JON DEREK / COUNTRY FEVER

1975 - 1991

 

BAND MEMBERS

 

JON DEREK (Vocals/Rhythm Guitar) 1975-1991

PETE OAKMAN (Bass Guitar) 1975

CHRIS DUNN (Bass Guitar) 1978-1979

TERRY GRIMWOOD (Bass Guitar) 1980-1981

STU PETERS (Bass Guitar) 1984-1986)

DAVE PYCROFT (Bass Guitar) 1987-1991

GRAHAM WALKER (Lead Guitar) 1975

DAVE WAITE (Lead Guitar) 1978-1979

ROGER BROWN (Lead Guitar) 1980-1981

TONY HOWARTH (Lead Guitar) 1984-1986

DAVE ANDERSON (Lead/Pedal Steel Guitar) 1989-1991

JED KELLY (Drums) 1975

TONY BARNES (Drums) 1978-1979

KEN DUNNING (Drums) 1980-1981

MARK JORDAN (Drums) 1984-1986

TONY PECK (Drums) 1987-1991

BRIAN GOLBEY (Fiddle) 1975

BOB HASKELL (Pedal Steel Guitar) 1975

JOHN DAVIS (Pedal Steel Guitar) 1988

 

 

Jon Derek

Following the demise of the 'stand alone' cooperative Country Fever in the latter half of 1974, Jon Derek, vowed to pursue a solo career going forward. Having legally owned the rights to the name - 'Country Fever' since 1969, he was in the position to reassemble the band under the name Jon Derek & Country Fever for major tours and shows. 

A good example of this was in 1975, when Jon was approached by the UK's top country music promoter, Mervyn Conn who asked him if he could reassemble Country Fever for some forthcoming work he had lined up. Jon, who was known for gathering around him great musicians and, for his ability in putting together good 'scratch' bands, soon acquired three original members of Country Fever; Pete Oakman, Graham Walker and Jed Kelly. Together with Bob Haskell on steel guitar and Brian Golbey on fiddle - collectively 'Jon Derek & Country Fever' carried out various projects for the 'Mervyn Conn Organisation', over the coming months. Notably, these included, supporting American singer, Bill Anderson at the 'London Palladium' in February 1975. 

 

Jon Derek with Marvin Rainwater at Wembley (1975)

Jon Derek & Country Fever featured in their own right at the 'International Festival of Country Music' in March and also backed other artists on the show including; Marvin RainwaterJeanne PruettWanda JacksonJimmy Payne and Miki & Griff

 

In June 1975, Jon Derek & Country Fever took part on a show recorded 'live' at the notorius, high-security psychiatric hospital in Berkshire 'Broadmoor'. American country music act Jimmy Payne was on the bill and the entire show was compered by Jimmy Saville. The album 'Jimmy Payne & Friends Live at Broadmoor Hospital' was released in the latter part of that year.

 

Having completed the work for promoter Mervyn Conn, Jon parked Country Fever for the forseeable future and, in the summer of 1975, he toured England's west country as a trio with two leading musicians, Fritz Fryer (ex lead guitarist/songwriter of 'The Four Pennies) and Keith Nelson (a highly regarded US session artist).

Following his tour of the west country, Jon worked primarily under just his own name and was featured on a number of package shows and tours. He invariably used the services of the well-established Jeannie Denver Band, to back him .

In the autumn of 1975, they toured with American star Marvin Rainwater and in February/March 1976, with, Slim Whitman on a 36-date UK tour of major theatres and civic halls. With two performances a night at most venues, the tour included a date at the 'London Palladium'. Jon, who was also compere for the entire tour, introduced veteran radio broadcaster Alan 'Fluff' Freeman to the stage to present Slim with a gold disc for sales of his current albumm'Happy Anniversary'. 

 

It wasn't until 1978 that the name Country Fever reappeared. Jon had been successfully working under the name 'The Jon Derek Trio' throughout 1977 with musicians Dave Waite on lead guitar and Chris Dunn on bass, however, due to an ever increasing work schedule which lay ahead in 1978 involving bigger venues and touring with/backing visiting American artists, it meant Jon needed to augment the 'trio' to a four-piece with the addition of Tony Barnes on drums. Jon Derek & Country Fever were reborn but this time, on a permanant basis. 

They went on to appear at all the top events from 1978 right up until Jon's semi-retirement in 1991, including, working with a plethora of country music's 'star names'. Although a never-ending change of talented British country musicians passed through Jon's band - Jon Derek & Country Fever would always remain one of the most professional and highly sought after bands in what became a very competitive field.