Bobby Te
nch first gained recognition as a vocalist with the Jeff Beck Group, rarely able to show his talent as an accomplished guitarist at this time. His guitar playing, vocals and versatility as a musician has led to a career of associations, such as with the influential guitarist Freddie King, Hummingbird, Humble Pie, Van Morrison and Streetwalkers.
He began his career with his band Gass and they recorded raw edged singles for CBS and Parlophone before moving on with a more progressive musical direction and signing to Polydor. Their eponymous album featured the Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green and the band also performed on the original cast recording for Jack Good’s UK stage versi
on of Catch My Soul, as well as being the production's house band for the Roundhouse Theatre and touring shows.
Bobby left Gass and joined the Jeff Beck Group, recording two albums including Rough and Ready and also touring with them before moving on. He then recorded with Ginger Baker, performing alongside Afro rock pioneer Fela Ransome-Kuti. Touring with Baker followed, before Jeff Beck employed his skills as a vocalist once more, including him on a tour with a line up including bass player Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice. In the same year he appeared on Linda Lewis's Fathoms Deep and she later returned the compliment by singing backing vocals for his band Hummingbird.
He went on to record with Wailer Junior Marvin's band Hanson, before recording two albums with Freddie King. During this period he signed to A&M Records and formed Hummingbird, joined by keyboard player Max Middleton and bass player Clive Chaman from The Jeff Beck Group. Atlantic Record's session drummer Bernard “Pretty” Purdie joined the band for the last two albums and the band toured su
ccesfully. Tench also appeared with Roger Chapman and Charlie Whitney before more touring and the recording of three studio albums with Streetwalkers, including the much respected Red Card..
Once his commitment to Streetwalkers was concluded associations with Luther Grosvenor’s British supergroup Widowmaker and Mike Patto's Boxer preceded his involvement in the production for Van Morrison’s Wavelength album. This was Morrison’s best selling album at that time and during this period Bobby was also a member of the Van Morrison Band. Involvement with Eric Burdon and then Axis Point followed before Steve Marriott included him in a new line up for Humble Pie. Other associations and collaborations followed such as with Brian Robertson from Thin Lizzy, Topper Headon the respected punk drummer from the Clash and Roger Chapman, which were a prelude to a profusion of diverse and eclectic work which developed over later years with others including Alan Price and Ruby Turner.
