Sketto Rich – lead vocals
Bobby Morris – keyboards
Johnny Wright – lead guitar
Eric Wilmer – bass (ex-Kindness and The Fenmen)
Don Shepherd – baritone sax
Del Paramor – tenor sax (ex-Warren Davis Monday Band)
Jack Drew – trumpet
Roy Peen – drums
This soul R&B outfit was formed in early 1968 and played until early 1971 when Sketto Rich and Roy Peen left. Johnny Wright was succeeded by Dennis Brown during this period as well.
Bobby Morris joined around April 1968 and rehearsed with the band throughout May and June at the Railway Tavern, Plumstead.
Morris’s first gig with the band took place on 3 August 1968 at the Aurora Hotel in Gillingham, opening for Unit 4+2. The musicians also played regularly at the Harrow Inn in Abbey Wood.
Sketto Rich & Sonority also began to play further afield. Morris recalls playing at the Locarno Ballroom in Swindon on two occasions – 9 August 1969 with The Red Squares and 27 December 1969 with Spectrum. He also remembers playing at Queen Mary’s College in Mile End Road with Clarence “Frogman” Henry on 18 October 1969.
Del Coverley joined briefly in 1971 as new lead singer alongside incoming drummer Pete Mole (also ex-Warren Davis Monday Band) and they became Brass Lungs, performing jazz rock similar in style to Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears in Soho clubs.
When Coverley departed, the musicians linked with Freddie Mack and played their debut show at the Thomas A Beckett Pub on the Old Kent Road in London.
However, as the band started picking up more regular work, the line-up became increasingly fluid with only Brian Morris and Don Shepherd staying the course.
Musicians that joined throughout 1971-1973 included:
Johnny Orlando – lead vocals
Dave Newman – drums (ex-Sounds Incorporated and The Fenmen)
Ray Lewis – bass (ex-Barbette and Memphis Mail)
Dave Roffey – lead guitar (ex-Barbette and Lee Hawkins)
Mel Day – lead vocals (ex-Orange Rainbow)
Roy Edwards – trumpet (ex-Johnny Jackson & The Band Wagon, J J Jackson, Del Vikings, Otis Redding, The Temptations)
Mick Eve – tenor sax (ex-Georgie Fame, Alan Price, Zoot Money)
Eddie Thornton – trumpet (ex-Georgie Fame)
Buddy Bownes – trumpet (ex-Roy Orbison)
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Huge thanks to Brian Morris for providing the band information.
Please email me at Warchive@aol.com if you can add or correct any information.
Should be Alan Day from Orange Rainbow
Sorry meant Alan Ray
Dear Nick, Ref. Sketto Rich/Sonority page (a.k.a. (formerly Mr. Mo’s Messengers, later Brass Lungs), we have contact to players in most of the bands in their varied constellations, but have never been able to trace Don Shepherd who was the driving force behind each of the bands and all I can tell you is he married in 1974 and his stepdaughter’s name was Kim. Also Eric Wilmer, bass guitar, b, 1942Dartford, married Diane M.Nicholls in June 1970. Old address was 45 Abbots Walk, Erith, Kent. Lead guitarist in your main photo was John Wright who left the band to go into recording, also a S.E. London lad, as was Dave Newman who replaced the late Roy Peen on drums. Also Del Coverley a great singer and frontman who came from the Middlesex area. Anybody know where he is?
Good luck with the page!
Del
We played for Don Shepherd’s wedding reception March 23rd 1974. I believe it was in Plumstead, London.
Found an article in the South East London Mercury from 2 March 67 and Sketo Richardson took over from singer Joe Higgins in the band The Little Joe Set from Woolwich which was managed by Don Shepherd. Apart from guitarist Johnny Wright none of the other band members appear to have stayed on
The Little Joe Set when Sketo Richardson joined them was as follows according to the article in the newspaper above:
Sketo Richardson (lead vocals)
Douglas West (vocal)
Johnny Wright (guitar)
Nicholas Lait (bass)
Neil Willis (tenor sax)
Steig Neilson (alto sax)
Dudley Brown (tenor sax)
Jeffrey Brooksmith (drums)
Woking Herald has the band playing at Walton Playhouse on 20 September 1969