MUNGO JERRY
+ SOUTHBOUND
The song most associated with MUNGO JERRY is the global hit IN THE SUMMERTIME, it sold over six million copies worldwide in the first six months of release and that total is now estimated to be over a staggering thirty million units, and it is now officially recognised as the most played summer song of all time. Winning for itself and its writer RAY DORSET, prestigious Sony / ATV and Ivor Novello awards.
In describing the music of MUNGO JERRY as pure pop would be an insult to the varying styles of rock, blues, boogie and skiffle that has graced the stages of concerts and festivals which have seen MUNGO JERRY sharing and indeed at times topping the bill with the likes of JIMI HENDRIX, ELTON JOHN, ROD STEWART & THE FACES, GENESIS, STATUS QUO, CANNED HEAT, FREE.
The long awaited follow-up to ‘In the SUMMERTIME’ was ‘BABY JUMP’, which also made No 1, it was a Hard rocking Ray Dorset composition much influenced by his Rock a Billy connections, then another of his compositions, Lady Rose, became the third Mungo maxi single and made No 3 in the charts, only failing to make the No 1 spot because of the fact that a track on the maxi, “Have A Whiff On Me“, Was banned by the BBC because of it’s drug connotations, and had to be re-pressed at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
1973 saw one of MUNGO JERRY’s biggest hits, ‘ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT’ race up the charts to No.3 with the follow-up WILD LOVE charting and LONG LEGGED WOMAN DRESSED IN BLACK’ continuing the hit making sequence along with songs like ‘HELLO NADINE’ , ‘IT’S A SECRET’. FORGOTTEN LAND and LET’S GET STARTED etc.
1980 saw RAY DORSET back at No.1, when Scottish singer KELLY MARIE hit the top spot with his composition Feels Like I’m In Love.
During the 80’s, Ray Dorset turned his talents towards writing the music for two popular television shows -PAUL DANIELS children’s TV show, ‘WIZBIT’, and the Thames comedy/drama serial, ‘PROSPECTS’.
In 1995 Shaggy released a new reggae version of ‘IN THE SUMMERTIME’ complete with samples of Ray’s voice and guitar, it reached number 5 in the UK singles chart, but more importantly topped the charts in the USA, meaning that the song had now hit the top spot in every major territory in the world.
Instead of simply resting on his laurels and living off the success of the world’s biggest selling Summer song In The Summertime. Ray Dorset aka Mungo Jerry has in this new millennium maintained his reputation as the King of the Groove by releasing some of his best and strongest work and Mungo Jerry’s live stage performance has been much acclaimed at Blues, Jazz and Rock Festivals throughout the world.
SOUTHBOUND
The Southbound sound derives from classic influences stemming from the Chicago and Delta blues as well as early Southern rock, taking their inspiration from iconic bands such as: Derek and the Dominoes, the Allman Brothers Band, Humble Pie, Santana, Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter and Ry Cooder which culminates into a unique blend of their own modern up tempo British Blues Rock and Soulful Ballads.
When performing live, all these influences come together to create an unparalleled live experience that’s both exciting and entertaining.
The band have been vigorously gigging around the U.K for the past few years at festivals and venues, and trodden the boards of many of the U.K’s iconic music venues, both sharing the stage and supporting some of Britain’s best blues and rock acts around, and at their own headline shows.
Southbound in early 2019 have released a brand new album called “Rocking Horse” showcasing 11 of their own original songs which blend blues, rock, and soul. Their twin guitar sounds, a funky back line and powerful vocals bring a fresh new approach on the genres with a young British fire behind it, breaking the restrictions on Blues and Rock and becoming a sound which is purely… Southbound.