The Housey Hotspots, etc

Anything that doesn't fit anywhere else, but that's still CH related.

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
William
3rd Former
Posts: 46
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:59 pm
Real Name: William Devons

The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by William »

Before it’s too late, are there any recollections of the Housey Hotspots, a boys’ jazz band at Horsham in the 1950s? I can only remember them vaguely and they have hardly been mentioned in this Forum. John Austen (Th A) led them. They gave a few concerts and probably played at one grecians’ dance (fixture vs St Catherine’s School, Bramley) held in the Dominions’ Library. John Austen was either a saxophonist or (more likely) a trumpeter, for John Saunders says he played the trumpet and he (Saunders) also was a trumpet exponent. Has there been such a band at CH since the 50s?

I recollect an American professional pop musician was at CH, as a musician in residence and teaching for a while some years ago (Gene Simmons?) and as a result a short film about his stay there was produced. Did a lasting pop music band also result from this?
User avatar
J.R.
Forum Moderator
Posts: 15835
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 4:53 pm
Real Name: John Rutley
Location: Dorking, Surrey

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by J.R. »

I don't recall the jazz band of the 50's.

The Gene Simmons story is certainly true. It was televised and a OB who used to be a regular contributor on here was prominent in the production. He is now a member of The Cloth.

I don't think any pop band resulted.
John Rutley. Prep B & Coleridge B. 1958-1963.
theosteel
2nd Former
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat May 05, 2012 9:14 am
Real Name: theo steel

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by theosteel »

When I read of the dance being referred to as a "fixture" I recall that they were presented in the school calendar as such rather like cricket matches. The memory brought a wry smile to my face and sweet memories!! Horsham High school and swapping the i for the o etc.
User avatar
jtaylor
Forum Administrator
Posts: 1880
Joined: Sat Jun 05, 2004 12:32 am
Real Name: Julian Taylor
Location: Wantage, OXON
Contact:

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by jtaylor »

Julian Taylor-Gadd
Leigh Hunt 1985-1992
Image
Founder of The Unofficial CH Forum
https://www.grovegeeks.co.uk - IT Support and website design for home, small businesses and charities.
User avatar
jhopgood
Button Grecian
Posts: 1884
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:26 pm
Real Name: John Hopgood
Location: Benimeli, Alicante

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by jhopgood »

There is a letter in the Lent 1994 Blue from Brian Stanley (Mid A 46 - 52), which mentions the Housey Hotspots. There is obviously a photo of them in a previous Blue, since he names some of them, Perry, (Col A) on saxophone, Austin (Th B), Bill Butler on drums and Nick Hull on French Horn.
Unfortunately I don’t have the previous Blue with the photograph, but apart from the School, maybe someone else does.
Barnes B 25 (59 - 66)
User avatar
Great Plum
Button Grecian
Posts: 5282
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:59 am
Real Name: Matt Holdsworth
Location: Reigate

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by Great Plum »

jtaylor wrote: Thu Aug 20, 2020 2:32 pm Rock School Series 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCae9R0HKHc
Video diaries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Q-96pst8M
It should be noted that Josh (aka the Emperor) who was the lead singer of the band is now Father Joshua Bell and is a curate in Kings Lynn!
Maine B - 1992-95 Maine A 1995-99
User avatar
J.R.
Forum Moderator
Posts: 15835
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 4:53 pm
Real Name: John Rutley
Location: Dorking, Surrey

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by J.R. »

Great Plum wrote: Sat Aug 22, 2020 12:25 pm
jtaylor wrote: Thu Aug 20, 2020 2:32 pm Rock School Series 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCae9R0HKHc
Video diaries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Q-96pst8M
It should be noted that Josh (aka the Emperor) who was the lead singer of the band is now Father Joshua Bell and is a curate in Kings Lynn!
Josh is member of CH OB's Official Forum.
John Rutley. Prep B & Coleridge B. 1958-1963.
wurzel
Deputy Grecian
Posts: 393
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2007 1:59 pm
Real Name: Ian
Location: Reading

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by wurzel »

