Rollo
Rollo Radford, Bassist, Singer-Songwriter - began his professional career at the age of 19 when the legendary jazz vocalist, Dinah Washington, gave him his start. He then served in the Army and upon returning joined with the very popular Top 40's sensation, Martha and the Vandellas.
As part of the highly regarded Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Mr. Radford has performed with various world-renowned jazz ensembles. He was a member of the Siegel-Schwall Band recording 7 of their 12 albums on RCA, Alligator, and Deutsche Grammophon Records, and frequently performed at rock palaces such as Bill Graham's legendary Fillmore West.
Touring with Siegel-Schwall on their recent Reunion Concert Tour, he has performed in Lisbon, Portugal with the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra where Siegel-Schwall were guest soloists, at the Smithsonian Institute,and this season is highlighted with a tour of the Carribbean.
Mr. Radford's televised performances include many appearances on NBC TV's rock show hit, Midnight Special with the great soul singer Walter Jackson, with blues legend Muddy Waters on the show Soundstage, and on Great Performances, with Siegel-Schwall, Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Symphony, and with rock and roll legend Chuck Berry. His latest TV appearance was with Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues on the ABC-TV series Missing Persons performing a piece of his own composition "Train".
Rollo provided superb backing and light-hearted lyricism to Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues when he appeared as guest soloist. He recorded his wild song “Train” on the third Chamber Blues release "Traveling Chamber Blues Show" on Alligator Records, which proved to be one of the most popular selections on the critically acclaimed CD.
Mr. Radford has toured around the globe with the innovative jazz master, Sun Ra, playing the great halls of the world such as Carnegie Hall, and appearances at the renowned jazz and music festivals in Japan, Russia, and Europe. Rollo is featured in a documentary film on Sun Ra titled: "Mystery, Mr. Ra". Mr. Radford has lived in New Orleans for nearly 4 years where he performed with June Gardener (Sam Cook's drummer), the Neville Brothers, and many great performers on Bourbon Street.
Mr. Radford has a teaching degree and accreditation for teaching the behavior disordered students, and for a while divided his time between performances and teaching troubled youths in Chicago schools.
A 50 year friendship of creative collaborations with Siegel-Schwall, Symphonic Blues, and now Chamber Blues, Rollo as always on hand to join Corky to continue to delight and surprise audiences everywhere. After seeing a performance by Rollo Radford, he leaves little wonder why he had been invited to tour the globe with such luminaries mentioned previously; Martha and the Vandellas, The Sun Ra Arkestra, and Dinah Washington. √