The Blues Band

The Blues Band was formed in 1979 in England by Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, and Hughie Flint, joined later by Dave Kelly and Gary Fletcher. Paul Jones, former lead singer of Manfred Mann, brought experience in blues and rock, while Tom McGuinness had played with McGuinness Flint; the new group focused on rhythm‑and‑blues in London pubs. Their breakthrough came with the self‑released Official Blues Band Bootleg Album, a mix of standards and originals such as "Come On In" and "Flatfoot Sam", which gained a following before Arista Records signed them and released the album officially in 1980; it entered the UK charts on 8 March 1980, peaking at number 40. The band followed with Ready (1980), Itchy Feet (1981), and These Kind Of Blues (1986), among others, consistently touring Europe and the UK. After drummer Hughie Flint left in 1982, Rob Townsend joined, and the group released Back For More (1989) and Fat City (1991). In 2006 they issued Thank You Brother Ray, a tribute to Ray  Charles. The Blues Band has remained active for over forty years, producing more than 20 albums and maintaining a steady presence on stage and in recordings, with several releases achieving chart positions and sustaining a dedicated fan base.