Gerry Conway (musician)

Gerald Conway (born 11 September 1947) is an English folk and rock drummer/percussionist, best known for having performed with the backing band for Cat Stevens in the 1970s, Jethro Tull during the 1980s, and currently a member of Fairport Convention as well as his side projects. Conway has done a considerable amount of work as a session musician. Conway is married to Pentangle vocalist Jacqui McShee.

Gerry Conway
Gerry Conway performing at Fairport's Cropredy Convention 2014
Background information
Born (1947-09-11) 11 September 1947
King's Lynn, Norfolk, England
GenresRock, folk, British folk rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, record producer
InstrumentsDrums, percussion
Years active1970–present
LabelsIsland, Matty Grooves
Associated actsJethro Tull, Cat Stevens, Pentangle, Alun Davies, Fairport Convention, Fotheringay, Eclection, Steeleye Span

History

Conway was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Prior to his association with Jethro Tull, he was the drummer for the band Fotheringay as well as for Eclection (other members included Kerrilee Male, Georg Kajanus [as George Hultgreen], Michael Rosen and Trevor Lucas). In their early years, Steeleye Span also drafted in the services of Conway, who was a friend of the band. Conway played on their now-classic song "Dark-Eyed Sailor" from their first album, Hark! The Village Wait (1970). His studio works also include the debut solo albums of Sandy Denny and Shelagh McDonald, and appearances on albums by Wizz Jones, John Cale, Jim Capaldi and others. He was also one of the drummers on Whatever's for Us, the debut album of Joan Armatrading in 1972. He toured and recorded as a member of Cat Stevens' band for six years.

Conway was a consistent member of the close knit Cat Stevens backing band throughout the mid-1970s. When Stevens gave up his pop music career at the close of the decade, Conway performed on Daydo; the short-lived solo album of singer-songwriter Alun Davies, another long-term member of Stevens' band.[1] During the 1980s, Conway also toured and recorded with Kate & Anna McGarrigle.[2]:83

Conway has secured the drummer's position in Fairport Convention (on a regular basis since 1998) and Pentangle (occasionally). In the years since 2006, Davies has re-joined with Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam). Both Conway and Davies additionally play in a side project called "Good Men in the Jungle", which features Davies' daughter, Becky Moncurr.

Discography

With Eclection

With Steeleye Span

With Al Stewart


With Cat Stevens

With Mike McGear

With Kate & Anna McGarrigle

With Jethro Tull

With Fairport Convention

References
  1. "Disc Magazine". Both Cat Stevens & Alun Davies are featured in this magazine issue. July 1972. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  2. Lanken, Dane (2007). Kate and Anna McGarrigle Songs and Stories. Canada: Penumbra Press. ISBN 1-897323-04-2. Just offstage at Kew Gardens, Toronto, August 1985 [...]. John Reissner (guitar), Pat Donaldson (bass), Gerry Conway (drums) and Joel Zifkin (violin) are in the lineup with Kate, Jane and Anna. Gerry, an old band made of Pat's from English folk-rock days, drummed with Kate and Anna through much of the 1980s.
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