Ossie Layne

[Roburt]

This guy is a bit of a mystery, despite the fact that he was based in Europe/ UK for a number of years.

He was either from New Orleans or St. Vincent (in the Caribbean) ... he relocated to Europe, first (?) to Italy, then the UK plus he played some gigs in other European countries (Spain being one of these). He recorded here with his UK backing band (who evolved into the John Peel produced Harvest Records outfit The Greatest Show On Earth), I'm also led to believe that he played regular live gigs across the UK between 66 & 69 (though I can't recall ever seeing him live or even having seen an ad for a show he did), he cut some live records (much in the vein of Geno, Jimmy James, Alan Bown, etc), had a sought after 45 released here on R & B Records ... AND ... his stuff is much sought after on the UK mod scene and so old recordings of his have been escaping (with more still to come) on Acid Jazz ...

Anyone here remember him doing UK shows, ever see him live, know anymore about him & his career ??

 

Edited April 21, 2018 by Roburt

[Roburt]

In the UK, Ossie worked with the likes of John Edward (originally in R&B group the Manish Boys with David Bowie, a song writer, then a pirate radio Dj & booking agent) plus Don Lawson (a British jazz band drummer). He had a 45 & LP out in Spain in 69 but seems to have disappeared off the music scene shortly afterwards ... 

... as Toyah would slur IT'S A MYSTERY ...

   

 

[Torch56]

[Torch56]

As can be seen above, Ossie Layne was the main attraction at the opening of the Catacombs back in 1968.