Richard Stephen Sinclair (born 6 June 1948) is an English
progressive rock
Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", the ...
bassist, guitarist, and vocalist who has been a member of several bands of the
Canterbury scene
The Canterbury scene (or Canterbury sound) is a musical scene that originated in the city of Canterbury, Kent, England during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Associated with progressive rock, the term describes a loosely-defined, improvisation ...
.
Biography
Born in
Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
,
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, both his father (Dick Sinclair) and grandfather (also named Dick Sinclair) were musical entertainers around Canterbury.
Richard was introduced to the
ukulele
The ukulele ( ; ); also called a uke (informally), is a member of the lute (ancient guitar) family of instruments. The ukulele is of Portuguese origin and was popularized in Hawaii. The tone and volume of the instrument vary with size and con ...
at age 3 and the guitar at 6, and was only 15 when he met
Hugh
Hugh is the English-language variant of the masculine given name , itself the Old French variant of '' Hugo (name)">Hugo'', a short form of Continental Germanic Germanic name">given names beginning in the element "mind, spirit" (Old English ). ...
and
Brian Hopper
Brian Hopper (born 3 January 1943) is an English guitarist and saxophonist.
Hopper was born in Whitstable, Kent, England, and is the older brother of the late bassist Hugh Hopper. With Hugh, he was a member in the early Canterbury scene band W ...
when they came to see his dad's danceband. By the following year Sinclair was playing guitar (and occasionally singing) in the root Canterbury band
The Wilde Flowers
The Wilde Flowers were an English psychedelic rock band from Canterbury, Kent. Formed in 1964, the group originally featured lead vocalist Kevin Ayers, lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist Brian Hopper, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Richard Si ...
. In 1968 he became a founding member of
Caravan
Caravan or caravans may refer to:
Transport and travel
*Campervan, a type of vehicle also known as a motor caravan
*Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together
**Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop
*Caravan (trail ...
, switching to bass guitar and sharing lead vocals with Pye Hastings. His compositional output came to the fore on the band's third album, the classic ''In the Land of Grey and Pink'', on which he wrote and sang the title track, "Golf Girl" and the epic "Winter Wine". Sinclair left Caravan in 1972 to form
Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North were an experimental Canterbury scene rock band that lasted from October 1972 to June 1975, with some reunions thereafter.
Career
In mid 1972 the band grew out of a line-up of ex-members of blues/jazz/rock band ...
with ex-
Delivery
Delivery may refer to:
Biology and medicine
*Childbirth
*Drug delivery
*Gene delivery
Business and law
*Delivery (commerce), of goods, e.g.:
**Pizza delivery
** Milk delivery
** Food delivery
** Online grocer
*Deed ("delivery" in contract law), a ...
members
Phil Miller
Philip Paul Miller (22 January 1949 – 18 October 2017) was an English progressive rock/jazz guitarist and a central part of the Canterbury scene.
He was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is ...
and
Pip Pyle
Phillip "Pip" Pyle (4 April 1950 – 28 August 2006) was an English-born drummer from Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, who later resided in France. He is best known for his work in the Canterbury scene bands Gong, Hatfield and the North ...
, lending his distinctive,
quintessentially English voice and increasingly impressive bass playing skills to their two albums, and writing some of their best-loved songs, "Share It", "Let's Eat (Real Soon)" (both with lyrics by Pip Pyle) and "Halfway Between Heaven And Earth".
In 1974, he participated in ''
Rock Bottom'', the second solo album by former
Soft Machine
Soft Machine are an English Rock music, rock band from Canterbury, Kent. The band were formed in 1966 by Mike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen and Larry Nowlin. Soft Machine were central in the Canterbury scene; they became o ...
drummer
Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt (born Robert Wyatt-Ellidge, 28 January 1945) is an English retired musician. A founding member of the influential Canterbury scene bands Soft Machine and Matching Mole, he was initially a kit drummer and singer before becoming para ...
. The album was produced by
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments ...
´s drummer
Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley Mason (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and a founder member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He has been the only constant member since the band's formation in 1965, and the only member to appear on every ...
.
After Hatfield broke up in 1975, Sinclair moved back to Canterbury, starting a carpentry/kitchen-fitting business while maintaining low-key musical activities, often under the humorous moniker Sinclair & The South. He came out of this semi-retirement in 1977 when he was asked by
Camel
A camel (from and () from Ancient Semitic: ''gāmāl'') is an even-toed ungulate in the genus ''Camelus'' that bears distinctive fatty deposits known as "humps" on its back. Camels have long been domesticated and, as livestock, they provid ...
to replace their departed bass player. This stint lasted for two studio albums, a world tour, and half of the live set ''A Live Record''.
