer and former bandleader, as well as being a member of various jazz groups in England.-Early life:...
. He played on their first three hit singles, "Baby, Now That I've Found You", "Back On My Feet Again
Back On My Feet Again
Back on My Feet Again is the second single released by the Foundations. It was the follow-up to their hit single "Baby, Now That I've Found You". It was written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod and produced by Tony Macaulay. It charted at number 18 in the UK...
" and "Any Old Time (You're Lonely And Sad)
Any Old Time (You're Lonely And Sad)
"Any Old Time " was the third single for The Foundations. It only made it to # 48 on the UK charts.It was the last single they released with Clem Curtis as their lead singer...
". He also played on their PYE debut album "From The Foundations", a live album "Rocking The Foundations" and on three Foundations tracks at a John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
session in January 1968.
In 1968 The Foundations were experiencing some problems within their group as well as problems with their songwriter and producer Tony Macaulay
Tony Macaulay
Tony Macaulay is a British author, composer for musical theatre, and songwriter, though it was the latter that made him a household name early in his career...
who wouldn't allow them to record their own compositions. Around that time the band had recorded a track called "It's All Right", a live favourite of theirs and quite possibly the last Foundations recording he played on. He left around the same time as the Foundations lead singer Clem Curtis
Clem Curtis
Clem Curtis is a singer and former lead vocalist of sixties British soul group The Foundations.-Early years:...
, who left to pursue a solo career.
Some sources say that Elliott's departure signalled the internal dissatisfaction. He wasn't replaced.
1970s
In 1972 Elliott had a Reggae styled single, "Milk & Honey" released on the Ackee record label.It is also rumoured that Elliott had some involvement with another Reggae single released on Supreme
Supreme Records (Pama subsidiary)
Supreme was a subsidiary of the Pama records label. There were a number of reggae releases in the very late 60's and very early 70's. The label also released some soul and funk recordings. The label would also release early recordings by John Holt and Bob Marley.-Selected releases:* Mr...
SUP 225 by Eugene And Burst and backed with a track by Denzil And Burst. The songs were "Let It Fall" on side 1 and "Can't Change" on side 2. This was released on the label in 1971. The Denzil on this recording is Denzil Dennis
Denzil Dennis
Denzil Dennis aka Alan Martin, is a reggae singer from Jamaica who came to the UK in 1963.-Biography:Dennis was born in Manchester, Jamaica in 1945, and is the cousin of producer Lloyd Daley...
. Elliott along with Eddie "Tan Tan" Thornton
Eddie Thornton
Edward Thornton , better known as "Tan Tan", is a Jamaican trumpeter whose career began in the 1950s.-Biography:Thornton was born in 1932 and attended the Alpha Boys School. In the 1950s, he played in the Roy Coulton band along with Don Drummond...
and Sonny Burke had previously recorded with Denzil Dennis.
Discography
- Terry Moon - "Moon Man" // Mike Elliot - "This Love Of Mine" - Planetone RC11, 1963
- Basil John - "Drink And Drive" // Mike Elliott - "J.K. Shuffle" - Planetone RC12, 1963
- Mike Elliott - "This Love Of Mine" // Young Satchmo - "Things Are Getting Better" - Carnival CV 7008, 1964
- Mike Elliott - "Milk & Honey" // Mike Elliott & Errol - "Burst A Shirt" - Ackee ACK151, 1972