Gene Anthony and Chris Warman left the band in January 1964; and in March 1964, Don Shinn was added on organ. His strong keyboard work was essential to the band’s sound from then on. The Lonely Ones officially changed its name to the Soul Agents on April 2, 1964. The bandmembers were Tony Good (guitar and harmonica), Johnny Keeping (vocals), Jim Sach (bass guitar). Don Shinn (organ), and Roger Pope (drums).
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February 19, 1965 marked the appearance of the third single (on Pye) by the Soul Agents, “Don’t Break it Up” b/w “Gospel Train”. “Gospel Train” is a terrific instrumental anchored by Don Shinn’s Hammond Organ; the song was written by the band, specifically, Tony Good, Jim Sach, Don Shinn, and Roger Pope.
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In September 1966, the Soul Agents broke up; as reported by Bruno Ceriotti: “Don Shinn went to form his own band The Shinn, Ian Duck joined The MeddyEvils, Pete Hunt joined The Quik, and Dave Glover went to form The Loot (that included another former Soul Agent, Roger Pope).”
In 1969, lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Quaye (vocals, guitar, keyboards) formed a band called Hookfoot with former Soul Agents Ian Duck (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Dave Glover (bass guitar) and Roger Pope (drums). Quaye had previously been in one of the final incarnations of Long John Baldry’s band Bluesology (whose previous members included Elton John when he was still known as Reg Dwight – in fact, the “John” in his stage name is in tribute to Long John Baldry).
The bandmembers in Hookfoot met while working as house musicians at DJM Records, which had also signed Elton John in the same time period. Caleb Quaye and Roger Pope were part of the backing band for Elton John on his debut album, Empty Sky (1969); and everyone in Hookfoot was on hand for his third album, Tumbleweed Junction (1970). In 1972, Hookfoot released an album called Good Times A’ Comin’ on DJM Records (A&M Records in the States).
(May 2014)
