
An Interview with Toni Baker of The Dakotas
1 What was it about music that first interested you in wanting to get into music?
When I was around 13,one of the 6th formers at school gave an "Illustrated talk on Rhythm & Blues" one wet lunchtime. I was introduced to the sound of people like Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Tommy Tucker etc, and from that moment I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life!
2 You have been working over the years as a session musician who have you worked with and do you have any favorites?
Billy Ocean, Sheena Easton, Denis Waterman, The Dooleys & Lisa Stansfield are probably the most famous. I'd have to say Billy Ocean was the most amazing singer I've ever been in a studio with - he taught me more about production & getting the perfect "vocal performance" than anyone since!
3 You are a long standing member of The Dakotas how did you become a member?
I'd known Mike Maxfield for many years - we did sessionwork & jingles together- then when the Dakotas got restarted & wanted to move up into a bigger league, he asked me if I'd like the role of keyboard player!
4 You have worked with Peter Kaye with music how did that happen?
Peter got hold of me thru an ad in loot for piano teaching! He wanted to learn to play "Dancing Queen" at his wedding - we got on like a house on fire, but he became too busy to learn - and invited me to co-write all the music with him for his live shows & TV series! Fantastic!
5 You and The Dakotas appeared in an 80's party on Peter Kayes Max and Paddy show, what was that like to shoot?
Like all TV stuff, it was a L-O-N-G day!
We got to play a few songs dressed as 80s characters - Boy George, Dexie, George Michael & Stee Strange! Great outfits & make-up. Then we got to back Peter Kay on "I Guess Why They Call it the Blues" too!
6 Recently Eddie Mooney left to join The Fortunes and Paul Rafferty took his place, what is it like to work with a new singer in the band?
Funny thing is, I'd known Paul for about 25 years as a great vocalist/song-writer/piano player - but never knew he played bass too! Weird! so .... when I found out I asked him if he fancied the gig & he loved the idea .... so to answer your question - EASY PEASY!!
7 What's your plans for The Dakotas for the rest of 2008?
a We need to re-establish ourselves, learn LOTS of new material - the old act was getting a bit tired - & show the audiences we are as good as ever!
8 What main projects are you working on at present?
At the moment, I'm recording/producing an 18 year old girl singer called January (after the Pilot song!) She is absolutely amazing. She responds to every vocal technique I suggest to her. She has an amazing array of vocal styles for one so young & an incredible range... check her out on
www.myspace.com/januaryukI'm also working as musical advisor & routining the kids in TV series "Waterloo Road".
9 The Dakotas over the last three years have been played on my show The Mix at The Zone, will we be hearing new recorded covers and any plans to make new songs?
ABSOLUTELY! We've already done a recording of "She" - the Charles Aznavour ( and Elvis Costello) classic on our myspace! (
www.myspace.com/thedakotas)10 Anything else you would like to tell the readers?
Keep coming to the gigs - without you, there wouldn't BE any gigs! And bring the kids too!
Thanks Toni.
Cheers wayne - catch you soon
Tonil

I began singing at age 11. At age 15, I was impressed by Ritchie Valens, I formed my first band and started recording at age 16. I played at my high school, record hops and at colleges in the LA area.
I was a big fan of the Beatles because of the music they wrote and how different their records sounded. I was also impressed with the excitement the Rolling Stones could generate.
In America I was impressed with the depth BB King’s music affected me, and of course Ray Charles.
I didn’t become a member of the Walker brothers, I formed the Walker Brothers.
Make It Easy On Yourself because of its lyric content, Stay With Me Baby, because of its Drama!
Just For You was a challenge, I hold myself to a very high standard. Each recording represents the best of my ability at the time. Even though I do not have the luxury of arrangers, producers, large orchestras and the latest exotic studio equipment, I believe my writing, and recording standards are valid.
I love to tour. It’s how I started, playing live is a part of my life.
I’m never sure of my tour schedule.
One never knows what the future will bring.
I can’t answer that one, I doubt it, but who knows.
If I didn’t have ambitions, I would have given up a long time ago. I have a lot more to accomplish and I have only started. There are too many things I wish to complete before I decide to call it day.

2 You have brought out one solo album at present do have any plans to work on another?
3 I really enjoyed the album's you made with James Lee Stanley, do you have any plans to record together again?
4 On "Stranger things have happened" both Micky Dolenz and Mike Nesmith featured on the song Milkshake, how did this happen?
