LEE BROWN

 I can't remember a time when I was growing up that there wasn't a guitar in the house.  My dad always encouraged me to play and has always been a keen music lover.

I had my first guitar lesson when I was 12 but my teacher taught me classically and, although it was a good foundation, it didn't last long! My uncle however used to repair equipment for lots of local entertainers and one day he handed me an electric guitar! It was an Epiphone 335, it was loud and it had a Bigsby wang bar! Well that was it, I wanged for hours and I was hooked! I asked for an electric guitar for Christmas; my uncle sorted me out with a Selmer amp; my dad made me a speaker cabinet and I made lots of noise! It wasn't long before I bought a distortion pedal too. My parents hated it and, needless to say, I loved it! I spent all of my time practicing and not revising for my exams.... Oops!

I got myself an electric guitar teacher and soon ditched sixth form for Music College. While there I was taught by Jim Birkett and the late, but very great, Bill Bennan. One of my most memorable (musical) experiences was weekly lesson with Bill that I shared with local Country legend Jim Hornsby. Most of those lessons ended up being jam sessions with Jim and Bill. I wasn't anywhere near their league but I learned soooo much from those two!

Once I left college I did lots of things to make a living, I played in a few club bands, did a very occasional Jazz pickup gig and after answering an ad in Melody Maker I was off round the world on a cruise ship and then back home to the clubs!
After a few years I went into musical hibernation for a long time before seeing an ad for the Jo James Band - I just had to call!