Keith Gemmell facts for kids
Keith Gemmell (born 15 February 1948 – died 24 July 2016) was a British musician. He played the saxophone, clarinet, and flute. He was best known for being a member of the art rock band Audience from 1969 to 1972 and again from 2004 to 2016. Keith was also a musical arranger and composer. He wrote articles for Music Tech Magazine and was the author of several books, including Cubase Tips & Tricks.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Keith Gemmell was born in Hackney, London. He started playing the recorder when he was 13 years old. Later, he became interested in the clarinet after hearing Acker Bilk's song "Stranger on the Shore".
His early musical influences were British "trad jazz" bands. Some of the most famous names were Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, and Chris Barber. After hearing bands like Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, he decided to learn the saxophone. He then began playing in local bands.
At 17, Keith became a full-time professional musician. He joined a band called The Noblemen. From August 1965 to May 1966, he toured Europe with them. They played in clubs and at US military bases. When he returned to the UK, he joined The Lloyd Alexander Blues Band. This band later changed its name to Audience.
Playing in Bands
Audience: A Unique Sound
The band Audience formed in 1969. They had a very unusual setup. It included a tenor saxophone (which also played clarinet and flute), an electric acoustic guitar, drums, and bass. They did not have a lead guitarist. Keith Gemmell's reed instruments, with the help of echo and wah-wah effects, took on the role of a traditional rock guitar.
Other Bands and Collaborations
After leaving Audience in 1972, Keith joined a band called Sammy. They released one album, which was produced by Ian Gillan from Deep Purple.
When Sammy broke up, Keith joined the Roy Young Band. Here, he played alongside Eddie Thornton, who was a trumpet player he admired. Keith and Eddie became friends. They often played reggae music sessions together with the famous Jamaican trombonist, Rico Rodriguez.
Later, Keith left the Roy Young Band to join Stackridge. This band was very popular for its live shows in the 1970s. Like Audience, Stackridge was a unique band with an unusual lineup and catchy songs. Keith played on their albums: Extravaganza, Pinafore Days, and Mr. Mick.
After Stackridge, Keith left rock bands behind. He studied clarinet for a year with Professor Richard Addison. Living in London, Keith played in several big bands and did many recording sessions. He also taught music and had a successful career as a freelance musician. He also helped prepare music for film composer John Altman. This work made him more interested in writing and arranging music.
Keith then joined the Pasadena Roof Orchestra in 1983. He played second alto saxophone and clarinet. He toured a lot with them and stayed for 14 years, until 1997. During this time, he wrote many musical arrangements for the orchestra.
Later Life and Work
After leaving the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Keith started a new career. He became a writer, focusing on music technology. He also continued composing and arranging music. His first book, Get Creative with Cubase, was about recording music using Cubase software. He wrote other music technology books too. In 2003, he began writing articles for Music Tech magazine.
In 2004, Audience got back together. They continued to tour and record music until 2013.
Keith Gemmell passed away on 24 July 2016, at the age of 68. He died from tongue cancer.
Selected Music
- with Audience
- 1969 Audience
- 1970 Friend's Friend's Friend
- 1971 The House on the Hill
- 1972 Lunch
- 2006 Alive & Kickin' & Screamin' & Shoutin'
- with Sammy
- 1972 Sammy
- with Stackridge
- 1974 Extravaganza
- 1974 Pinafore Days (US only)
- 1976 Mr. Mick
- with Pasadena Roof Orchestra
- sessions
- 1979 The Innes Book of Records
- 1976 Man from Wareika
- 1982 Off the Record
- film soundtracks
- 1969 Bronco Bullfrog
