Zoot Money's Big Roll Band

Zoot Money's Big Roll Band is a British rhythm and blues and soul group, also influenced by jazz, formed in England in the early autumn of 1961. The band has had a number of personnel changes over the years and was still performing in 2017.

In early autumn 1961 Zoot Money formed the first version of the Big Roll Band with himself as vocalist, Roger Collis on lead guitar, pianist Al Kirtley (later of Trendsetters Limited), bassist Mike "Monty" Montgomery and drummer Johnny Hammond. The name 'Big Roll Band' derived from Money mis-hearing the phrase "big old band" from the third verse of Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode. Their first public performance was at Bournemouth's Downstairs Club. In 1962 drummer Pete Brookes replaced Hammond at the same time as bassist Johnny King replaced Montgomery and tenor sax player Kevin Drake joined the band. Kirtley left shortly afterwards, Money taking over on organ.

In late 1963 Money established a further version of the band with bassist Paul Williams (who also sang), guitarist Andy Summers (then Somers, later of The Police, who had played with Money in the Don Robb Band), saxophonists Nick Newall and Clive Burrows (Burrows and Williams had played together in the Wes Minster Five), and Colin Allen on drums. Burrows was eventually replaced by Johnny Almond and went on to play with Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band and The Alan Price Set.

In 1964 The Big Roll Band started playing regularly at The Flamingo Club in Soho, London. Their act featured Money's flamboyant frontman antics. The band signed to Decca Records and released a single that year before switching to EMI's Columbia label. In 1965 four more singles were released and their first album It Should Have Been Me, was issued in October of the same year.

...
Wikipedia