Robb Huxley

Robert William Huxley (Robb Huxley) was born December 4 1945 in Gloucester England.

After leaving Sir Thomas Rich’s Grammar School in 1962 he joined a local band The Vendettas in 1963 as vocalist.

He moved on to join the Whirlwinds as lead singer “Robb Gayle”.

After a recording audition with Joe Meek The Whirlwinds changed their name to the Saxons and dyed their hair blond. While still semi-pro they released a single through Joe Meek in 1965: It was an instrumental written by Pete Holder and Robb Huxley titled “Saxon War Cry”

In December 1965 Joe Meek summoned the Saxons to London to work professionally as his house band The Tornados. They were also known as the New Tornados. During their short association with Joe Meek they put out two singles. “Pop-Art Goes Mozart” / “Too Much in Love to Hear” and “Is that a Ship I Hear” / “Do You Come Here Often”. Both singles were released in 1966. Nowadays “Do you Come Here Often” is recognized as being the first ever openly “Gay” song to be released on record.

Almost a year after Joe Meek’s tragic death in a shooting incident at his Holloway Road studio, with only Robb Huxley and Dave Watts remaining from the original line up The Tornados left for a tour of Israel

Early in February 1968 in Tel-Aviv the Tornados disbanded which brought a final end to Joe Meek’s succession of “Tornados”.

Robb Huxley decided to stay on in Israel and played for a short time with a three piece group called “Purple Ass Baboon”, most probably the first ever “Punk” style band to play in Israel.

Huxley met up with Stan Solomon, Canadian singer with the Israeli band the Churchills and was invited to join the band when two members were subscripted into the Israeli army.

Huxley and Solomon went on to co- write the music for the Churchills’ only album which was written in part for the Israeli movie “A Woman’s Case” The vinyl album is acclaimed today to be the rarest psychedelic record in the world, and is also recognized for its musical content.

Huxley went on to write for Israeli singers the most prominent being Arik Einstein who had a hit with “Akhi Noam”, (When You’re Gone) which Huxley had written for the Churchills’.

Huxley and Einstein collaborated on an album of children’s songs mainly from melodies written by Huxley with Einstein writing the lyrics.

After Stan Solomon quit the band in 1969 the Churchills became Arik Einstein’s backing band. They were also joined by singer Danny Shoshan ex bass player and vocalist from the Lions.

In 1970 they recorded an album Junkies “Monkeys and Donkeys” with Red Bus Records in London with music written by Robb Huxley and Danny Shoshan and changed their name to “Jericho Jones” They went on to record a second album under the name of Jericho again with Huxley / Shoshan compositions

In 1972 bass player Miki Gavrielov and drummer Ami Trebich returned to Israel. Danny Shoshan took over the bass with Robb Huxley and Haim Romano on guitars. They took on British drummer Chris Perry. They put out two singles but after a tour of South Africa in 1973 Jericho disbanded due to management, personal and record label problems.

Robb Huxley moved to Miami USA in 1974 where he still lives with his Israeli wife.

External links

*http://rhis.co.uk/huxley/ Official Site