Alex Harvey & His Soulband

Biography

5 February 1935, Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland, d. 4 February 1982, Zeebrugge, Belgium. Having left school at the age of 15, Harvey undertook a multitude of occupations before opting for music. Inspired by Jimmie Rodgers, Woody Guthrie and Cisco Houston, he became acquainted with several musicians who rehearsed regularly at the city’s Bill Patterson Studios. In 1955 Harvey joined saxophonist Bill Patrick in a group that combined rock ‘n’ roll and traditional jazz. Known jointly as the Clyde River Jazz Band or the Kansas City Skiffle Band, depending on the booking, the unit later evolved into the Kansas City Counts, and joined the Ricky Barnes All-Stars as pioneers of the Scottish rock ‘n’ roll circuit. By the end of the decade, and with their singer the obvious focal point, the group had became known as Alex Harvey’s (Big) Soul Band, the appellation derived from a new form of small group jazz championed by Horace Silver. The band’s...

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