5 The Media over the years have not always been kind in their words about Monkees reunions and recordings, does that effect you?
6 I saw SSB in Winchester, England in Feb 2007 and to honest it was because you were there.But after the show I was very impressed with the band and bought Cambria Hotel which is a great album which I play on The Zone a lot.Are there any plans to return for another UK tour?
7 How did SSB form?
8 Do you still get a buzz from recording and touring?
9 It's because SSB and The Yardbirds that I've now got more of an interest in the blues , how did you first get into blues music?
10 There's a campaign on the net to get The Monkees into The Rock n Roll Hall of fame started by Monkees fans and from what I hear only one person from the RnR hall is stopping this from happening, how do you feel about the campaign?
11Here's a question that you have never heard before (Laughing) could a Monkees reunion and album ever happen again?
12 Headquarters is one of the best Monkees albums when the band really became a band, why didn't they carry on working together as a band?
13 Are there any plans to bring out a DVD of SSB in concert?
14 Where would you like to take SSB next musically?
15 Do you still have ambitions you want to work on?
Richard Mikuls
1 Richard what was it that first interested you in singing and music?
My parents played records constantly when I was a child. They bought and listened to everything from jazz, blues, classical and pop music of the day. This was of course in the 1950's.
2 You have worked with some big names in music which acts did you most enjoy working with?
I have pretty much enjoyed working with all of them. I learned everything I know about music and life from other musicians. Could this be a good thing?
I really learned how to play rhythm guitar from Ike Turner and Tony Maiden. Until I met them, I was pretty much a guy who took solos and didn't play much rhythm.
If I had to pick one artist or group - I would say Rufus (featuring) Chaka Khan. The level of musicianship was very high and most importantly, I have remained close friends with most of them for 30 years.
3 What genes of music do you most enjoy playing?
I like playing all styles of music. By definition, my job as a professional sideman is to be well rounded in all styles. When I have the luxury of playing what I want, it's usually The Blues!
4 Do you have any plans to return to the recording studio to work on solo projects?
Yes! I am slowly putting together a tribute to Jimmy Reed. I'm doing 10 or 12 of my favorite JR songs out of around 40 that I have been recording for the last 7 or 8 years. I'm also writing some new stuff for another solo project.
5 How did you become a member of SSB?
I was brought in as a sub in late 2000, by my childhood friend Tadg Galleran (former harmonica and keyboard player). I joined the band officially in early 2001.
6 Last year you recorded the album Cambria Hotel with SSB, when you first started work on it did you have an idea of how you all wanted the album to develop?
Actually, John Palmer (former drummer) had some great basic ideas for the album and out of those ideas we developed the whole concept. It was important that we show the band has it's own style and that we are not a just a cover band with a guy from the Monkees in it.
Peter and I worked a very long time in post production on Cambria. Looking back, it's more of a Peter/Richard project than anything else.
7 How do Monkees fans react to SSB's own interests and styles of music?
For the most part we win their hearts. Whether they're Monkee fans, or haters, they usually like SSB in the end and are happy with the 5 Monkee numbers we do in our show. I think it's the whole spirit of the thing that comes across. We just try to have a good time with it.
8 What do you enjoy the most about touring and performing?
When we (SSB) are all together in the van, on the road, it's nonstop comedy time. We laugh our way from town to town, show to show. I think that comes through on stage too, as long as no one is injured, or maimed like I was on our last trip to the UK.
It's all about taking the stage and playing the songs.
9 Where would you like to see SSB go next as far as the bands recordings and projects?
Peter and I are writing some stuff for the next album and what the concept is or will be, we don't know yet. We'll just see where the songs take us.
Other than that, we wait for the phones to ring. Where's the show?
Thank you to both Richard and Peter.
