Representative Albums: "Keep America Beautiful, Get a Haircut," "Groups & Sessions 1962-1978"
Biography
A definitive British rock journeyman, guitarist Ray Fenwick has played with numerous famous acts, though even most serious collectors would be hard pressed to identify him. He replaced future Yes guitarist Steve Howe in the Syndicates in the mid-'60s, and played a wild freakbeat solo on their single "Crawdaddy Simone," which comprised some of the most adventurous guitar work of the British Invasion era. He served time in Dutch groups After Tea and the Tee Set (who would later make the U.S. Top Five with "Ma Belle Amie") before joining the post-Stevie Winwood lineup of the Spencer Davis Group in the late '60s. There were also stints in the Guitar Orchestra with future Procol Harum lead guitarist Mick Grabham; Fancy, who had two Top 20 hits in the U.S. in 1974; the Ian Gillan Band; and, in the 1980s, Forcefield, which also featured Jan Akkerman and Cozy Powell. Fenwick also did a lot of work as a sessionman and producer. And, finally, he made one solo album in 1971, Keep America Beautiful, Get a Haircut, a run-of-the-mill mix of the era's popular hard rock/progressive-rock styles. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
He returned to sessions and then featured on former Rainbowvocalist, Graham Bonnet's album, Here Comes the Night in 1991. In 2003 Fenwick recorded and toured with Yes guitarist Steve Howe as part of his band Steve Howe's Remedy. He appears on the live concertDVD of Steve Howe's Remedy Elements, having produced the scores for the entire band. He also co-wrote the theme music to the 1970s cult TV showMagpie. Fenwick produced Jo Jo Laine's girl group single "When The Boy's Happy" on Mercury Records under the name Jo Jo Laine & The Firm. He was also in the group Fancy who had the hits "Touch Me" and a cover of Chip Taylor's "Wild Thing". In July 1972, he played guitar on a number of the tracks for Bo Diddley's Chess Records album The London Bo Diddley Sessions. He also was a member of the band Forcefield (1987 - 1989) along with Tony Martin (Black Sabbath), Cozy Powell (Rainbow) and Neil Murray (Whitesnake).
