|
In just about every story of the beginnings of the Small Faces you read about the little mods meeting up, and forming a band - almost by accident
In fact, by the time they met, Marriott was an experienced, if not yet accomplished, musician and performer. He had already played as support act for current big names such as The Nashville Teens, The Animals, Zoot Money, Georgie Fame, The Organisation, The Action and John Mayall. As well as playing at legendary venues like the 100 Club and the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond.
The Moments tour in 1964 alone actually notched up over 80 gigs for the seventeen year old.
He was already firm friends with many of the aforementioned people. You get the impression that Steve was headed for the top, no matter what. He just yet hadn't found the particular vehicle. A nice illustration comes in the autobiography of Eric Mason, a Kray associate and owner of the Starlight Rooms venue in London. Mason writes "I remember throwing a party for the Dreamers, the boys who backed Freddie Garrity, who had just done a concert at Hammersmith with the Beatles and who were then off to America. We had the party as a good luck gesture and send-off. Every few minutes another face walked in the club. Eric Burdon of the Animals came in with a guy that no-one had heard of in those days, and Eric asked if the kid could do a spot.
With a request from someone like Eric Burdon, the kid was soon on stage. His name was Steve Marriott. He was incredible. Tom Jones turned up with the drummer from his band the Squires. Elkie Brooks was also there, I remember. She was about fifteen years old then and she remains one of my favourite singers. It was an incredible night. Ray Davies and the Kinks, Jackie Trent, PJ Proby and many author musicians turned up as a tribute to the popularity of the Dreamers".
By now, Steve had also found time to spend fourteen months on the West End stage, and to appear in numerous films and TV shows, as well as radio spots. He had released two singles and one soundtrack album.....well...four singles if you count the recently discovered "Move It" and the mysterious second solo single "Tell Me"
Steve's origins of course were in the East End of London. He came from a fairly musical background - his father Bill being an accomplished pub pianist - who was the life and soul of many an East End night. Steve taught himself to play the ukulele at an early age, and thus began a lifelong ability to pick up a musical instrument and, within half an hour, have the knack of playing it. He never had a lesson in his life.
During boyhood holidays to various seaside resorts, Steve would invariably win all the talent competitions. Usually the first his family would know anything was when he arrived back at the holiday home with a pocketful of cash. That and earning money by busking with his ukulele along the rows of beach huts.
In fact, legend has it that when he came to an audition for the West End stage smash "Oliver", Lionel Bart already knew him from busking with harmonica around bus stops in the East End, and immediately said "That's the one I want".
The boys in the Oliver cast would always be replaced as their voices broke. Steve was the first one who automatically harmonised down when this happened. The producer said to Bart one day "Listen to that", and Lionel Bart replied "I know - I like it".....and so Steve got to stay.
His spell at the Italian Conti Stage School definitely stood him in good stead - and his family feel it was this that really gave him the command of the stage he had in his Humble Pie days.
A star is born !
|
