Now sporting an edgy blues sound, the band gigged around London using the names Blues Trip and Blues Yard before settling on Ten Years After, a name chosen in honor of 1966 being the 10th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s commercial breakout year.īy 1967, Ten Years After was melting audiences with a residency at London’s prestigious Marquee Club, during which time they honed their loud and aggressive performance style. In short order, the group attracted the attention of a manager in the form of Chris Wright, who with his business partner Terry Ellis would go on to form the Chrysalis management agency and later the Chrysalis Records label. Not long after this stint, the band expanded to a four-piece with the addition of keyboardist Chick Churchill. Trimmed down to a three-piece, The Jayhawks migrated to London and got a gig working as the backup band for the British vocal trio The Ivy League. Following Jay’s departure, Alvin Lee assumed vocal duties and the band continued to perform as The Jaybirds.ĭavid Quickmire left the band in 1965 and was replaced by Ric Lee (no relation to Alvin). This band featured rhythm guitarist Ray Cooper and drummer David Quickmire and was fronted by vocalist Ivan Jay, who left the band along with Ray Cooper in 1962. Inspired by earthy American blues and early rock and roll records, guitarist Alvin Lee and bassist Leo Lyons began playing shows together around the Nottingham/Mansfield area of northern England in 1960, initially as Ivan Jay and the Jayhawks.
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