In the 1980s, his activities were sporadic. He recorded a collaborative album with Phil Miller and
Alan Gowen
Alan Gowen (19 August 1947 – 17 May 1981) was an English fusion/progressive rock keyboardist, best known for his work in Gilgamesh and National Health.
History
Gowen was born in North Hampstead, northwest London. He joined Assagai in 1971 ...
, ''Before a Word Is Said'', in 1981, reunited with Caravan for the 1982 reunion effort ''Back To Front'', sang on one track of
National Health
National Health were an English progressive rock band associated with the Canterbury scene. Founded in 1975, the band featured members of keyboardist Dave Stewart's band Hatfield and the North and Alan Gowen's band Gilgamesh, including gui ...
's swansong ''D.S. Al Coda'' (also 1982), and joined
Phil Miller
Philip Paul Miller (22 January 1949 – 18 October 2017) was an English progressive rock/jazz guitarist and a central part of the Canterbury scene.
He was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is ...
's In Cahoots, for a residency at the London jazz club the Bull & Gate and, in 1984, a European tour. He left before the band undertook its first official recordings (though studio demos have surfaced). His voice or bass were barely heard until the end of the decade, save for a low-key Dutch tour in 1986 and a guest spot of
Phil Miller
Philip Paul Miller (22 January 1949 – 18 October 2017) was an English progressive rock/jazz guitarist and a central part of the Canterbury scene.
He was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is ...
's album ''Split Seconds'' (1989). In 1990, there was a one-off reformation of
Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North were an experimental Canterbury scene rock band that lasted from October 1972 to June 1975, with some reunions thereafter.
Career
In mid 1972 the band grew out of a line-up of ex-members of blues/jazz/rock band ...
and a longer-term reunion of the original
Caravan
Caravan or caravans may refer to:
Transport and travel
*Campervan, a type of vehicle also known as a motor caravan
*Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together
**Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop
*Caravan (trail ...
line-up in 1990-91.
At this point, Sinclair formed his own group Caravan Of Dreams, with ex-Camel drummer Andy Ward and former Hatfield roadie Rick Biddulph on bass (live gigs only), plus occasional participation from cousin
Dave Sinclair and sax/flautist
Jimmy Hastings
James Brian Gordon Hastings (12 May 1938 – 18 March 2024) was a British musician associated with the Canterbury scene who played saxophones, flute and clarinet.
Early life
Hastings was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He started playing the saxop ...
. Sinclair released the project's eponymous album in 1992. Sinclair's next effort, ''R.S.V.P.'' (1994), was recorded with a fluctuating line-up including
Pip Pyle
Phillip "Pip" Pyle (4 April 1950 – 28 August 2006) was an English-born drummer from Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, who later resided in France. He is best known for his work in the Canterbury scene bands Gong, Hatfield and the North ...
,
Tony Coe
Anthony George Coe (29 November 1934 – 16 March 2023) was an English jazz musician who played clarinet, bass clarinet, and flute as well as soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones.
Career
Born in Canterbury, Kent, England, Coe started out on cla ...
and former
Happy the Man keyboardist
Kit Watkins. Regular touring stopped in 1996 as Sinclair moved to the Netherlands for a few years. He reappeared in 2002 with occasional concerts and archival live releases, but the most exposure came with the reunion of
Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North were an experimental Canterbury scene rock band that lasted from October 1972 to June 1975, with some reunions thereafter.
Career
In mid 1972 the band grew out of a line-up of ex-members of blues/jazz/rock band ...
in 2005-06, which came to an abrupt end when
Pip Pyle
Phillip "Pip" Pyle (4 April 1950 – 28 August 2006) was an English-born drummer from Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, who later resided in France. He is best known for his work in the Canterbury scene bands Gong, Hatfield and the North ...
died in August 2006. Shortly after that, he left his longtime Canterbury home to move permanently to Italy, living in a
trullo
A trullo (plural, trulli) is a Vernacular architecture, traditional Apulian dry stone hut with a conical roof. Their style of construction is specific to the Itria Valley, in the Murge area of the Italian region of Apulia. Trulli were generally ...
in
Martina Franca
Martina Franca, or just Martina (Bari dialect, Martinese: ), is a town and ''comune, municipality'' in the province of Taranto, Apulia, Italy. It is the second most populated town of the province after Taranto, and has a population (2016) of ...
