Sky (band)

Sky was a UK-based instrumental group that specialised in fusing a variety of musical styles including light rock, classical and jazz. The band was formed in 1978 with classical guitarist John Williams, Herbie Flowers, Francis Monkman, Tristan Fry and Kevin Peek. The rock-classical segment had been sketched out a few years earlier by the orchestral band Esperanto. After a protracted search for a record company they eventually signed with the small European label Ariola Records. Their self-titled debut album was highly successful in Britain and Australia. Their follow up double album, "Sky 2", was even more so, being the tenth highest selling in Britain for all of 1980. The band ceased to play in 1994.

In 1980 British producer Martin Lewis conceived of presenting Sky in a concert performance at London's Westminster Abbey - the 900-year old historic church in the centre of London. The concert eventually took place in February 1981. It was the first-ever rock concert held at the Abbey and it was videotaped for a BBC TV special - subsequently released on home video. The concert was a benefit for the human rights organization Amnesty International and commemorated the organization's 20th anniversary. The landmark event resulted in Sky receiving considerable positive media coverage.

The departure of Francis Monkman led to his replacement by Steve Gray who took the band to a more jazz influenced sound. Subsequent albums saw a gradual dwindling in quality and success. After their sixth album, "Cadmium", John Williams also left the band. Sky were to record only two more albums, "The Great Balloon Race" and "Mozart". The latter was produced with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and was their most successful album in the United States.

The band ceased to play in 1994.

Original personnel

* John Williams - acoustic and electric guitars
* Kevin Peek - electric guitarKevin PeekElectric and Acoustic Guitars (1979-1985)

Kevin Peek was born and brought up in Adelaide, Australia. He left for the UK in 1965 and remained domiciled in London until 1982 when he returned to Australia. He studied music from the age of seven - his first studies being in the full range of orchestral percussion instruments plus jazz drumming, vibraphone and general music theory. Studies on guitar commenced when he was twelve and, for a while did this in tandem with continuing studies in percussion. By the age of fifteen his love of the guitar had completely taken over and Peek ceased any further work on percussion from that time on. After leaving school he worked in Adelaide for a few years playing guitar in various rock and jazz bands until departing for the UK.During his entire time in the UK, Peek worked as a self-employed professional musician - mainly as a recording "session" musician - but also undertook concert tours from time to time. In the course of such work he performed at live concerts, on radio broadcasts, on television broadcasts and on commercial recordings with many orchestras, instrumentalists, groups and singers as well as recording, broadcasting and performing in concert in his own right.Artists he recorded with included: Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, John Williams, The New Seekers, Lulu, Cilla Black, Chris Rea, Elton John, Manfred Mann, Peter Skellern, Shirley Bassey, Mary Hopkins, Rick Wakeman, Alan Parsons Project, Jeff Wayne, Roger Daltrey, Mel Torme, The Shadows, Hank Marvin, Neil Diamond, Val Doonican and many, many others, as well as orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.Peek is currently active within the field of music composition, recording and production for film and television.

* Herbie Flowers - bass guitar, double-bass, tuba

Herbie FlowersBass (and Tuba, 1979-1994)

Herbie Flowers got involved in music quite during compulsory National Service. After several years in Singapore he was posted to the RAF Central Band and then gradually got involved in the West End circuit of theatre pit work, night clubs, etc., and the occasional recording session. He joined Blue Mink, a 'session' band, in 1970 and remained for 5 years. He left to tour America with David Bowie (Diamond Dogs tour). He wrote and produced the novelty song "Grandad" recorded by Clive Dunn, and worked with Marc Bolan and T.Rex. After several years of recording sessions and tours with Sky, Flowers returned to session work. Since the band's demise in the early 1990s Flowers has spent most of his time playing jazz. He also works as a bass guitar teacher at Ardingly College, and leads many 'rockshops' at schools, helping children to create and perform their own songs, as well as covering many others.
Tristan FryDrums, Percussion (and Trumpet, 1979-1994)

Tristan Fry continues to lead an extremely active session musician's life coupled with his orchestral role as timpani for the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Orchestra. Fry has played on many film and television background scores in addition to a variety of signature tunes: 'Yes Minister'; 'To The Manor Born'; 'Last Of The Summer Wine'; Gandhi; 'Yentl' and 'Never Say Never Again'.

Fulll details of their discography, etc,. can be found on the unofficial website listed below.

References

*"Guinness Book of British Hit Singles" 7th Edition - 1988

External links

* [http://plum.cream.org/sky/ Richard Sliwa's comprehensive unofficial Sky website]