Check out their Official website
SSB Myspace page
Richard's Myspace
I was one of the original founder members
we knew we were starting to get popular by the amount of the people that started to turn up at the gigs and follow the band
in order of preference LOOK THROUGH ANY WINDOW , IM ALIVE, I CANT LET GO
I formed my own band called Eric Haydock’s ROCK HOUSE
We have put a new set together, with some of the favourites that we did with THE CLASS OF 64 and some new material, including THE LOVE AFFAIR hits which are very challenging for a bass player
The minute we got together again to rehearse, the fun started and musically we just work off each other so well,
we are always on the look out for new material, and as Ted said before, graham is busy writing original material
ROCK HOUSE had a few releases CUPID MIX FIX I was also a guest on THE COMMITMENTS album TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN
THE MONEY no really it’s the buzz that we get from the audience, they have become like a family, and it’s great when we see everyone at the gigs
keep coming to the gigs, the new CD will be finished soon, check out the new show, it’s fantastic
Will Lee is one of the world’s most sought-after session musicians; he has a musical resume that most musicians can only dream of. Throughout his 30 year career he has toured and recorded with the who’s who of the music industry, Sir Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Junior, Barry Manilow, Bee Gees, Cat Stevens, Ricky Martin, Mahria Carey to name but a few. But most people especially Americans will recognize Will Lee for his nightly appearances on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman,’ because Will holds the distinction of playing with Paul Shaffer longer than any other member of the CBS Orchestra.
Lee’s musical intelligence led him to master several instruments, and provides backup vocals even though bass is the instrument he his renewed for.
Q: What was it like growing up in Texas and what kind of music did you listen to back then?
Will Lee: It was cool for me because my Dad and Mom were jazz musicians, so I was exposed to a lot of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderly, Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson. Also, Dad, a great jazz pianist played constantly and Mom would sing around the house and with Dad. Texas was a place of Country music and early Rock and Roll and Baptist church music-a special kind of Gospel. My parents weren't that into it, but my ears were wide open. I was a little wierd- I used to go out in the yard and sing, pacing slowly & dreamily as if I was doing a video or appearing on TV, crooning my little brains out.
Q: How old were you when you discovered you had a musical ability, and what was the first instrument you learned to play?
Wil Lee: I never realized I had any special ability, but I knew I loved the act of trying to make the sounds. I think I had drums first, but my parents sent me to a piano lesson once, which I hated. That was purely and simply because of the teacher's personality. Just like any other subject you're taught, the teacher's attitude can really get you interested in something, or make you wanna bail out altogether!
Q: Where you in bands at school?
Will Lee: Once the Beatles hit, I was off to the races. I was always in at least one or more bands from then on. Scholastically, I was playing trumpet in school for a lot of years, then switched to French Horn, just before college.
Q: Your mother was a singer, what was her reaction when you told her music was all you wanted to do?
Will Lee: She never discouraged me about that. It was kind of subtle how it happened slowly over many years. What started out as a fun, challenging thing to do just kept going and getting more fun and challenging. I never thought twice about 'what to become'.
You have received many awards for being a great bass player (congratulations, it’s well deserved); how old where you when you decided that you where going to make the bass guitar your main instrument?
Will Lee: It's funny-I don't know who's voting, but it ain't me. I'd definitely not vote to have me on the list of greats-there are too many! My decision was made fairly unwittingly, as we (our band of 13-year-olds, The Chances R) were looking for a bassist and couldn't find anyone amongst our age group, so I volunteered!
Q: At what age did you turn professional, and who was it on the music circuit that noticed you had something special to make it within the industry? When did you decide to move to New York?
Will Lee: I had done my first pay music gig at age 12 for six dollars a man, so I guess that's professional, right? Greed must have set in early on, because after that I kept looking to get paid for playing! In our lives we encounter any number of 'angels' that look out for us. There has always been a great deal of support in my direction. I think I may have generated some of it with my enthusiasm, but there was much unwarranted love that came my way. Here's the story about coming to NYC: I was in college in Miami, studying jazz by day and playing rock gigs by night. A band named 'Dreams' was causing a big commotion because of a Columbia LP they had cut under the same name. I and all my Miami muso friends were heavy into this stuff. Out of the blue I get a call one day to come to New York and audition for this band! Those cats didn't realize how into their music I was. Once I got to the audition, I was floating through the process. It was like a dream (no pun intended). I got the gig and never looked back-that was 1971. I was 18.
Q: How did you get involved with session work?
Will Lee: Here's where the angels took over: Dreams was not able to stay afloat past the 2nd album, so the band was folding (everybody on good terms) but I basically had all my eggs in one basket with really no firm grip on the NY scene. I was ready to purchase a one-way ticket back to Miami. However, 2 of the cats who had played with Dreams said to me 'You're not going back to Florida. We're gonna put you up and get you work.' Sure enough, that's exactly what happened. They were heavily connected in the music scene. Their names? Bob Mann & Alan Schwartzberg. Thanks again, my friends!