. In 2010, he joined the trio douBt (Alex Maguire,
Michel Delville and
Tony Bianco) on the album ''Never Pet a Burning Dog'' (
Moonjune Records) and toured Japan and Europe with the band. In 2013-2014 he toured Italy with the Italian band
PropheXy, recording two live bonus tracks (''Disassociation, Golf Girl'') for their album ''Improvviso''.
In 2023 Richard listed his entire catalog on
BandCamp
Bandcamp is an American online music distribution platform founded in 2008 by Oddpost co-founder Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker, with an office and record store in Oakland, California. Acquired by Epic ...
, including many previously unreleased recordings from Caravan, Camel, and Hatfield and the North.
Discography
Bandology
* 1964–1965
The Wilde Flowers
The Wilde Flowers were an English psychedelic rock band from Canterbury, Kent. Formed in 1964, the group originally featured lead vocalist Kevin Ayers, lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist Brian Hopper, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Richard Si ...
(with
Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers (16 August 1944 – 18 February 2013) was an English singer-songwriter who was active in the English psychedelic music movement. Ayers was a founding member of the psychedelic band Soft Machine in the mid-1960s, and was closely asso ...
,
Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt (born Robert Wyatt-Ellidge, 28 January 1945) is an English retired musician. A founding member of the influential Canterbury scene bands Soft Machine and Matching Mole, he was initially a kit drummer and singer before becoming para ...
,
Hugh Hopper
Hugh Colin Hopper (29 April 1945 – 7 June 2009) was a British progressive rock and jazz fusion bass guitarist. He was a prominent member of the Canterbury scene, as a member of Soft Machine and other bands.
Biography
Early career
Starting i ...
''et al.'')
* 1968–1972, 1982
Caravan
Caravan or caravans may refer to:
Transport and travel
*Campervan, a type of vehicle also known as a motor caravan
*Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together
**Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop
*Caravan (trail ...
* 1972–1975
Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North were an experimental Canterbury scene rock band that lasted from October 1972 to June 1975, with some reunions thereafter.
Career
In mid 1972 the band grew out of a line-up of ex-members of blues/jazz/rock band ...
* 1976 Sinclair and the South
* 1977–1979
Camel
A camel (from and () from Ancient Semitic: ''gāmāl'') is an even-toed ungulate in the genus ''Camelus'' that bears distinctive fatty deposits known as "humps" on its back. Camels have long been domesticated and, as livestock, they provid ...
* 1977
National Health
National Health were an English progressive rock band associated with the Canterbury scene. Founded in 1975, the band featured members of keyboardist Dave Stewart's band Hatfield and the North and Alan Gowen's band Gilgamesh, including gui ...
* 1982–1984
In Cahoots
* 1988 Skaboosh
* 1991–93 Caravan of Dreams
* 1994–1996 R.S.V.P. (with
Pip Pyle
Phillip "Pip" Pyle (4 April 1950 – 28 August 2006) was an English-born drummer from Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, who later resided in France. He is best known for his work in the Canterbury scene bands Gong, Hatfield and the North ...
,
Didier Malherbe
Didier Malherbe (born 22 January 1943) is a French jazz, rock, and world music musician and poet. He is a member of the bands Gong and Hadouk.
He plays the saxophone, flute, alto clarinet, ocarina, Laotian Khen, Bawu flute, Hulusi, and ma ...
and
Patrice Meyer
''Patrice Meyer'' (b. 18 December 1957) is a French electric guitarist active in Jazz, Jazz rock, Progressive rock and Canterbury scene bands.
History
''Patrice Meyer'' was born in Strasbourg in the Alsace region of France. He began teaching hi ...
)
* 1995– ? Richard Sinclair Band with
Tony Coe
Anthony George Coe (29 November 1934 – 16 March 2023) was an English jazz musician who played clarinet, bass clarinet, and flute as well as soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones.
Career
Born in Canterbury, Kent, England, Coe started out on cla ...
and
David Rees Williams
* 2005–2006 Hatfield and the North reformed
Filmography
* 2015: ''
Romantic Warriors III: Canterbury Tales'' (DVD)
References
External
*
Biography at calyx-canterbury.fr
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinclair, Richard
Canterbury scene
English rock bass guitarists
English male bass guitarists
English rock guitarists
1948 births
Living people
Musicians from Canterbury
Caravan (band) members
Camel (band) members
Hatfield and the North members
Gilgamesh (band) members
Mirage (British band) members
In Cahoots members
The Wilde Flowers members
Progressive rock bass guitarists