Skip the long and intricate history of the band....
Radio London has had more lives than most cats. The most recent line-up reunited three old friends (John Simon, Jan Nigro, Ken Zeserson), who formed a musical friendship many years ago in Ithaca, New York. For a while, they went by the name "The 18 Strings Of Love," playing acoustic versions of '60s folk and pop music in living rooms all around town.
At the time, John Simon and JON HILTON were busy with Coconut Therapy, Ithaca's long-time favorite acoustic dance band. Ken was asked to join the Coconuts when original member Angie Schiele headed west. He was also being recruited by a local blues outfit. When Coconut Therapy folded, Ken invited John to play bass in that new blues band, which evolved into The Purple Valley (Ithaca's popular dance/bar band). It was there that John & Ken first encountered drummer MARK CUSHMAN.
Ken, on the side, was invited to join a living room jazz ensemble, which eventually took the name The Thursday Knights (can you guess their rehearsal night?). The Knights featured Bob Keefe on guitar and JAN NIGRO on lead vocals. They asked John to sit in for a special '60s rock 'n' roll party, and the world got a sneak preview of the RADIO LONDON equation: 4 solid voices + 1 sizzling lead guitar + rock-solid bass playing and acoustic guitar strumming, combined with Ken's scorching tenor sax, mixed together in a swirling pan of '60s classics = Rock 'n' Roll Heaven!
Bob's load of guitar students and other musical commitments became too much (he's the guitar player for local workhorses BACKTALK, as well as the jazz combo SWINGSHIFT), and he stepped aside to make room for our man FRED KOSLOV. Fred's unique guitar playing style is legendary in these parts (he would occasionally slip into an alternate musical dimension that the rest of the band would refer to as "Fredland..."), and we were blessed to have him join the ranks.
Meanwhile, JAN NIGRO had been busy these past many years composing, recording, and performing with the nationally-acclaimed VITAMIN L CHORUS, along with his duties as a family man, singing telegram man, and general musical renaissance man. His willingness to step in in the summer of 2000 as a "long-term sub" for the ailing Fred, and the official addition of singing drummer MARK CUSHMAN brought us full-circle. Imagine that: together again, after all these years!
We sadly lost Fred back in 2003 (shortly after the completion of "Catch Of The Day" by The Fine Kettle of Fish, a recording that features almost all of Radio London in various roles). And here, in the Fall of 2005, Jan Nigro has decided to hang up his rock 'n' roll shoes as he turns his attention back to the many pursuits listed above.
Still, the band has vowed to carry on. A number of fine players have offered to step in and join the ranks, and the future will tell what happens. For now, though, you can count on the core of the band (Simon, Zeserson, Hilton & Cushman) to carry on....
- [To be continued - JS, October 2005].
Photo Album (click here for fabulous action shots!)
| Jon Hilton - bass guitar
Fred Koslov - lead guitar, vocals Jan Nigro - vocals, keyboard John Simon - acoustic guitar, vocals Ken Zeserson - tenor and alto saxophone, 12-string guitar, vocals On Drums: we have a rich pool of percussionists from whom to draw, including Mark Cushman (drums), Chet Salustri (congas) and Ron Riddle (on drums) Sound: Eric Humerez has been dialing us in since the winter of 2000. He is our 6th wheel.... |
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Fred Koslov, John Simon and Ken Zeserson wail on into the night....