2019 UPDATE
BERNARD PAYNE was the first headline act in January, here are a few highlights from his set. NUMBER 1, Heard It Through The Grapevine
NUMBER 2 and NUMBER 3
PETE GATES, EDDIE SPILLANE and TALL PAUL with Shadowplay Rory 2018
RITCHIE DAVE PORTER 2018 ---- I ain't got no money
Recent October 2017 movie clips from Paul Gates Beggars Banquet
SCENE 1+..... SCENE 2 + ... SCENE 3
Just click on the scenes above for numbers from THE BANQUET
Musicians from the Crossroads Blues Club - ToS
Tom Martin, founder proprietor of The Tower of Song - Bio.-> Crossroads Blues Club What's On link
Born and raised in Belfast, Tom came of age at a time of strife and violence. He plied his trade as a boxer, but found he was more a poet than a warrior. As a young man he set out, armed with guitar and a handful of songs, to explore the world and make his mark as a musician and lyricist. His travels have taken him from Kenya, the streets of London, throughout Europe and the Bristish Isles, to the Mississippi Delta, the bayous of Louisiana, through the mountains of Virginia and into the heart of New York City. Click on this -> Tom Martin with Helena Rosewell on cello.
From busking to grave digging in the Midlands, Tom has crafted his songs using his life experiences and weaving his songs into musical poetry. His musical influences include Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry, the Rolling Stones, Bert Jansch and Hank Williams. Tom is a consummate performer who has honed is craft for more than 40 years. He performs both solo and with his band, playing many genres including Celtic Soul, Acoustic Roots and rocking good Blues.
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Pete Gates Bio and pictured below a Thursday night Crossroads Blues Club regular.
Pete Gates acquired his first guitar at the tender age of 10 and spent the following 5 years trying to tune it. Thursday regulars at The Tower of Song will confirm it was years well spent as we now reap the benefits of his efforts. He formed his first band called "Q" in 1972 aged 18, for a short period the band included Dave Wakelin guitarist from "The Beat" and Mickey Billingham keyboard player from "Dexys Midnight Runners". In 1977 he joined a soul band called "Sold Out" with Mal Day from the "Soul Survivors" and ex members of the "J.A.L.N Band" who had a hit single in the charts called "Disco Music" (check it out on YOUTUBE) -> click here
Pete recalls, "we were a pro band and did some nice gigs and toured with "THE FOUR TOPS" when they came to Britain". Shortly after these exploits touring with the Four Tops in 1979, Pete turned his attention to electric piano in a jazz rock band called "Out". In 1982 he gave up music all together for 18 years and put his instruments in storage, he started again in 2000 and formed Shadow Play Rory < a link.
This Rory Gallagher Tribute Band with Eddie Spillane of ZF Experience fame set Pete back on a mission to rediscover his love of all things music. Here is the -> website link. he recently played in a 60's band called "The Classics" and is currently helping out Crossroads Blues Club host Tony Stokes and his 58's Blues Band whilst guitaris Les Tutor recovers from a heart attack. Many thanks Pete for sharing your story. Regards Derek
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TONY STOKES
Tony Stokes top harmonica player and resident host of Thursdays Crossroads Blues Club. Here is Tony in action in 2014 with the -> 58's Blues Band <- link, brilliant stuff. Tony's Bio is coming soon. Here is Tony playing -> Little Red Rooster <- with The Red Lion Blues Band in December 2015.
Quote from the Paul Cowley Trio on Tony Stokes. 
As a harmonica player Tony compares favourably with some of the best in the world. He is actively involved with The British Harmonica League.
The Tower of Song are truly blessed to have such a driven and enthuisiastic host who loves jamming all night long. Many thanks Tony for welcoming me to the best live music venue around. Regards Derek.
If any musician or music lover wish to contribute promoting live music at the Tower please send your story or Bio to derekcooke4@gmail.com
MAL RITTER - DRUMMER, Born October 1943. 
