A Blues band initially titled SAVOY BROWN BLUES BAND that slowly evolved into a Hard Rocking, Boogie outfit finding touring success in America. SAVOY BROWN are perhaps more noted in their home country for having supplied ex members to major league acts such as FLEETWOOD MAC, BLACK SABBATH, UFO and FOGHAT than any lasting musical legacy.

The band were created in London during 1966 by teenage guitarist Kim Simmonds. Other founder members included vocalist Bruce Portius, ex ACTION guitarist Martin Stone, bassist Ray Chappell, keyboard player Bob Hall and drummer Leo Mannings. The band's debut single of 1966 'I Tried' was released on the Purdah label, but soon THE SAVOY BROWN BLUES BAND signed to major label Decca to release their first album 'Shake Down' the following year.

What was to be the first of many line up changes occurred after the album release, with Stone quitting to join MIGHTY BABY and releasing two albums with a self titled 1969 debut and a 1971 follow up 'A Jug Of Love' on Blue Horizon Records.

Stone's position was taken by Dave Peverett. Portius also departed as did Chappell and Mannings. New recruits were vocalist Chris Youlden, bassist Rivers Jobe and drummer Roger Earl. The band also included drummer Bill Bruford, later of YES and KING CRIMSON, for a short tenure.

This line-up released the 1968 album 'Getting To The Point' prior to shortening the band title to SAVOY BROWN. Their first foray into North America took place in January of 1969, Chris Youlden cutting a memorable figure on US audiences with his penchant for wearing a top hat, fur jacket and smoking a cigar onstage. The group added bassist Tony Stevens in time to record May 1969's 'Blue Matter' album. This album comprised earlier singles and live tracks recorded in Leicester.

A second album the same year, 'A Step Further', saw SAVOY BROWN denting the national American charts with both album and the single 'I'm Tired' which reached number 74. Whilst recording sessions for 'A Step Further', Hall, Peverett, Stevens and Earle jammed out some old Rockabilly tunes. Unbeknownst to the musicians, the engineer started to roll the tape. Such was their surprise at the result that these jams, comprising Rock n' Roll standards such as 'Matchbox', 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' and 'Keep A Knockin' generated a spin off album 'Rocked Out' issued under the pseudonym of WARREN PHILLIPS & THE ROCKETS.

SAVOY BROWN undertook a second tour of North America throughout the Summer prior to Winter UK dates in 1969 partnered with JETHRO TULL. However, in December Harry sacked his brother Kim. The band recorded a set of BBC sessions before Kim rejoined in time for a third trek across the USA in January of 1970. Returning to the UK, SAVOY BROWN cut the critically acclaimed 'Raw Sienna' opus. Despite approval from both fans and critics the album did not fare well, only reaching no. 121 in the USA.

SAVOY BROWN then cut back to being a quintet when Hall left to form THE SUNFLOWER BLUES BAND reuniting with another ex-SAVOY BROWN member drummer Leo Mannings. In 1970 the band were further reduced in numbers down to a four piece when Youlden departed for a solo career.

However, SAVOY BROWN scored their biggest American hit to date when the 'Looking In ' album reached number 39. This success did not hold the band together with Peverett, Earl and Stevens leaving to form another successful Boogie band FOGHAT and by early 1971 Simmonds was completely rebuilding the outfit.

For a short period former McGREGOR'S ENGINE and BLODWYN PIG bassist Andy Pyle stood in, but a more solid outfit was formed around new vocalist Dave Walker together with thee ex members of CHICKENSHACK in keyboard player Paul Raymond, bassist Andy Sylvester and drummer Dave Bidwell.

Two further albums - 1971's 'Street Corner Talking' and 1972's 'Hellbound Train' - made the American charts before Sylvester departed, having his position re-taken by Andy Pyle who had been playing with JUICY LUCY in the interim.

A further 1972 album, 'Lion's Share', did not fare well and following it's completion SAVOY BROWN fragmented again, with Walker opting to join FLEETWOOD MAC then HUNGRY FIGHTER (later briefly replacing OZZY OSBOURNE in BLACK SABBATH during 1978) and Bidwell leaving through ill heath. Bidwell was later to die of a drugs overdose.

'Fresh Blood' saw Jackie Lynton occupying the lead vocal position and former JUICY LUCY drummer Ron Berg replacing Bidwell. By the end of 1973 SAVOY BROWN was back to Simmonds as a sole surviving member. Berg had quit to join NETWORK, Raymond also quit (and later teamed up with UFO in 1978) and Pyle had reunited with BLODWYN PIG.

