Fronted by singer/writer Madeleine Worrall, Green House Band features talented arranger Neil McArthur on piano and rhythm guitars, ex-Gryphon/Albion/Home Service lead guitarist Graeme Taylor and drummer Michael Gregory, this band has just completed its spectacular second album, "Big Sun".
Graeme began his musical career at the age of 17 in 1971, as a founder member of ground-breaking eclectic band Gryphon, which Melody Maker dubbed 'The 13th-Century Slade', the only band to be featured on all four BBC national radio stations in the same week, the first (and last) rock band ever to play at London's Old Vic and the Victoria and Albert Museum, where they famously created havoc amongst an attendant mobbing girl-school outing. The band went on to make five best selling albums, to do major tours of Europe and the US, presenting their own compositions at the Madison Square Garden, and supporting Yes and the Mahavishnu Orchestra at the Houston Astrodome.
Graeme played with an assortment of rock and R'n'B bands from the mid 70s through the 80s, notably singer songwriter John B.Spencer, with whom he maintained close associations until John's untimely death in 2002.
In 1977, Graeme joined forces with Ashley Hutchings, Shirley Collins, Philip Pickett, John Tams and percussionist Michael (Greg) Gregory (who also played with John B. Spencer's Band), resulting in the formation of a new Albion Band, and with the addition of Dave Mattacks and Simon Nicol from Fairport Convention, the making of the classic album Rise up Like the Sun.
With John, Ashley and Greg, together with Bill Bryden's team at the National Theatre, he was instrumental in the making of The Mysteries and Lark Rise to Candleford, for which a distinctive English brass section was added.
Other great shows followed, such as Dispatches based on Michael Herr's harrowing account of the Vietnam war, with a great Hendrix, Gram Parsons, Dylan and Doors soundtrack; then Don Quixote, starring Paul Scofield, with Tony Haygarth as Sancho Panza.
Graeme continued working with John and Greg, who collectively formed the critically acclaimed Home Service, with Bill Caddick (vocals & songs), Jon Davie (bass, ex-Gryphon, ex John B. Spencer Band), the late Howard Evans (trumpet) and Roger Williams (trombone), and Andy Findon (flute/reeds) which took these concepts much further down the road.
Over the last few years, Graeme's work has continued to diversify. He has made major contributions to albums, including a BBC Best Roots Album of the Year award winner, Unity, by John Tams and been a key member of John's band, playing major festivals in this country and Europe, including Cambridge and Dranouter. He has recently been collaborating further with Tam on a third JT album, and become a third of The Omega 3.
He has been Rolf Harris' unashamedly loyal guitarist now for fifteen years, whose band, The Roo Brothers, has appeared three times with Mr. Harris at Glastonbury festival, since Rolf's hit in 1993 with Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven. Headlining spots at Towersey, Eastleigh, Sidmouth, Guildford and Edinburgh festivals and Nationwide University and club bookings are regularly on their schedule, all listed on Rolf's Website.
His recent theatre work includes adopting the role of Musical Director, Arranger and Writer of Additional Music for the National Theatre's revival of The Mysteries (1999-2000), a vibrant adaptation by the poet Tony Harrison of the medieval York, Chester and Wakefield miracle plays, the original production of which Graeme had helped to create in 1977 as part of Bill Bryden's memorable Cottesloe company.
Graeme was also the guitarist in the great 17-piece band put together by Gareth Valentine for the hit West End production of Anything Goes (2003-4), and took part in another Cole Porter show, High Society, in the previous year at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, in which year additionally, he managed to fit in the summer season at the Globe, playing A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Additionally, he has written music for library albums, engineered and produced albums for other singers and bands in his inspiringly spacious purpose-built loft-situated home studio in South West London; has done live, TV and session work with such diverse artistes as Long John Baldry, Tim Rose, Petula Clark, Julie Covington, Rebecca Storm, Philip Scofield, and taken part in countless West End shows.
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