Song:Hang On To A Dream
Album:The Nice
Most music fans should be familiar with British progrssive rock keyboard player Keith Emerson from the popular group Emerson, Lake & Palmer. But you may not be aware that he led The Nice before that and set the stage for a lot of the progressive rock of the 70s. Emerson was born Nov. 2, 1944 in Todmorden, England. Bassist and lead vocalist Lee Jackson was born Jan. 8, 1943 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. Drummer Brian Davison was born May 25, 1942 in Leicester, England. Guitarist Davy O'List was born Dec. 13, 1948 in Chiswick, England. Emerson had played organ in various bands around London. The Nice was put together by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham as a backup band for singer P.P. Arnold. But The Nice became popular enough on their own that Oldham let them record for his Immediate label. Their music was a combination of psychedlia and jazz riffs. Emerson was a big jazz buff. O'List left The Nice while they were recording their second album and they continued as a trio. The Nice was their third album and was their first album under a US contract with Columbia. It was released in the US as Everything As Nice As Mother Makes It. Castle has released The Nice on CD with bonus live tracks. Just as they were starting to build some momentum in the US, Immediate declared bankruptcy and closed. Of course Keith Emeson went on to a lot of success with Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Lee Jackson formed a band called Jackson Heights and then he and Brian Davison started Refugee with keyboard player Patrick Moraz. When that group split up when Moraz joined Yes, Jackson quit the music business and Davison became a music teacher. He died in 2008. Here's The Nice performing Hang On To A Dream 1969.
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