I beleive my Great Grandfather had some links with a band at CH around that time, he was a lab tech working with Kirby and also a Trumpeter (i have his silver cornet) having played in the GE Works band in Rugby pre moving to CH. His name was Laurie Sutherland. I know somewhere there was a photo of him with a bunch of pupils carrying instruments in front of the big lead water tank by the science school
Martin Chuzzletits
2nd Former
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 1:53 pm
Real Name: Kevin Chuzzletits

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by Martin Chuzzletits »

William wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2020 12:57 pm Before it’s too late, are there any recollections of the Housey Hotspots, a boys’ jazz band at Horsham in the 1950s? ..... Has there been such a band at CH since the 50s?
In the mid-to-late 1970s - and, for all I know, into the 1980s too - there was the so-called Dance Band, which I recall as a sort of swing/trad jazz outfit, possibly with a piano thrown in, though I may be wrong about that. Did they once play at Ronnie Scott's? Possibly they did. Were they any good? Personally I felt that the playing was rather wooden and generally lacking in fluidity, which perhaps reflected the formality of the players' training in the school band. And of course the players didn't have the freedom to improvise; they just knocked out swing/jazz standards by numbers. Whether they got bottled off at Ronnie Scott's, I have no idea.
Last edited by Martin Chuzzletits on Wed Aug 26, 2020 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
jhopgood
Button Grecian
Posts: 1884
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:26 pm
Real Name: John Hopgood
Location: Benimeli, Alicante

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by jhopgood »

Michael “Joe” Froggatt, (Pe B), a direct contemporary of mine as we went to junior school and CH together, formed the Jabberwocks, who played traditional Jazz. Froggatt was on the Euphonium, Noel Abel on trombone (he later went on to become a distinguished bass trombonist with top symphony orchestras), I believe Willie Watson was on clarinet, but my memory runs out there. Those mentioned were all in Peele B and the band performed in 1965/66 at least.
Barnes B 25 (59 - 66)
User avatar
Mid A 15
Button Grecian
Posts: 3172
Joined: Thu May 19, 2005 1:38 pm
Real Name: Claude Rains
Location: The Patio Of England (Kent)

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by Mid A 15 »

jhopgood wrote: Wed Aug 26, 2020 9:23 am Michael “Joe” Froggatt, (Pe B), a direct contemporary of mine as we went to junior school and CH together, formed the Jabberwocks, who played traditional Jazz. Froggatt was on the Euphonium, Noel Abel on trombone (he later went on to become a distinguished bass trombonist with top symphony orchestras), I believe Willie Watson was on clarinet, but my memory runs out there. Those mentioned were all in Peele B and the band performed in 1965/66 at least.
1965/66 was my first year and I remember watching them in Big School on one occasion and thinking how good they were. I also recall, knowing that the members would be leaving CH imminently, thinking what a shame that such a talented band would break up so soon.
Ma A, Mid A 65 -72
rockfreak
Grecian
Posts: 972
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:31 pm
Real Name: David Redshaw
Location: Saltdean, East Sussex

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by rockfreak »

At around 1957/58 there was a traditional (ie New Orleans style) jazz band that I remember playing to a packed house in Big School. I seem to remember they played Tiger Rag (was that Louis Armstrong?). Of the personnel all I remember was Dai Twitchen (Maine A?) on piano. It went down a storm. Made a change from the usual repertoire on offer at the school, ie hymns and classical music.
Goatherd
LE (Little Erasmus)
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:53 pm
Real Name: Bill Harwood
Location: France

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by Goatherd »

I think Willie Watson played the trumpet.
Goatherd
User avatar
jhopgood
Button Grecian
Posts: 1884
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:26 pm
Real Name: John Hopgood
Location: Benimeli, Alicante

Re: The Housey Hotspots, etc

Post by jhopgood »

Goatherd wrote: Thu Aug 27, 2020 4:29 pm I think Willie Watson played the trumpet.
Probably correct. Can’t remember clarinet nor percussion.
Barnes B 25 (59 - 66)
Post Reply