Brian Finch and Kenny Henson were both successful solo artists who first performed together in 1975 in the short-lived band Collinson McBrian along with Colin Pratley and Ramsay MacKay. The band broke up but in 1977 and Finch and Henson formed as a duo.
They released the single “Free and Easy” and the album Playgrounds In Paradise in 1977 and went on to release several more singles and two more albums, High Octane (1978) and At Home In The Dark (1980). T
hey continued to perform together over the years until Kenny Henson’s death in 2007.
Singer songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist Neil Solomon was born and grew up in Durban where he began his musical career.
He formed the Uptown Rhythm Dogs in 1978 with Tony Hunter (on sax, flute, bass, guitar, percussion, vocals), Dan Chiorboli (percussion, vocals), Gerry Salendis (keyboards) and Greg Georgiades (guitar, bass, vocals). Their debut album, The occupant, was released in 1981 to much critical acclaim, including in Billboard Magazine.
Overseas prospects were blunted by the cultural boycott. Their most successful single was “Junk foods and disposable ladies” off the aforementioned Album.
Kenny Henson (guitar) joined the group in late 1981.
In 1982 the group was selected to support Janis Ian on her tour of South Africa. Just before the tour began Tony Hunter was killed in a car crash.
The band committed to the tour with Mike Faure (sax) and George Wolfaardt (bass) joining as replacements.
After the tour Faure, Wolfaardt and Henson left and a few months later the group broke up.
