Birthday Shout Out to Brian Auger

Ground-breaking veteran who championed British jazz rock

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the ground-breaking and legendary keyboardist, band-leader, and singer songwriter Brian Auger. He’s a champion of the Hammond B3 organ and is cited as a pioneer of Acid Jazz—the fusion of funk, jazz, psychedelic rock, and soul music. As a sideman he’s played with Eric Burdon, Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Sonny Boy Williamson, and The Yardbirds (that’s Brian’s harpsichord on “For Your Love”). When I was 12 years old, Brian became one of my musical heroes and keyboard role models when I heard Brian Auger & The Trinity featuring Julie Driscoll performing “Indian Rope Man” on an episode of the TOM JONES TV show.

Flash ahead to the late 90s when I met Brian at a NAMM show in Los Angeles, there with his son Karma (a drummer who plays with Dad). We had a great chat about Brian’s appearance on 33 & 1/3 REVOLUTIONS PER MONKEE, the 1969 TV special in which Brian (sidebar acting as “Satan”) played throughout with Julie Driscoll, The Trinity, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Buddy Miles, Clara Ward, and The Monkees. I’m glad I had the opportunity to tell him how much of a positive influence his music and playing style been on my life. Last I heard he was still performing with Karma and his daughter Savannah.

Here’s one of Brian’s best-known songs, “Happiness is Just ‘Round the Bend,” from the 1973 album CLOSER TO IT (required listening in my orbit).

..It’s one of Brian’s rare lead vocal turns, and the song was later covered by The Main Ingredient. It’s a song I wished I’d written. Meanwhile, HB BA and thank you for your years of soul, style, and substance on the keyboards and beyond.

#brianauger #hammondb3 #keyboards #birthday #fenderrhodes #tomjones #johnnyjblair #karmaauger #savannahauger #jazz #funk #fusion #theyardbirds