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It's amazing what can happen if you hang around a blues
bar long enough! Of course, it isn't just any ole blues bar I'm talking
about, it's Ain't Nothin' But in Soho, where on a good Monday night, you
can see just about the best musicians in London jam ming
together on stage.
And that's where Big Mamma's Door opened a chink, when Fiona McElroy
(vocals) Mal Barclay (guitar), Joe Glossop (keys), and Big Andy Roberts
thought about jamming on a more regular basis. Then the rockin Rob
Pokorny (Drums) joined the equation and finally Big Mamma's Door
Fiona McElroy Vocals Fiona has been singing as long as she
can remember. Many nights she was called upon by her parents to
entertain the neighbours at 1 am in the morning, after a few pints down
the local (the neighbours, of course - Fiona was only 7 at the time).
But she got distracted by the bright lights of the theatre and didn't
realise what she was missing until 2003 when she decided she'd had
enough of the persistent internal whisper wishing she was singing. So,
she produced her own show,'The Memory of All That', a tribute to the
Gershwin brothers, which sold out in Dublin and Limerick, Ireland. And
that was that! No more theatre! It's been all about the singing since
Fiona moved to London in January 2004. Fiona has sung with various
bands, from The Darwins’ rock/pop covers, to Roadhouse's rock blues, to
Retrogression's funk and soul - all the time working towards the sound
and style she wanted to sing. It was always the blues; that was clear
from the first time she heard Billie sing, but Mal Barclay was the
person that guided her and helped to define the sound of Big Mamma's
Door. Now, she's a happy gal!
Mal Barclay Guitar One of the hardest working blues
guitarists in London and a T-Bone Walker obsessive; he's played with a
whole mess of people, including appearances with Jerimiah Marques & the
Blue Aces, West Weston's Bluesonics, Pete G & the MagniTones, and Sam
Hare (Hucklebuck). Currently he can be seen on stage playing hot West
Coast blues and swing with The Cadillac Kings, Jules & the Gamblers,
Oo-Bop-Sh'bam, and sexy 50s R&B with Big Mamma's Door.
Joe Glossop Keys Originally from Sheffield Joe spent
several years gigging mostly around the north with blues and rock n roll
bands, notably 'the frank white band' ,a Yorkshire legend, who's been
around since the 60's. Joe moved to London at the beginning of 2007 and,
of course, made his way to Ain't Nothin' But where straight away he was
jumped by various musicians, looking for a keyboard player!! Joe is
currently involved in a few different projects in London including blues
based bands and pop sessions but he's always open to offers (and they
don't always have to be musical!)
Big Andy Roberts Bass For a while, many moons ago,
Andy played bass. Then he didn't, but now he's seen the light again. Or
maybe he just opened the right door! Andy has had his fingers wrapped
around the neck of a bass a long time. Originally from Bristol, Andy's
love of music developed when he moved to London to attend college. He
should have attended lectures..but hey!! Andy has played bass with lots
of London bands. The list is endless but some of the bands he gigs with
are Guy Tortora, Tonebrokers featuring Phil Hughes, The Paul Garner
Band, The Greg Derham Band, Bluesmix.
Rob Pokorny Drums Rob has been playing drums for around 5
years, and moved back to his birthplace of London in 2005, where he
landed his first gig with Chicago blues and swing quartet Gentleman Tim
& The Contenders. Since then, Rob has been involved in the blues scene
with Jules & The Gamblers and Big Mamma’s Door, as well as playing with
funk quintet GrooveLamp.
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