Alvin Lee - The Early Years
1944: Born in Nottingham, England
to Sam
and Doris. Avid fans of swing
jazz and ethnic
blues, Sam and Doris exposed
their children
to a broad range of musical styles
Alvin at age 2, with his father Sam
|
Age 4, building sandcastles |
1955: Asked to study an instrument,
Alvin
chooses clarinet
1956: Taken with the new skiffle
sound popular
in England, Alvin swtiches his
studies to
the guitar. His mother recalls
that "he
practiced every minute he could
and got on
like crazy with it, so quickly.
We knew the
talent was there and nothing
could stop him."
1957: Alvin joins his first band
, Vince
Marshall and the Squarecaps,
playing rhythm
guitar.
1958: Now the lead guitarist
of Alan Upton
and the Jailbreakers, Alvin plays
his first
professional gig - a 10 minute
spot between
films at a drive in movie theatre.
Alvin at age 15
|
1960: Alvin Lee and Leo Lyons
meet when they
both join a local Nottingham,
England band
called the Atomites with drummer
Pete Evans.
Recruiting singer Ivan Jay, they
became Ivan
Jay and the Jaymen. An attempt
to make it
"big" in London backfires,
and
the band, sans singer Jay, returned
to Nottingham.
1961. The Jaymen become the Jaycats
1962: The Jaycats become the
Jaybirds. They
head to the Star Club in germany
for a five
week gig. Lead guitarist Lee
also takes over
lead vocals while in Germany.
Later that
year original drummer Pete Evans
is replaced
with Dave Quickmire.
 |
 |
1963: The Jaybirds find local
success in
the Nottingham/Mansfield area
1964: Encouraged by their local
success,
Alvin and the Jaybirds move to
London, but
after "nearly starving to
death"
return home to Nottingham .
Around this time, Alvin purchased
a 1959
cherry red Gibson ES335 for 45
pounds. That
guitar would go on to be lovingly
called
"Big Red" and be almost
as famous
as its owner.
1965: In August Ric Lee is persuaded
to leave
his band, the Mansfields, and
take over drumming
duties for the Jaybirds.
1966: The Jaybirds move to London
and find
work as a back up band for a
pop group, Ivy
League. Chick Churchill becomes
the keyboard
player for the Jaybirds. In November
they
sign with a manager, Chris Wright.
Looking
for a more modern name, they
try out Blues
Trip, play one gig at London's
Marquee Club
as Blues Yard (supporting Bonzo
Dog Band),
and finally settle on Ten Years
After - a
name they picked from local radio
listings
