Richard
Vernon, Double Bass (more...)
Richard
Vernon was
Born in 1950, the son of a 1920's percussionist band leader
and also Grandson of a turn of the Century Victorian Music
hall singer who supplemented his theatre and early radio
work with a family business selling pianos, records and
wardrobes - what else?
Richard's earliest memory of the 'new fifties'
recalls a mixture of older brothers' various trad records; their Sunday afternoon
skiffle sessions in the front room; and Vernon senior's daily, 7:00 am 'full-fortissimo-belt'
renditions of the Crosby repertoire from the bathroom...infantile
bliss!
Strong parental interest and support ensued and the
swinging sixties provided the stage outlets for Richard
to work
as a guitarist in a band which frequently double-billed
with Musicians from 'fifties trad' ; players who
had moved across to the 'sixties scene', only to
move back
to jazz when the frenzy calmed down.
The
demise of the sixties' venues, choked by the spread of
'the disco'
was to place Richard in dance bands playing Bass guitar.
A stint helping out a local jazz band in 1977 marked the
introduction of Richard to regular playing in proliferous
music work, with a conversion to double bass; the challenge
of which being influenced by the magnetic appeal of Trefor
Williams' rich percussive style in the 70's Max
Collie Rhythm Aces.
Richard
provided bass accompaniment for Tommy Burton from
1984 up until his untimely death in 2000 which, apart
form being a trusted and loyal, long-term friend, earns
him the accolade of being Tommy's longest serving 'Sportinghouse' associate.
Early
radio and TV recordings, including BBC's 'This
is Tommy Burton', plus a full circuit of the majority of the major
UK festivals and club venues for many years (and Jokes!)
enables Richard to develop and establish his musical support
and contribution to the colourful, percussive sound of
Tommy's 'sportinghouse' rhythm section.
The
Sportinghouse Strings trio was established in
2001 which enabled long standing Tommy Burton associates,
messrs.
Langham, Degville and Vernon to combine and indulge in
the unique blend of the Sportinghouse repertoire.
The
years of performance experience across a varied spectrum
of musical styles has enabled Richard to comfortably accompany
many great international musicians including:
Humphrey Lyttleton; Roy Williams with the late Dick
Morrisey;
John Barnes; Randy Colville; Keith
Nichols; Digby Fairweather;
Bruce Adams and the late giants, Kenny Baker and Nat Gonella.
He has also been a regular 'stand-in' Rhythm Ace working
with Max Collie throughout Europe and has accompanied American
heavyweights, Kenny Davern, Howard
Alden, Scott Hamilton and Bob
Wilber.
Regularly
engaged with Tommy Burton's Sportinghouse colleagues, or
with
The Tom Kincaid Trio,
and occasionally accompanying other great musicians, Richard
is equally at ease with a
variety of genres - ears at the ready!