Q: What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Will Lee: Hard to say. I have so many great moments. Meeting Paul Shaffer, playing Live Aid, playing each year with the inductees as they go into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, writing with my hero Brazilian artist Ivan Lins, getting a lifetime achievement award from Bass Player magazine, playing with George Harrison at Royal Albert Hall, McCartney at The Concert For NYC, having The Fab Faux do well, marrying Sandrine (my wife). It sounds crazy but one of the things that I'll never get over is having my name be listed amongst the greats on the back of The Cavern Club's official t-shirt!!!
Q: You’re the most long-standing member of the world famous CBS orchestra, (from the David Letterman show,) how did you become involved with the CBS/David Letterman show?
Will Lee: It started when the show began at NBC in 1982. I was working with Paul Shaffer on lots of records (Cher, Barry Manilow, my band 'The 24th Street Band', etc.) and we were hanging out a lot as friends. He came to me and said he was bandleader on a new comedy/music/talk show with David Letterman and he wanted the band to play instrumental Motown, James Brown and Beatles as the music for the show and would I be interested in 13 weeks of solid work. Thirteen weeks? I was thrilled to get that much steady work. That sounded like an eternity! Anyway, that was about 25 years ago and it's still going strong.
Q: What is it about the Letterman show you love?
Will Lee: Playing with live musicians, of course, but being able to watch a fun TV show (from the Ed Sullivan Theatre*HELLO*) while doing it is a gas-and-a-half!
Q: Which do you prefer, playing live or studio work?
Will Lee: Each one is great for it's own reasons and benefits the other. I dig playing live because you're performing in front of an audience that's giving you constant feedback. The vibe is strong because of the energy between you and the audience. This gives you something special to bring to the studio, because of all that accumulated inspiration you get from the audience. However, the studio is a much more controlled environment where you can really tweak your sound and perfect your parts while you're in there, and that kind of focus you can't get on stage. Overall, live performance is the most fun!
Q: You’ve worked with some of the biggest legends in showbiz, which sessions have stood out the most for you, and which artist was the most inspiring to work with?
Will Lee: That's a hard one. D'Angelo was fun. Chaka Khan, Phoebe Snow. Having played with (not all 4 guys at the same time) John, Paul, George and Ringo is a blessing. Some of the studio experiences can be quite a calculated effort, so I had would have to say, because of how much fun it is to play live, that maybe playing on Letterman with James Brown was a real big standout.
Q: You obviously write your own songs, who or what inspires you to write?
Will Lee: Emotions are the strongest inspiration to me. It's probably easier to state that which is the biggest enemy of writing for me, and that's self-consciousness.
Q: Which make of guitars do you use?
Will Lee: I like a huge variety. I have Fender Jazz basses, Sadowskys, Pedullah fretlesses. Of course for Beatles music, you have to use Hofner and Rickenbacker, with the occasional Fender VI (six-string guitar with strings an octave lower than normal) and 1966 Fender Jazz bass for some of the songs from the White Album!
Q: One of my favourite records which your featured on is ‘She Bangs’ by Ricky Martin, were you sing 2nd vocal. Can you tell us the story of how the recording came about?
Will Lee: I was called in to sing background vocals, along with some other professional studio singers. After we were done, the producer Walter Afanasieff asked if I would stay around and double the melody. If you listen to that record, you hear a lot of my voice!
Q: One of my favourite records which your featured on is ‘She Bangs’ by Ricky Martin, were you sing 2nd vocal. Can you tell us the story of how the recording came about?
Will Lee: I was called in to sing background vocals, along with some other professional studio singers. After we were done, the producer Walter Afanasieff asked if I would stay around and double the melody. If you listen to that record, you hear a lot of my voice!
Q: How does it make you feel, knowing that your style, techniques, have influenced other artist over the years?
Will Lee: I'm not sure that's true, but I am the same way-I listen to everybody!
Q: Sir Paul McCartney, recently included you among his favourite bassists, how did it feel?
Will Lee: It's more than a great honor to have someone who is that high-up on the influential scale acknowledge your musicianship-it's hard to describe in words, really.
Q: What tips can you give to other up and coming artist, wanting to make it in the music industry, esp. in New York City?
