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The London Tijuana Showband
Tribute Pages
The LTSB was the daddy of the London Showband - hugely successful between
the 70s and the 90s.
Follow the links on this page to find out more!
THE LONDON TIJUANA SHOWBAND 1970-1990 :
Written by Paul Ringham in 1990
The London Tijuana Showband was formed in 1970 by Paul Ringham and Martin Bunce whilst they were both at the Guildhall School of Music. Because they were unavailable, the original squad of musicians disappointed many agents and people. They were unable to continue appearing together after individually joining leading orchestras, jazz or pop bands and West End shows. However, original members: Paul Ringham, Martin Bunce, Peter Massey and Clifton Prior occasionally lined up in the band until the very end. The combination of these musicians provided a platform of knowledge and short cuts for Paul to re-form the band.
After Paul Ringham joined the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 1975, the band was back on the road with the help of five explosive colleagues - Barry Latchem, Malcolm Warne-Holland, Peter Hill, Mike Chesters and Clive Brown. Now based in Bournemouth, they commanded the top dances and functions around south England, in addition to cutting their own LP and being heard regularly on BBC Radios 1 & 2. These individuals brought class, experience with their own characteristics into the music as well as the live show, and these influences always remained embedded. Peter Hill's comedy additions will always be remembered in more ways than one! The two youngest and non-orchestral members or this set up, Alan Evans and Nikki Collins were to be an essential link for what was to follow. Alan, in addition to being able to play either bass or lead guitar, added so much strength vocally. Nikki was fulfilling the increasing demand for a girl vocalist coupled with visual glamour. They both blended their experience and talent to form a backbone, following Paul back to the Band's home - London. This was achieved by commuting, sometimes accompanied by guest appearances from the BSO lads. Thus the pool of musicians was constantly expanding.
In 1980, Paul left the BSO to move back to London. This coincided with two of his Bournemouth school pupils, Joe Atkins and Richard Coplan also moving to London to further their music studies and careers, leading to an influx of Royal Academy of Music students joining the squad. This continued until the final stages of the Band's existence. Such musicians as Lance Green, John Hughes and Colin Porteous were discovered and suddenly the Tijuana Band was provided with the most lethal, live combination of enthusiasm, flair, talent and a youthful, disciplined dedication to win.
By 1982, the brakes had to be applied because the band was working on average three times a week, plus trips abroad and this clashed with everyone's individual work and ambitions, not to mention leisure time and loved ones at home. Paul spent that year in the BBC Symphony Orchestra before joining the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1983.
Everything continued from strength to strength, but on a more part-time basis. However, three staggering talents in John Spencer-Sugden, Jerry Dearden and Susan Fazarro provided the correct mixture once again and all gigs were treated individually with revived enthusiasm and freshness, until in 1990 Paul called it a day taking his band out at the top.
"I have spent many months alone, just organising and training my band members over the years. I don't regret a second of it because it has brought maximum fun, and my greatest friends. The demands of touring and volume of my work with the RPO has gradually come to the fore. A change of trend in popular music switching from the instrumentalist to the synthesiser and discos have crept in, and the breathalyser has dampened 50% of party/function attenders."
"Further reorganising my set-up or attempting to follow the commitment, character, professionalism and talent I have been privileged to perform with in my Band is out of the question. I'd like to pay a special tribute to Martin Bunce and John Hughes for their musical arranging and direction, to Joe Atkins continually supporting my right hand side, and for the behind the scenes roles of my ex-wife Gill and present wife Jayne, who will now be able to relax! My proudest memory will be 'We were all at the right place at the right time'".
Cheers,
Paul
