PETER RAMAGE
The original vocalist with Mantra, formed in Elstree, Herts, in 1969. By 1971, they were gigging, doing festivals, such as, Windsor and Bath, venues like the Marquee in London and the Stoneground in Manchester, supporting top acts, Man, Head Hands and Feet, Supertramp, Soft Machine, and The Alex Harvey Band.
JAY BERKS
Drummer with The Ponders End Delta Blues Band, later Foetal Dwarf formed in Enfield/Barnet in 1968 playing colleges supporting Blodwyn Pig, Family and The Third Ear Band. In 1971 after the bands' demise, he was introduced to Mantra by mutual friends. In 1972 he joined Smiler and on several occasions supported Mantra at North London gigs. Leaving Smiler in 1975, he became involved with several Jazz/Rock experimental groups returning to Country/Rock in 1986 with The Soul Agents.
GARY FITZSIMMONS
Guitarist on the London pub circuit (Nashville Rooms, the Red Cow etc) in the 70's with Glyder and Buster. Moving onto the 80's he was an international touring musician, playing with The Man Ezeke(ex Radio 1), nuff respec, in Germany (The Hamburg Plaza and The Berlin Hilton), Sweden (Grona Lund, Stockholm),Oman (Muscat) and The Rose of Tralee Festival in Eire. In the 90's he became sound engineer for The Jazz Devils (Virgin Records) and Australian band Ute (Phonogram Records) as well as jamming with Special Brew - see friends
DEBBIE BONOMINI
Started singing professionally in the 80's on the Mecca Ballroom circuit with MD Mike Stevens, later to be MD for "Take That", and Paul Taylor, later with The Verve. From there, she was backing vocalist with " The Sixties Reunion Tour", featuring, Mike Berry, Heinz, Jess Conrad and Tommy Bruce. In the 90's she worked with various bands, Matrix, The Nervous Wrecks, and her tribute band "Blondee" 2000's can be found most years at Cropredy with Fairport Convention, Deborah Bonham (younger sister of John), and her roots, still jammin' with Special Brew
In 1975, Mantra had split to go to all corners of the planet. In 1988, Pete contacted Jay for help in salvaging old Mantra recordings. With all of Mantra, bar their emigrated drummer, still available and the imminent demise of The Soul Agents, the idea was born to reform Mantra "to celebrate....well, havin fun". In 1995 they called it a day.
Forward to 2006, Pete and Jay start writing new songs, Pete meets his nephew, Gary Fitzsimmons (producer- engineer- musician ), having not been in touch for a number of years, who has also been writing new material. The result "RBFinc." formed September 2006. UPDATE October 2008, RBFinc. become a quartet with the arrival of Debbie Bonomini, session singer
"Get On Board", 16 tracks, now available
"Only Time Will Tell", 14 tracks, now available
"Goin' Home" , 18 tracks, now available
RBF inc. "Four" in production.
RBF inc. are currently looking for someone to publish their music.
Still more to come!
Contact: [email protected]
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