(c’74-’86) Keith Berry (Vocals/Guitar)
Bordon based Keith Berry built a solid solo career playing his folky popular ballads in the wine bars of Surrey and Hampshire in the late ’70s under the stage name Keith James. In ’78 he collaborated with French composer and conductor Andre Kerr, releasing four tracks as a 7″ EP on AKJ [AKJOOSI] titled “I Need You Babe”. While best known as a soloist, he would also perform backed by a band and on the 14 and 15 January ’80, Keith James was in concert with his band at the Bellerby Theatre, Guildford.
In ’81 he self-released “The Bar-Room Balladeer”, his first solo EP on his eponymous label Keith James [KJ1]. A few months later came his second release a maxi-single titled “The Tears Don’t Seem to Hurt Me Anymore’ [KJ2], a signed limited edition of 2,000. His “Songs” LP [KJ3], an album comprised of 12 self-written songs – except four which were co-written from Joe Rainey – all recorded at Chris West Studios, Weybridge – followed before the years end. West, who performed as part of Azizi from ’83-’85, was also involved, as producer, on ’82’s follow-up LP “On the Rebound” which was issued on the short-lived Paro label [Parol1]. This was accompanied by the title tracks release as a single [Para S1] with “Go For It” on the flipside.
James took part of the 1st Farnham Folk Day that took place on 18 April ’82 at The Maltings, Farnham. That same year James self-released is third LP “Early Days” [KJ4]. The “Beaujolais and Ballerinas” track from “Songs” was self-released as 7″ single [KJ5] later ’82, backed by “Space in Time”. All the time his appearances at wine bars continued and on 3 August ’83 Pews Wine Bar, Guildford hosted James. Through ’83 he would release four singles: The double A-sided “Life in the Western World / Screen, Stage, Words on a Page” [KJ6]; “Sneak a Little Time” [KJ7]; “A Bottle of Wine, Guitar and Sax” [KJ9]; and “Keep it to Yourself / Behind Your Eyes” [KJ10] which was also a double A-side.
1983 was also the year that saw “The Swallow” LP made and distributed on Spartan Records [KJ8]. West played guitar, mixed and produced again, but also roped in, his Azizi bandmate, Roy Villaniz on backing vocals. The mixing duties were shared with Tim Wheatley, the bassist with Gracious, House, Poker, and Taggett, and owner of Chestnut Studios, Churt and Chestnut’s Paul Travers. The LP also featured Katie Humble – not the TV presenter, but a founding member of Go West, who also toured / recorded with Spandau Ballet, Curiosity Killed The Cat, and Art Of Noise (backing vocals), Susan Hammerton (cello), Toni King (cello), Peter Stroud (double bass), Peter Williams (drums), Amanda Skeggs (flute), Simon Dean (flute), Neil Pyzer – who also performed with UBz, White Gold, Jasmine Pie, and Bloodhound (sax), Rachel Bolt – who more recently contributed to Amy Winehouse’s ‘Rehab’ amongst many other appearances (viola), and Vernon Dean (violin).
James broke from his normal solo live presentation once again at the Bellerby Theatre on 24 February ’84, when he was joined by a band that included a vocalist called Melanie ? . In early ’86 the cassette LP “Reach Out Today” was released, having been recorded in November ’85. Self-released once again [KJC85] it was a more scaled back affair, with the only other musical contributor being Trevor Grant on classical guitar, who also co-wrote three of the tracks. Later in ’86 James released another cassette LP titled “In Perspective” [KJC86].
He went on to record sessions for BBC Radio 2 and tour the UK and Europe, as well as performing in the USA and Brazil. Towards the end of the 80’s he set up his own recording studio, which would later become Dream of Oswald Studio, Henley on Thames, popular with Folk, Blues and Jazz artists.
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