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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZGENTLE GIANTUK progressive group formed '70. Shulman brothers Ray (bass and guitar; b 8 '49, Portsmouth), Derek (sax, vocals; b 2 Feb. '47, Glasgow) and Phil (sax, trumpet; b 27 Aug. '37, Glasgow) began in R&B band the Howlin' Wolves on UK south Coast; changed name to Simon Dupree and the Big Sound at manager's request; first releases on Parlophone were R&B covers but no. 9 hit "Kites' was fashionably ethereal, with "oriental' talkover by actress Jackie Chan: switch to beads and caftans backfired and band were shunted into cabaret to trade on one hit. Shulmans split from drummer Tony Randall, bassist Pete O'Flaherty; recruited Royal Academy of Music grad Kerry Minnear on keyboards (b 2 April '48, Salisbury) and guitarist/blues enthusiast Gary Green (b 20 Nov. '50, Stroud Green); drummer Malcolm Mortimore replaced after debut LP Gentle Giant '70 showed off brothers' instrumental virtuosity in some wilfully obscure and experimental music that ran contrary to previous leanings, but fitted very well with other "blues bands turned progressive' of the time, e.g. Moody Blues, Jethro Tull etc, time changes, multi-layered sounds and almost mediaeval vocal harmonies the norm. Arrival of Welsh drummer John Weathers (b Carmarthen; ex-Eyes of Blue, the Grease Band) solidified sound for Three Friends '71. Phil Shulman then left; remaining brothers stabilised after poor In A Glasshouse '73; conceptual The Power And The Glory '74 consolidated USA success (though switching labels twice in USA didn't help). Band carried on through '70s as most early contemporaries (King Crimson etc) went to the wall. Concentrated on USA market, where seven LPs charted '72-7: Octopus, The Power And The Glory, Free Hand (best showing at no. 48), Interview, live 2-disc Playing The Fool, The Missing Piece (no UK LP entries, even pre-punk). Broke up '80 after Civilian LP, less complex than its predecessors; Ray Shulman described it as "a disaster'. |