The City of Bath Male Choir

PRESS RELEASE

February 20th 2007

WHAT does the lead singer in a 60’s double-gold disc pop group do when his rocking days are over? Simple, he joins a male voice choir.

Trevor Brice was the front man in the pop group Vanity Fare. In the late 60’s they had two massive hits with ‚’Hitchin A Ride’ and ‚’Early in the Morning’ both sold over a million vinyl copies across the world.

The Brice family moved to the area last September to live in Freshford.: Trevor’s wife Annemette is Danish and they have a 16 year old son Sebastian studying in Bath and 21 year old daughter, Sarah who works at the Royal Crescent Hotel.

Trevor explains: “We lived in Denmark but used to come and see our daughter who was already working in Bath. Our son started to study here so all roads pointed to Bath..

“I had just taken early retirement from my language business and my wife had completed 25 years of teaching, so here we are.”

Born in Kent, Trevor joined forces with three other friends in the 60’s who all lived around the Rochester area to form a singing group called Vanity Fare.

“In those early days we didn’t play, that came later. We still keep in touch and we all went on to develop successful business careers. There is a Vanity Fare still going actually and last year I went to a re-union gig in Medway, Kent. That was quite a night.”

In 1966 RCA Victor signed them up, the first record sold 250 copies! Trevor was training to be a lawyer and the group were very popular gigging in and around their home area of Kent.

The decision was made to go pro and one night a record producer heard then sing in a village hall. They recorded a song written by the Beach Boys and one day it started being played on national radio. Next came national TV a top Saturday evening slot and Vanity Fare started to become a household name.

‘Hitchin a Ride’ was the first big hit followed by ‘Early in the Morning’: Both were in the US top ten at the same time, a unique achievement. There were numerous appearances on Top of the Pops and tours were the staple diet for the next few years.

“We generated a great deal of money but we didn’t write the songs. We had a brilliant time but we did not make huge amounts from it. When the big hits stopped we continued to tour as far afield as Australia doing cabaret, they were great experiences ’ says Trevor.

A break from the group and move to Denmark in 1980 saw Trevor meet his wife but still keeping a singing and guitar playing career.

“I tried to get way from music but it always drew me back.”

But why join a male voice choir?

“I actually saw an article in the newspaper about the new City of Bath Male Choir on one of our visits to Bath back in 2006. Grenville Jones had not even started the Choir then.

“ I actually cut it out and kept it. I have always sung in choirs and it sounded like a great initiative. When we moved to Freshford I though I would go to a rehearsal and I just loved it. They are a great bunch of fellas of all ages, and Grenville has the right approach to music making. He aims to be very good, but makes it fun for everyone involved, after such a short time there really is an amazing sound developing.”

Trevor still does some freelance translation work and writes his own music.

He is looking forward to Saturday May 5th when he steps out for the first time as a fully-fledged second tenor with The City of Bath Male Choir at the big Bath Showcase charity concert in the Forum.

For the man who has sung in front of huge audiences worldwide, it will still be a special night for Trevor Brice.

“If you love singing, there is nothing quite like being in a big group and I would urge any guys who fancy the idea of joining a male choir to come along and see for yourself. It could be the best think you have even done. What have you got to lose?”

Discover more about the Choir on www.bathmalehoir.org or call Grenviille Jones the conductor on 0777 828 2934.

Ends

From Grenville Jones
Office 01761 472468