Everything Starts With A Dream…

For me it all began with a dream in 1973, a dream to be in a band, a dream to make a record and a dream to have a number 1 hit. I listened to everything at the time; Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Slade, Mud, Abba, Status Quo, Dr. Feelgood, then in the late 1970’s, The Jam and The Who. Wow! They changed everything.

That same year, 1973, my best friend David “Harry” Harris (Guitar/Vocals) had invited me (Keyboards/Guitar) to join his band Phaze II when I was just 10 years old with his friend Jon (Sean) Oliver (Bass), Nick Pamment (Drums) and Steven Gosbee (Vocals). I had fulfilled my first goal, even though I didn’t know at the time it was called a goal. My first dream had come true - I was in a band!

The Teazers

Forming The Teazers in 1978 with my Bury St Edmunds Swimming Club buddy, Nigel Stemp (Drums) and friend Lee Jacobs (Bass), we idolised Paul Weller and The Jam. We performed Jam/Beatles/Who hits as “Mods” in some of the roughest pubs in town including the infamous “Bikers Pub” The Griffin at age just 15 when my amplifier exploded! Fortunately, Harry was watching and we rushed to his home to get his amplifier so we could resume playing. We somehow managed to get out alive!

We regularly visited “The Kings Road”, Chelsea and Carnaby Street. We bought our ‘Jam shoes’ from Shelley’s and our suits were hand tailored from Carnaby Cavern. It was an amazing time to be alive and in a band. But in 1980 Lee decided to join another band, then Nigel moved to the USA for a year. The Teazers went from a 3 piece, to a 1 piece! But I was not going to negotiate with my dream…

More Teazers…

In 1981, Andy Leong-son joined me on bass with his friend Pete Hawtin on drums. Things took off. We played further afield, and had a golden opportunity. While on a visit to Camberley in January 1982, Paul Weller’s father invited us into his (and Paul’s) house for a cup of tea. He then asked us to support The Jam at Leicester De Montfort Hall in just under 2 weeks time! I hesitated - how could a band who dressed like The Jam and played 50% of their set as Jam songs, support The Jam I thought? We were not ready. I turned it down, and have regretted it ever since! It was the break that can only really come once, maybe twice in a lifetime. I should have grabbed it with both hands. Patrick Swayze once said “Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true.” I hold my hand up and tell you, yes I was fearful, yes I hesitated and yes I lost one of the most amazing opportunities imaginable for me - to support The Jam! I would never make the same mistake again.

Andy temporarily left in 1983 to do his A-levels and I waited, then he went to University, and I waited...and waited… and I didn’t see him again until 2019, some 36 years later! However, we had recorded 4 tracks at The Elephant Recording Studio in London in the summer of 1982. In the 1990’s I had the tracks transferred to digital format, and in 2018 I released it as a 12” Vinyl E.P. and digital download called ‘Teenage Angst’. I never negotiated with my dream and ticked “making a record” off my goal list when it was released on 25/06/2018. My second dream had come true - I had made a record!

International Amazon #1 Hit

In 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic, good fortune came my way. Through my speaking/coaching work, I was lucky enough to meet internationally renowned Presenter, Publisher and Producer - Roy Smoothe. Roy is an amazing guy with over 100,000,000 downloads! Yes that’s 100 Million downloads. With a group of internationally renowned authors, speakers, thought leaders and entrepreneurs I was delighted to feature on his Success Mindset Mix. My track was called Just Keep Swimming Until You Get To France!™.

On August 24, 2021, the 4th anniversary of my late father’s passing and 48 years after I first joined a band with David, Sean, Nick and Steve, the album reached #1 on The International Amazon Music Charts in 5 categories:-

• #1 Best Selling RnB Album

• #1 Best Selling Soul Album

• #1 Best Selling New Soul Release

• #1 Best Selling RnB New Release

• #1 Movers & Shakers Album

The emotion-grabbing music composition quickly climbed to the top of the music charts, a position previously occupied by a list of music all-time legends including Aaliyah, Prince, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, James Brown, The Temptations, Lionel Richie, The Bee Gees, The Rolling Stones, The Everly Brothers, Switchfoot, Seal, the list goes on.....!

It took me 48 years, but on August 24, 2021, I achieved my childhood musical dreams - all three of them;

• Be in a band ✔️

• Make a record ✔️

• Have a number 1 hit ✔️

NEVER Negotiate with YOUR Dream!

Jim Rohn once said, “Things don’t just happen, things happen just”. Meeting Roy, and combining my music with both my swimming and speaking careers and getting an International Number 1 hit has been a dream come true. How did I do it?

I NEVER negotiated with MY Dream!

September 2021, sees my second collaboration with the amazing Roy Smoothe - NEVER Negotiate with YOUR Dream. Out now on Amazon. Click on the photo above (UK) or;

• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom - >> Purchase HERE << (Amazon.co.uk)

• 🇺🇸 USA - >> Purchase HERE << (Amazon.com)

I would urge you to NEVER negotiate with YOUR dream and whatever it may be, I can help YOU achieve it. Everybody needs a little help. Contact me today.