[Dixielandjazz] Brian Ferry

[Berry Zand Scholten]

Hi William,

To answer your question about Brian Ferry....

Brian Ferry is wellknown in The Netherlands, because in the seventies he scored many hits with his group ROXY MUSIC. Brian is British indeed. He was born in Washington Country Durham (England). He grows up in a family of miners, but as a youngster already Brian shows a lot of interest for literature. In his early years already he reads Keats, Shelley and Byron. Brian soon developes as a typical British 'intellectual artist' in his poetry and in his music. Not the hardcore bluestype as for example the members of the Rolling Stones, or the heavy British rockers from the late sixties and seventies.

In London Brian met Andy McKay, saxophonist, hoboïst and keyboardplayer. Together with guitarist Phil Manzanera they form the group Roxy Music. Big hits are 'Let's stick together', 'This is tomorrow' and 'Tokyo Joe'. In the US Brian never came to real stardom. He was married with Jerry Hall, who later switched to Rolling Stone Mick Jagger.

Brian Ferry was (and still is) always dressed in spotless dark suits, white shirts and sometimes a black tie. He is a very 'sophisticated' composer and singer, who always tends to be inspired by the worldfamous 'crooners' of the roaring twenties. Evidently he is still fond of the nostalgic music of the twenties and thirties and he should perfectly fit in band as the Pasadene Roof Orchestera, just to give an example.....

But Brian (age 58)  Ferry is a strong character. a personality who prefers to perform solo an the semi-decadent musical style of singing and playing still attracs many people. Like many famous, older British pop-, blues-, and rockmusicians (Ringo Starr, Alan Price, Eric Burdon, Eric Clapton and many others) Ferry likes to sing the songs of his parents and greatparents -- the music that we call OKOM --  as well. 

Best regards and keep swingin' ....

Berry Zand Scholten,

tromboneplayer and singer of the 
Pepperhouse Swing Factory and the
Mardi Gras Jazzband,
Enkhuizen. The Nederlands.