Gracious!

A news snippet from the Melody Maker discussing the bands recent sessions with Tim Rice

It all started in 1964 when Paul Davis, Alan Cowderoy, and Peter Lawes formed “Satans Disciples“ , a pop/blues based cover band whilst studying together at St. Georges College in Weybridge, Surrey.

Lineup changes and schooldays over, with the addition of Martin Kitcat (Electric Piano) and Mark Laird (Bass Guitar), the first carnation of “Gracious“ was complete.

Gracious was formed in Esher, England in 1968 by Paul Davis (vocals/12-string acoustic guitar), Alan Cowderoy (guitar/vocals), Robert Lipson (drums), Martin Kitcat (keyboards), and Mark Laird (bass).

The band had previously played together in a pop/blues based cover band Satans Desciples; formed by Paul Davis, Alan Cowderoy, and Peter Lawes in 1964. Paul had been multi-tasking drumming and singing, Robert Lipson explains “Alan asked me to join as it was getting more and more difficult for Sandy to sing and drum… It opened up his writing too…  I was a very different drummer to him. Much busier!  Gracious started to model their music around the musicians so it worked well.“

The band first signed with Norrie Paramours Polydor records in 1969 to record a series of pop based singles with Tim Rice producing. Though Davis & Kitcats Beatlesque compositions had progressed into lengthy descriptive pieces such as their four seasons symphony titled “Opus 31“. It was during this time that the band split from their original bassist Mark Laird in favour of Tim Wheatley, the bands former roadie during 1968.

“I did some driving and lugging equipment for Gracious including going with them for a 6 week tour in Germany over Christmas and New Year 1968. Then I left them and had a job working for a friend for part of 1969 who had a clothes company, then Sandy approached me about playing bass in the band because they were parting company with Mark Laird. I jumped at the opportunity but it was a lot of work learning the set that Gracious were doing, it was pretty different from my limited blues band experience“