About Me

Name

Dickie Hodges

This is not so much about my musical influences, there have been too many, but more of an account of the different styles and genres I’ve enjoyed over the years. Music has a habit of tying one down to a specific place in time.  

My very first taste of performing and “stardom?” was at the grand old age of ten in primary school. My mates and I performed “you really got me” by the Kinks to our class, singing along with the record using plastic toy guitars and biscuit tins for drums! Even then I remember it being a fantastic Buzz. A sign of things to come perhaps.

My interest in music began around the same time. I was force fed at home on non stop Beatles, by my darling sister, who listened to nothing else. In those days it was either the Beatles or the Stones, never both! Whilst I have found all sorts of music in the years since, I have always retained my love of anything by Lennon and McCartney, Harrison and even Ringo had his moments. As for singing their songs? Hmm that’s a big ask. Although the Mersey sound seemed to dominate at that time I would always try and get my Sis to buy each new release by the Hollies; Allan Clarke is a top singer. Another big favourite of mine was “the Small Faces,” All or Nothing is still one of my all time favourite songs.

The next stage of my musical education, if my memory serves me, was in my early teens and what a great time that was. The youth clubs where I lived were vibrant places and the music of the day, circa 1968, was fantastic. The girls danced, and the lads watched, to the sounds of Tamla Mowtown, the Stax and Atlantic labels. Bands and singers that have still to be surpassed today in my opinion. My favourite during that time was without doubt Otis Redding. A bit of trivia for you; the name of his backing band? Without a doubt it was Otis Redding who first got me interested in singing. His music prompted me to buy my first disc; “Otis Redding sings the Blues” a vinyl LP in mono no less, that included classics like “Change Is Gonna Come, Respect, My Girl, Mr Pitiful” and a wonderful cover of the Stones hit “Satisfaction.” I still have the sleeve, but alas not the vinyl. Many happy hours spent singing into a hair brush.

By the age of sixteen (1970) the swinging sixties was done and me and my mates decided it was time we had our own group. Now being the youngest I only got to choose my role in the band after everyone else and all that was left for me was a job as roadie!! I always told people I was a Sound Engineer, and although it made me feel more important, I always longed to be the Singer.

My musical taste changed again as I started listening to the likes of Cream, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash. I was also really into Cat Stevens during that period and I still have all his albums on vinyl. Oh and I still listened to the Beatles, as individuals of course. The first half of the seventies was a strange time for music, glam-rock came and went, Rod Stewart, Elton John, and Bowie etc became the superstars. I found myself listening to the likes of Yes, Fairport, The Strawbs, although I have to say that didn’t last too long.

I hit the musical wall in the late seventies and early eighties; I just hated the punk era. Not the sort of music for a wanna be singer! There were some great exceptions of course, so I consoled myself with The Police, Weller, and Chrissie Hynde etc.

At last, in 1985 I got my chance. My life long best mate and work colleague Doc, who played bass in the first band and still “slaps a good string” in the band today, suggested we form a band for a “One off gig” and I was to be the singer. Oh what joy. This totally changed my listening habits as I now found myself listening to everything and anything in trying to find good songs for the band to cover. I would listen to anything; from Tina Turner to Dire Straits.

With the band’s longevity that is how it’s been ever since really, with one big exception. I got introduced to the one genre I had never really listened to before and that was Country Music. I watched a Garth Brooks concert on television in about 1999 and totally fell in love with it. For a singer it is absolute heaven. I have to sing it in the bedroom though, cuz the guys in the band will never cover it! So today my first choice for listening and singing is always the likes of Garth, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney and more.

Otis Redding backing band? Booker T and The MG’s.