Roger Swallow
Encyclopedia
Roger Swallow is an English producer, musician and songwriter. He was a member of The Albion Band and worked with many artistes in the late 1960s early '70s as a session and touring drummer/percussionist.
, England.
Starting his music career in rock & roll & rhythm & blues in Northampton, his early music projects brought him to London where he worked in children's television for the BBC and toured England playing for theatrical companies, before working for the Beatles' Apple Publishing on Baker Street in the late '60s and forming Smile with Denis Couldry (also featuring musicians Chris Spedding
and Mark Griffiths), recording for Decca Records.
As a session and touring drummer/percussionist in the late 60s early 70s Swallow worked with such bands & artists as Harsh Reality
, Plainsong
and Matthews Southern Comfort (both with Iain Matthews
), Al Stewart
, Neil Innes
and many singer songwriters of that era, but is perhaps best known in the British traditional arena with collaborations with Albion Country Band
, Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy
, John Kirkpatrick, Musica Resavarta, Robin Williamson
, Norma Waterson
. After relocating from London to Los Angeles in the mid 1970s he began a parallel career in business management and real estate development but his credits as a percussionist also included such artists as Leon Russell
& Rickie Lee Jones
and others.
Later, as a lyricist/songwriter, Swallow has had solo recordings and chart successes writing for other artistes in the UK & Europe. Long time collaborator and friend, producer Stephen Hague, a colleague from the Polar Bear days, is also co-owner with Swallow in London's famous Manna vegetarian restaurant. They also collaborate in their 'Blue Panda' enterprises, including real estate, recording studio, publishing, management & music production. His current projects are sheRifff, a collaboration of Los Angeles jazz musicians and vocalists for soundtracks, etc., and ongoing recordings with bFas. As a business professional, through swlo inc, Swallow has developed and managed real estate projects in California, Hawaii, and Florida. Most notably the boutique Hotel Metropole on Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles, which he has developed with the Miller family of Los Angeles (no relation to Judd).
He has four decades of experience with electronica, including collaborative efforts with Florida's musician-laureate Jack Tamul, a renowned electronic synthesist, and then in one of the first pop music onstage electronic percussion experiments he played with the legendary Los Angeles band, Jules and the Polar Bears, with songwriter/vocalist Jules Shear & producer/keyboardist/programmer Stephen Hague
. His more current, collaborative projects are with Sound Designer & master EVI (electronic valve instrument) player Judd Miller, including their ambient group bFas (Blood from a Stone).
Biography
Swallow was born in NorthamptonNorthampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, England.
Starting his music career in rock & roll & rhythm & blues in Northampton, his early music projects brought him to London where he worked in children's television for the BBC and toured England playing for theatrical companies, before working for the Beatles' Apple Publishing on Baker Street in the late '60s and forming Smile with Denis Couldry (also featuring musicians Chris Spedding
Chris Spedding
Chris Spedding is an English rock and roll and jazz guitarist, best known for his session work. Allmusic states - "Spedding is one of the UK's most versatile session guitarists, and has had a long career on two continents that saw him tackle nearly every style of rock and roll, as well as...
and Mark Griffiths), recording for Decca Records.
As a session and touring drummer/percussionist in the late 60s early 70s Swallow worked with such bands & artists as Harsh Reality
Harsh Reality
Harsh Reality are a little-known, proto-prog band formed in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in 1968 out of the remnants of the Freightliner Blues Band . The band consisted of Mark Griffiths and Dave Jenkins on guitars, Alan Greed on lead vocals and organ, Roger Swallow on drums, and Steve Miller on bass...
, Plainsong
Plainsong (band)
Plainsong was originally a British country rock/folk rock band, formed in early 1972 by Ian Matthews, formerly of Fairport Convention; Andy Roberts, previously of The Liverpool Scene; Dave Richards; and Bob Ronga...
and Matthews Southern Comfort (both with Iain Matthews
Iain Matthews
Iain Matthews is an English musician and songwriter. He was born Iain Matthew McDonald, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. He was known in the 1960s first as Ian McDonald, then as the 1960s progressed, as Ian Matthews...
), Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart is a Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician.Stewart came to stardom as part of the British folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s, and developed his own unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history.He is...
, Neil Innes
Neil Innes
Neil James Innes is an English writer and performer of comic songs, best known for his collaborative work with Monty Python, and for playing in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and later The Rutles.-Personal life:...
and many singer songwriters of that era, but is perhaps best known in the British traditional arena with collaborations with Albion Country Band
Albion Country Band
The Albion Band, also known as The Albion Country Band and The Albion Dance Band, were an English electric folk band, brought together and led by musician Ashley Hutchings...
, Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
, John Kirkpatrick, Musica Resavarta, Robin Williamson
Robin Williamson
Robin Williamson is a Scottish multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, songwriter and storyteller, who first made his name as a founder member of The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
, Norma Waterson
Norma Waterson
Norma Christine Waterson is an English musician, best known as one of the original members of The Watersons, a premier English traditional group. Other members of the group included her brother Mike Waterson and sister Lal Waterson, and in later incarnations of the group her husband Martin...
. After relocating from London to Los Angeles in the mid 1970s he began a parallel career in business management and real estate development but his credits as a percussionist also included such artists as Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
& Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones is an American vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer. Over the course of a three-decade career, Jones has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, blues, pop, soul, and jazz standards.-Childhood:...
and others.
Later, as a lyricist/songwriter, Swallow has had solo recordings and chart successes writing for other artistes in the UK & Europe. Long time collaborator and friend, producer Stephen Hague, a colleague from the Polar Bear days, is also co-owner with Swallow in London's famous Manna vegetarian restaurant. They also collaborate in their 'Blue Panda' enterprises, including real estate, recording studio, publishing, management & music production. His current projects are sheRifff, a collaboration of Los Angeles jazz musicians and vocalists for soundtracks, etc., and ongoing recordings with bFas. As a business professional, through swlo inc, Swallow has developed and managed real estate projects in California, Hawaii, and Florida. Most notably the boutique Hotel Metropole on Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles, which he has developed with the Miller family of Los Angeles (no relation to Judd).
He has four decades of experience with electronica, including collaborative efforts with Florida's musician-laureate Jack Tamul, a renowned electronic synthesist, and then in one of the first pop music onstage electronic percussion experiments he played with the legendary Los Angeles band, Jules and the Polar Bears, with songwriter/vocalist Jules Shear & producer/keyboardist/programmer Stephen Hague
Stephen Hague
Stephen Hague is an American music producer most active with various British acts in the 1980s. He was an influential figure in the synthpop movement.-Early career:...
. His more current, collaborative projects are with Sound Designer & master EVI (electronic valve instrument) player Judd Miller, including their ambient group bFas (Blood from a Stone).