Carlo Little, Born 1938 - Died 2005
Carlo Little was a rock and roll drummer born in Wembley, Middx who became well-known and in-demand during the 1960's. He is most famous for teaching Keith Moon how to play the drums and being the first drummer in the Rolling Stones. He was watched by and influenced many of today's great rock drummers such as Mitch Mitchell and Charlie Watts, his peers giving his the nickname 'Little Crasher', and his style and volume of hitting the bass drum was unique in the UK at that time. He played during the 1960's blues and R&B explosion in London in clubs such as the Marquee, Flamingo Club and the Star Club in Hamburg. Carlo used a Premier drum kit for many years.
Carlo died on Aug 5th 2005 from lung cancer and is buried in South Shields, Tyne & Wear.
Artists Carlo Little performed with:
1960's - Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, Cyril Davies All Stars, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry, The Flowerpot Men, Neil Christian's Crusaders, Buddy Britten & The Regents, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, The Echoes, The Circles, Chris Lamb & The Universals, Billie Davis
1970's and 80's - Carl Perkins, BB King, Hurricane, Flying Fox, Florida Sun, Nick Simper, Freddie Fingers Lee, Dave Edmunds, Roscoe Gordon
1990's and 2000's - Ronnie Wood, Jeff Beck, Long John Baldry, Carlo Little All Stars, Art Wood, Wee Willie Harris, Counterfeit Stones
Carlo died of lung cancer in 2005, aged 65. A 'Night Of Honour' memorial concert was held in Twickenham, home of British R&B in March 2006. The Rolling Stones donated various personal items and concert tickets for a charity auction compared by the famous Tiller Girls, which raised £5000 for a hospital cancer ward. Art Wood, The Pretty Things and other artists from the 1960s performed in honour of Carlo.
For a complete history of Carlo's career click here to visit www.carlolittle.com
Carlo Little Discography
1961 - Til The Following Night / Good Golly Miss Molly
with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, Produced by Joe Meek
1961 - Jack The Ripper / Don't You Just Know It
with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, Produced by Joe Meek. Fans of this record include Jack White, The White Stripes, who covered the song.
1963 - Country Line Special / Chicago Calling
Cyril Davies All Stars, Produced by Peter Knight Jr. Fans of this recording include Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Ray Davis, & Jeff Beck.
1964 - She's Fallen In Love With The Monster Man / Bye Bye Baby
with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, produced by Joe Meek
1966 - Take Your Time / Don't You Love Me Any More
with The Circles. Produced by Chris Blackwell, Islands Records founder.
1967 - Soul Sounds LP with Soul Survivors band. Nicky Nopkins, Chas Hodges from Chas & Dave and various session musicians. Produced by Derek Lawrence.
1967 - What Did I Do / Can't Waste A Good Thing
with Tony Wilson and Steve Howe from Yes. Produced by Derek Lawrence.
1967 - I Need Somebody / She's Alright
with Ram Jam Holder. Produced by Derek Lawrence.
1968 - My Baby's Left Me / Yakity Yak
with Neil Christian & The Crusaders. Personnel included Nicky Hopkins, Ritchie Blackmore, Rick Brown. Produced by Colin Nichol.
1969 - Chewn In / Time Out
with Heavy Jelly. Personnel: bassist Alex Dmochowski (bassist), guitarist John Moorshead.
1970 - Lord Sutch & Heavy Friends LP
Carlo plays on 'Gutty Guitar'. Album includes 'Heavy Friends' Ritchie Blackmore, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Noel Redding, Rick Brown, Nick Simper, Keith Moon.
1973 - Mama Was A Honky Tonk Woman / Shakin' An' Breakin'
with Hurricane. Personnel: guitarist Dick Middleton, singer and pianist Freddie 'Fingers' Lee, bassist Stuart Colman (who was later producer of Shakin' Stevens), backing vocals Sue and Sonny. Howie Casey played sax on the B-side. Produced by Barry Murray. An album was recorded with other guests such as pianist Matthew Fisher but it never got released.
1978 - Roscoe Rocks Again LP
Personnel: bassist Nick Simper, saxophonist Sid Phillips, guitarist Pete Parks, singer/pianist Rosco Gordon, Ray Ellison: 2nd vocals on 'Shooby Ooby', Rosco Gordon: vcl/pno/gtr on 'Three O'Clock Blues'. Recorded at 100 club in Oxford Street, where in the middle of the album Wayne Bennett (guitarist) also performs. Produced by the owner of the 100 Club.
1978-1983 - Flying Fox
Pub band with Nick Simper. Tapes of their live gigs are in circulation.
1981 - Music, Music, Music / I Got Hitched
with Rockelodeon. Band included singer Marie Dunn, sax Tony Hall, guitarist Roger Retig, keyboards Matthew Fisher, bass Rick Brown.
1985 - The Florida Sun Album LP
with Florida Sun. Singer/songwriter Ronnie Harwood. Released on Carlo's record label Sparkle Records, four singles released with airplay on Radio 2.
1986 - Senorita / Holiday Girl
with Bandana. Produced by Carlo and singer/songwriter Ronnie Harwood. A pop holiday record, it had airplay in Europe.
2001 - Ace Cafe / Let's Go, Let's Go
with Carlo Little All Stars. Written and produced by Carlo. Singer Alan Barrett.
2001 - Never Stop Rockin' LP
with Carlo Little All Stars. Singers Art Wood, Long John Baldry, guitarists Alex Chanter, Ronnie Wood, Jeff Beck, bassist Rick Brown, keyboards Johnnie Casanova, harmonica Eddie Armer. Remains unreleased.
