Zoot Money RIP

Sorry to hear of the death, at the age of 82, of singer and keyboardist Zoot Money. Zoot - real name George Bruno Money - was one of the few British R and B artists of the sixties who really got the feel and mood of the music. His first band, his Big Roll Band, first appeared at Bournemouth's Downstairs Club in 1961 and quickly established themselves as a leading R and B band, playing regularly at the Flamingo in London. Their debut single was 'The Uncle Willie' and other early 45s included 'Good', 'Please Stay', 'Something Is Worrying Me', 'Let's Run For Cover' and, their biggest hit 'Good Time Operator'. Zoot joined Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated in 1966 and his Big Roll Band adopted a psychedelic approach, becoming Dantalian's Chariot and having some success with 'Madman Running Through the Fields'. In 1968 Zoot moved to the US and joined with Eric Burdon's New Animals and recorded a solo LP called 'Welcome To My Head'. He continued to have a successful career as a composer and keyboard contributor to albums by Alan Price and Humble Pie. In recent years he toured quite extensively and I was lucky enough to see him on several occasions. He appeared in a Tales From The Woods show in 2017 (pictured above) and I wrote at the time: 'The next set, by Zoot Money, playing his Hammond organ, brought back memories of smoky sixties nights at the Flamingo and was a joy. Zoot demonstrated his love of Ray Charles with 'Hide Nor Hair' and 'It Should've Been Me', and did a great version of Sam and Dave's 'You Don't Know Like I Know'. Alex (Bland) and Dave (Priseman)'s horn breaks were a match for the Memphis originals on that one. Zoot had a light hearted moan about others making it big back in the day on the back of three minute 45s. His band's biggest hit 'Big Time Operator' showed that on his day he was more than a match for some of the other sixties heroes. He rocked through Robert Parker's 'Barefootin', and brought a jazzy feel to Chuck Berry's 'Sweet Little Rock and Roller', giving John Spencely a chance to show off a different side to his always first class guitar work. Finally, Zoot sang 'If Age Brings Wisdom', a jazzy number with a wistful lyric: 'When will I find it?' was the essence. This was a highly enjoyable set and Zoot remains a master of the Hammond, well supported by Claire (Hamlin)'s piano work.' I last saw Zoot in 2021 (photo below) when he stood in for Georgie Fame as a guest artist with the Manfreds. On that occasion he was again in good form and sang and played 'It Never Rains But It Pours', 'Big Time Operator', Sam Cooke's 'Bring It On Home To Me' and 'It Should Have Been Me'. RIP Zoot - one of the very best UK artists of the sixties and one who enjoyed rather less success than he should have.

Another death is that of Sergio Mendez, a Brazilian musician who brought the bossa nova to a worldwide audience with his band Brasil '66. Among his best known recordings were 'Mas Que Nada', 'The Look of Love' and 'Fool On The Hill'. Also bass guitar and tuba player Herbie Flowers, who played on records by numerous artists including Elton John, David Bowie and Lou Reed and who was a member of Blue Mink, T Rex and Sky. His most lasting legacy was the bass intro to Lou Reed's 'Walk On The Wild Side'.