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The Band
John Knowles - Guitar and VocalsJohn has been leading the band since its formation 25 years ago. He comperes the show and performs in every line-up of Cockney Pride.
His early musical career was spent as the leading light of the group ‘Talisman’. He wrote all the groups songs including the much covered single ‘Stepping Stones’- this song reached No 8 in the Dutch charts. His back catalogue of songs published by Sony/ATV music are still recorded by European artistes and ‘Stepping Stones’ has recently been used in an international TV advert. The Decca/Argo albums ‘Primrose Dreams’ and ‘Stepping Stones’ can still be found on the web. His strong clear voice was used in those days mainly for the trademark harmonies – now he sings all types of songs including his famous ‘ditties’.
John looks after ‘business’ and it’s him you email or speak to on the phone if you make an enquiry. No middle men! He has resisted all pressures to use backing tracks, sequencers or enhancers. He says – “With Cockney Pride what you see is what you get – Real Music!”
Natalie Jane Ellis - Vocalist and DancerNatalie is our Pearly Queen, she is a LAMDA graduate and her dramatic training enables her to give a performance which would not be out of place on the West End stage. She is just returning from maternity leave having given birth to her first baby – Jasmine Louise – in October. She promises to do ‘the splits’ in the show just like she used to. We’ll wait and see!
Jimmy O'Brien (Ex Tornados) and Marius Rudnick are our regular pianists. Marius is also a classically trained flautist, sax and clarinet player. He blows up a storm in the show. We have a real drummer of the highest calibre Alan Bax