Roger started playing bass at the age of 12, accompanying Gospel
singers at church where his mother sent him (just to get him out of the house|)
This meant following singers who didn't always stay in the same key, and who
frequently took the music in unpredictable directions. As a result, Roger
developed versatility and the ability to improvise. His early influences were
Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple and The Rolling Stones. He is completely self-taught.
Most of his time is spent touring, gigging and recording. He thoroughly enjoys
and attaches great importance to delivering workshops for colleges and music
schools, as well as giving private lessons and encouraging new talent.
Roger is greatly inspired by the work of other creative people, including actors and artists. This has led him to become involved in theatre productions, music technology and the design of his own equipment. He is consistently involved in new live music venues, having played recently on a regular basis at Ronnie Scott's (Birmingham), The Fiddler & Bone, and The Jam House (launched by Jools Holland). Roger plays in a wide variety of musical institutions and is currently working on his own projects involving original compositions.
His credits include TV & Radio: "Top of the Pops", "Live at the Paladium", "Pebble Mill", Central TV Sessions, "John Peel", "Jazz Parade", "Paul Jones' Blues Programme", recording sessions for Radio 1,2&4.
He has produced and recorded with Black Voices; sessions on albums with numerous artists. His theatre credits include "Billie Holiday" at Emerson's Bar, "Keep On Running" at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, "Sophisticated Lady" at the Limelight Theatre, London, "Face" at Watford Palace Theatre, "St Bartholomew's Fair", Timon off Athens - at Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Roger has appeared with the Climax Blues Band, Steve Gibbons Band, Ruby Turner, Edwin Starr, Elkie Brooks, Errol Brown (Hot Chocolate), Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones), Snowy White (Thin Lizzy & Pink Floyd), Zoot Money (Big Roll Band), Jackie Graham, Mari Wilson, Chaka Khan, Trevor Burton (The Move), Selena Jones, Roger Hill (Chris Barber, Chick Willis, Sherman Robinson, Don Weller, Bobby Wellings, Guy Barker, Reverend Brown, Sara Coleman, Andy Hamilton, Harry Becket, Maggie Nichols, Claude Deppe, Gilly Nichols (Albion Band), Tom Lear (Fairport Convention), Jim Mullen and Dick Morrisey, Adrian Burns, Andy Gutheridge, Geof Simkins, John Ruddick (MYJO), Ben Okafor, to name but a few.....