ORION

Circa: 1971
Home town:
Members:

• Keith Austin - Keyboards & vocals

• Malcolm Lang - Rhythm guitar & lead vocals

• Jonnie Joubert - Lead guitar & vocals

• Rob Austin - Bass

• Tony Lewis - Drums
  

OTIS WAYGOOD BLUES BAND (Updated 15/08/05)
 

Circa: 1968
Home town: Bulawayo
Members:

• Rob Zipper - Guitar/Saxophone/Harmonica/Vocals

• Alan Zipper - Bass

• Ivor Rubenstein - Drums

• Leigh Sagar - Lead guitar

• Martin Jackson - Flute

• Angus McLean - Piano

• Bennie Miller - Guitar

Photographs per kind permission of Fresh Music - if you love your music, you'll love their site!

www.freshmusic.co.za 

Otis Waygood were the finest exponents of blues Southern Africa has ever had. The forerunner of Otis Waygood Blues Band was BLUES CRUSADE, heavily influenced by John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters-style of blues. In November 1969, Rob & Alan Zipper, Ivor Rubenstein and Leigh Sagar moved to South Africa and undertook a self-organised countrywide tour. This exposure led to their being signed up by the Clive Calder-Ralph Simon management team.

Singer and flautist, Martin Jackson, had a brief spell in the line-up during this period but left in November 1970 and was replaced by Harry Paulus. Bennie Miller had left Rhodesia by this time and had come down to join Otis Waygood, replacing Paulus.

Otis Waygood's blues-jazz fusion made them one of the top live bands of the early 70's but, unfortunately, their releases failed to do them real justice. Nevertheless, "FEVER" must rate as one of the finest singles ever released in South Africa.

In 1971 the group travelled to the United Kingdom. After several years of playing the British clubs, as Otis Waygood, they change their name to ISIAH. Little was heard of them until 1974, when re-naming themselves again as IMMIGRANT, they added three Caribbean musicians to their line-up and pursued a more reggae-based sound. Ivor Rubenstein has since joined another British reggae outfit.

Recordings:

Singles

Fever (1970) on Parlophone
Everything I Am (1970) on Decca (Possibly a UK release)

Albums

Otis Waygood Blues Band (1970) on Parlophone
Simply (1971) on Parlophone
Ten Light Claps And A Scream (1971) on Parlophone

They were also featured on the compilation album:

Rock Today With The Big Heavies And Mixed Bag (1971) on Parlophone

OUTLAWS (Updated 22/01/07)

• Charlie Armstrong - Vocals & rhythm guitar

• Tony Arnoldi - Rhythm guitar

• John Delaney - Bass

• Dennis Jones - Drums (later joined the GENTLEMAN)

Additional members:

• Ian Steel - Drums (Replaced Dennis Jones upon his departure)

• Anthony Went -

• Tommy Goddard -

THE OUTLAWS - The Original Band On The Run? (1961)

From left to right:  Charlie Armstrong (Lead guitar)/Tony Arnoldi (Rhythm)/John Delaney (Bass)/Dennis Jones (Drums)

Apart from being regulars on the local Umtali scene, with their close proximity to Mozambique, The Outlaws played frequently at the Estoril in Beira, particularly over long weekends and public holidays.  The band enjoyed early success when, soon after their creation, they were placed third in a Rock Band Contest held in Salisbury.  Charlie Armstrong roped brother, Derek, in as their first "roadie" and he spent many hours carrying Vox amps and mic stands around, as well as joining - or replacing - the loop tape in the Watkins Echo Chamber.  In between all these "engineering responsibilities" he had to ensure that the band members did not suffer from dehydration on stage, ensuring a steady supply of Mellowood brandy and Coke! On one memorable occasion the band had played a session at the Anglican Church hall and were not quite sure of how to dispose of the emptied brandy bottles that had accrued.  No problem - they carefully placed them inside of the keypad of the church's piano for later retrieval.  So far, so good.  The plan, however, went totally wrong when they forgot to do this and the Church pianist suddenly encountered a particularly strange action when she next tried to play the piano!!  The subsequent "investigation" led to the immediate discovery of the bottles.  It wasn't long before the culprits were identified and they were only able to appease the situation by making a public apology to the community! 

In 1963 Dennis Jones left the band and relocated to Kitwe where he started the FORTUNES.  In due course he returned to Rhodesia and joined the GENTLEMEN, together with the FORTUNES' lead vocalist, Tony Winhall.  Winhall was later to die to meningitis.