The new look 1974 SAVOY BROWN comprised of Simmonds, ex-CHICKEN SHACK vocalist Stan Webb, ex-KEEF HARTLEY BAND guitarist MILLER ANDERSON, ex JUICY LUCY bassist Jim Leverton and drummer Eric Dillon. Anderson, Leverton and Dillon had all been members of the 1973 act HEMLOCK whilst the rhythm section had also spent a term with TRANQUILITY. That May SAVOY BROWN toured Canada and the USA as headliners over MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND and openers KISS.

This line-up was only to last for one album, 1974's 'Boogie Brothers', prior to a whole new rhythm section being assembled. Webb rejoined CHICKEN SHACK. Anderson would journey through DOG SOLDIER, CHICKENSHACK, the 1977 incarnation of T REX, THE DUKES and American Rockers MOUNTAIN.

For the next incarnation of the band Simmonds drafted in erstwhile CLOUDS and ALEX HARVEY BAND bassist Ian Ellis, ex FAIRPORT CONVENTION drummer Tom Farnell.

SAVOY BROWN then entered a period of relative stability until 1980 when, after three albums, Simmonds once more put the band on ice before restarting with a fresh line up. Included were ex BUX and JOE PERRY PROJECT vocalist Ralph Morman alongside guitarist Barry Paul, bassist John Humphrey, former HEAVY METAL KIDS and LION keyboard player John Sinclair and HEAVY METAL KIDS drummer Keith Boyce.

SAVOY BROWN disbanded following US tour work throughout 1982 and 1983, for which shows they were fronted by MARK BOALS, subsequently to journey onto the TED NUGENT band, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, RING OF FIRE, ROYAL HUNT and ULI JON ROTH amongst many other projects. Sinclair would become keyboard player for URIAH HEEP then gain a long standing fixture with OZZY OSBOURNE.

The guitarist emerged in 1985 adopting a full on Hard Rock approach with his new act SIMMONDS. The band toured as support in America to SAVATAGE and comprised of THE RODS bassist Gary Bordonaro, ex-BLUE CHEER, SHAKIN' STREET and BIBLE BLACK guitarist Duck McDonald, PENTAGRAM and BURNING STARR drummer Joe Hasselvander and ex-SILENT PARTNER singer Jimmy Kunes. The band fell apart with McDonald and Bordonaro uniting with RAVEN guitarist Mark Gallagher to create SLIDER.

In 1987 Simmonds resurrected SAVOY BROWN for a brace of late 80s albums issued in America. SAVOY BROWN at this closing juncture featured a returning Dave Walker and the rhythm section of bassist Jimmy Dagnesi and drummer Al Macomber.

Following on from 1995's 'Bring It On Home', issued on the German Viceroy label, Simmonds busied himself with a solo album 'Solitaire' in 1997.

By 1999 the boys were back in action again this time with Earl partnering Duke Robillard and Paul Oscher together with Leo Lyons of TEN YEARS AFTER. Naturally the year saw yet another album release, 'The Blues Keep Me Holding On'.

Ex-SAVOY BROWN man MILLER ANDERSON came back into the public eye too that year by guesting on DEEP PURPLE keyboard player JON LORD's 'Pictured Within' album. Anderson would perform the title track as the opening sequence to DEEP PURPLE's 2000 world tour.

SAVOY BROWN entered the new millenium with the by now expected fresh line up. Joining Simmonds were vocalist Nathaniel Peterson and ex-JOHNNY WINTER drummer Tom Compton. For live work in America Compton's place was taken by Joe Pierleoni. Guitarist David Malachowski, a veteran of SHANIA TWAIN's live and having featured on a KIM SIMMONDS solo album 'Blues Like Midnight', enrolled the same year.

In 2003 SAVOY BROWN, issuing a new album 'Strange Dream', received acknowledgement from an unexpected quarter when former VAN HALEN singer DAVID LEE ROTH cut cover versions of no less than three songs, 'You Got The Blues, Not Me', 'Made Up My Mind' and 'Stay While The Night Is Young', for his 'Diamond Dave' album. Further recognition came in 2005 as erstwhile OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist JAKE E. LEE covered 'Woman' on his album of seventies covers.