Mal's interest in music began in his teen years, every Saturday night his local Youth club had a Rock 'n Roll band play. One evening Keith Powell came along looking to start up a new band after leaving his own band. Mal said, "he spotted me playing drums during the groups break and asked if I would like to join his band". The rest as they say is history. Keith Powell and the Valets. The Valets included keyboarder Mal Ford who had played in Pat Wayne's group 'The Deltas' (see Pat Wayne and The Beachcombers), John Allsebrook on bass guitar, saxophonist Phil Gaynor, drummer Mal Ritter, and Colin Wood on rhythm/lead guitar. The band quickly established themselves as a top live attraction in Birmingham and in June of 1963, Keith Powell and The Valets were one of the groups to be signed up by EMI Columbia Records producer Norrie Paramor at the Moat House Club auditions. CLICK ON THIS LINK courtesy of John Woodhouse of Brumbeat. Mal added, " we played all over the UK and supported the Rolling Stones on 3 occasions".
After Keith Powell departed the band, the Valets joined forces with Gordon Andrews in 1967 and supported Comedy Sketch shows in Working Men's Clubs, after the inevitable break up Mal stopped playing for about 13 years, and that's when he discovered the Tower of Song. Mal retired from his full time work in 2011, he had taken over his fathers textile business in the Bilston and Birmingham Rag Markets and then ran his own indoor market in Erdington. Over the years Mal was in the company of many top musicians, but the stand out was Charlie Watts who thanked him for borrowing his drum kit for a gig in Bournemouth, Mal did'nt think of asking Charlie to sign his precious drum kit, the Stones topping a bill that included Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers. On the ATV show Thank Your Lucky Stars he also met the brilliant comedians Freddie Frinton and Dick Emory.
Born in the centre of Birmingham, Mal is the only person I have met who was born in the same hospital as myself - Loveday Street. (Derek Cooke editor) Anyone else born there?
Mal is now a legend at the Crossroads Blues Club and a regular house band member on Thursday night's and is respected and loved by all that know him.
STEVE BUTT
Like many teenage boys of my generation I started playing guitar in the 1960’s after hearing the Beatles and especially the Rolling Stones at the age of 14. In those days it was considered a pre-requisite for impressing adolescent girls but I later found I had a talent for it and took it more seriously.
At first I played mainly acoustic guitar and didn’t really turn electric till the 1970’s playing in many ‘garage bands’ and later on at university drifting into amateur groups performing folk, jazz and blues as well as rock & pop music.
Most of my semi-professional work was done in the late 1970’s and early 90’s in bands such as the ‘Titanic deckchair shufflers’, ‘The Shoeshine Boys’, ‘The Blue Hearts’ and ‘Mean Old World’ with whom I toured America backing the singer Dan Bodie in 1997. However my biggest claim to fame was roading 2 nights for the Rolling Stones when they played Stafford in 1976, I still have my back stage pass!
I’m a self-taught player who has learnt what he knows by listening to records, watching other players and asking questions. I’ve never really tried to emulate any other guitarist but the main influences on my playing are Django Reinhardt, Kenny Burrell, BB King and Eric Clapton. I’m not an advocate of fast flashy styles and prefer someone who plays with feeling and taste. I have a very eclectic attitude to what I play and feel equally happy playing folk, country and jazz as well as blues. I consider myself a bit of a ‘Jack of all trades’ just about proficient enough to get by in each of these genres without getting found out.
Steve Butt: 2016
link........ Live at the Crossroads Blues Club
MARK BENNETT
Mark is a regular Thursday contributor. Check him out on his website MARK BENNETT
Mark started his music at an early age, initially with chromatic harmonica, then progressing rapidly to guitar, piano and trombone. He had his first (classical) guitar at the age of 7. Encouraged by his musical father, he did his first solo public performance aged 6 or 7 on the chromatic harmonica in the Cubs Gang Show. A cheap Japanese copy of a Gibson Les Paul Custom followed (together with a Vox AC15) but the bug never really bit first time round. He did the usual grades thing on piano, and played trombone in the Walsall Schools Jazz Orchestra amongst other things before stepping away from music altogether for a good few years... see his website linked above. Watch this video clip recorded on 5th May 2016 at The Tower of Song.-> MARK BENNETT LIVE
DENZIL PARSLOW: Click on this<-
Denzil began his love affair with the guitar back in 1976 and played lead guitar for six years with local Birmingham band Aurora. He also played for some four years a mix of reggae, blues & rock with Wishbone, (not to be confused with Wishbone Ash). He played also with the Booze Band and has jammed with some of the best including UB40, Trevor Burton and Steve Gibbons.