Will Lee: From my own experience I can only say, put your soul into what you are doing, and the rewards begin immediately. By that I mean that the satisfaction of playing is instantaneous, in real time. If you are sincere in your love for what you are doing, I find that it's contageous and people just want more! It doesn't hurt to be in a creative career in a city where culture really thrives. I often imaging being on a farm in Iowa, where the farmer is banging on the door at 4 AM, shouting 'GET UP, BOY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVERSLEEPING?' I would say, 'But sir, I play bass real good.' His reply would be, 'HUH? SHUT THE HELL UP AND GRAB A PITCHFORK. YOU GOT WORK TO DO!!'. Being in a city like New York alleviates all that kinda dialogue!
Q: What kind of venues do you play and where can people/fans come and see you?
Will Lee: I play all over. I love playing live and do it often at small places in NYC with people like Chris Parker in his 'Toph-e and The Pussycats' group, or with the Oz Noy trio, or Terry Silverlight's group. Check my homepage www.willlee.com for stuff.
Q: What are your opinions of the music industry of today?
Will Lee: It's changed so much over the years and is still changing rapidly. Don't follow trends. There's too much good stuff out there. Look around, hear samples of music on iTunes for example & checkout different kinds of stuff. Do random searches & surprise yourself. Decide on your own what you like. It's a drag that corporations would dictate what kids listen to, but that's what happens to music these days.
Q: Describe Will Lee’s career to us:
Will Lee: My career is a series of lucky accidents mixed with wrong turns, which led to surprises around every corner, driven by a passionate love for music and nurtured by hard work!
I’d like to thank Will Lee for talking the time out of his busy schedule to talk to me.
Jo Rishton First posted on (The Beat Goes On and On)
Gramham Pollock former member of Cavern, The Class of 64 and now with The Hitmen/Legends of the Sixties
Picture coming soon.
Cavern was the band that myself, Gary Gibson, John Ward, and big Andy, formed in 1979, we even, briefly had Pete Barton, singer of the Animals and friends on bass when John left.
We got a record deal and released two singles, "No Reason to Cry", and then "It Might As Well Rain Until September". We drifted apart in the mid eighties but I still occasionally work with Gary, who is doing really well.
The reason I got into music was the fault of John, Paul George, and Ringo, its their fault. And for the record I don’t really play piano, I know I do on stage but not well.
I went to a meeting in a pub in Clitheroe with Pete Barton and two other guys, with the intention of forming a new band, and as me and Pete had been working with" Wayne Fontana", it would have been something like "The New Mindbenders", but when I went to the toilet I was followed by a furtive Pete Barton, who told me he`d met "The Hollies" bass player, Eric Haydock, he couldn`t mention in front of the other guys as they weren`t` to be involved, as it happened one of them did get involved, Pete Hughes, so a few days later me and the two Petes went over to Stockport to Erics music shop and met him.
We formed a band called, believed it or not, "The New Mindbenders, featuring Eric Haydock", hows that for clutching at tenuous names. We then became "Eric Haydocks Hollies", then, after our first court order "Eric Haydocks X Hollies", we carried on till 2004 and one day Eric called me and asked if I would be interested in doing a one off 50 date tour with Chip Hawkes, Mick Avery, Eric, me, and Telecaster Ted Tomlin, supporting the "Animals", on their fortieth anniversary tour. Of course I jumped at the offer. The tour was fantastic, we made lots of friends and decided to carry on. We had a great three years, I loved it.
I then joined "Hermans Hermits", which really didn`t work out, Ted rung me and offered me the chancein the new band "Legends of The 60s", so I said yes please.
I have sent Ted a couple of my songs and he said he liked them so hopefully we might do some original stuff. We used to do one of Chips songs in the `64, set and it always went brilliantly.
I write and record all the time its like my day job. I have lots of finished tracks, its just coming up with a great one.
We haven’t done anything yet, but we are getting together soon to record a new C,D, and our first gig is in November, which I'm` really looking forward to. I do enjoy working and socialising with the boys, I haven’t worked with Martin yet but the reports are all good so I hope he likes me.
My ambition is to get one of my own songs in the charts, not by me, but by some young band or anybody. That would be my dream.
I think I`ve said enough good and thank you.
Thanks Graham
Interviewed by Wayne AdderleyTelecaster Ted Tomlin

1 Who are The Legends of the 60's?
The legends of the sixties,are Mick Avory from THE KINKS on drums, Eric Haydock founder member of THE HOLLIES on bass, Martin Lyon from LOVE AFFAIR vocals,