The Bandits
Rythm Section
Vocals
Christine Simpson (Chrissy) (Lead vocals & percussion)
Chrissy first burst into song as a five year old toddler, refining her skills as she reached the age of 15 Chrissy was singing and playing guitar to enthralled local audiences. Being snapped up by Melbourne's television network launched Chrissy into a professional singing career in Victoria's entertainment industry. Eventually Melbourne lost Chrissy to New South Wales and The Graeme Bell Band. Now a well known and sought after singer on the club circuit Chrissy performed as the lead rock, blues and jazz singer for many other bands including Deja Vu, Onyx, Nightmoves and Heart & Soul. Some of Chrissy's career highlights are singing at The Sunny Awards,
The North Coast Tourism Awards, The Anthem at the Gold Cup Racing Carnival for 4 years running, and her favourite, with Deja Vu on New Years Eve in front of 13,000 people.
Chrissy will win your heart as she sings a mellow jazz number or have shivers running down your back bone and shaking all over to a rock or raunchy blues. Chrissy has always wanted to be an up front vocalist for a big band and the B-BBBand love having Chrissy as our lead singer and in her words she reckons "IT's GREAT"
Keyboard
Barry Lee (Flash fingers Bazz)
Watch this space for Bazza's story, coming soon.
Bass
Phil (Mr Bass Man)
Watch this space for Phil's story, coming soon.
Stuart (Irish)
Born in Perth WA, moved to Tamworth 3 yrs later
At 12 yrs played guitar poorly, and at the age of 16, was asked to play bass in a dance band. Bought a bass and on the 1st night they gave me a Tamborine to shake until I improved
Played in Clubs and started backing artists each weekend. Learnt to sight read and in late 70's played professionally 5 nights a week at Tamworth Workmans Club backing top line artists, namely:
Marcia Hynes, Barry Crocker, John Paul Young, John English, John Farnham (in his early days) Debbie Byrne,
Tina Arena, Frankie Davidson, Normie Rowe, Billy Thorpe, Lucky Starr, Trumpet Player: James Morrison to name a few. Was also the bass player for the John Muller Big Band in Tamworth for 9 years
Moved to Sydney in 1997 and hung up my bass until joining the Big-Big Boogie Band as support bassist in mid 2013.
Drums
Bob (The Big Bobba)
Taking inspiration from world famous drummer Gene Krupa, Bob started beating buckets with sticks from birth, happily banging away on his saucepans until his parents ears had reached desperation so they guided him into music with a second hand set of skins. Bob took to his new drums with vigorous enthusiasm becoming a sought after drummer by the late sixties. During the Vietnam war Bob travelled with his band to entertain the troops in Vietnam in 69 & 70. Taking a liking to the bush Bob cast himself away for two years beating jungle rhythms in New Guinea to bewildered local tribesmen.
Returning to Oz by mid 70's, Bob played professionally on the Sydney club scene for 15 years before moving to the Coffs Coast club circuit for another 10 years. Now residing in Coffs, Bob freelances and to our pleasure, beats the rhythm for the B-BBBand.
Guitar
Santo
Watch this space for Sato's story, coming soon.
Brass Section
Trumpets
​Grant (Wriggles de Boss) on Trumpet
A local lad from Coffs Harbour, at the tender age of seven mum took him by the ear and led him protestingly to piano lessons, Grant would much rather have played with his mates in the muddy quarry, but surprisingly music grew on him and wanting to express his musical talents much louder he took a fancy to the brass instruments, favouring the trumpet. Playing jazz professionally for many years with more bands than fingers, Grant developed the talent to be a leader and is the boss man of Coffs Brass, Simply Us, The Sunnysiders, The Rockin Doo Daddies and also the founder of The Big-Big Boogie Band. "Good on ya Boss."
Mike (Wooly) on Trumpet
A bit of spit from Louis Armstrong & "King" Oliver, "WHAMO" we got Mike, the first Eb brass tube baby. Crawling around his cot Mike discovered the noisy toys that tasted good and scared the cat. By 6 years old he had devoured the guitar and piano but the trumpet had stuck in his throat. A visit to the Doc convinced mum that her boy was destined to be a muso, so off he went to music school. Graduating from Newcastle Conservatorium & Teachers College Mike bestowed his musical talents upon young students at Wollongong, Raymond Terrace and as head man at Coffs Harbour High School's performing arts.
Mike has been blowing his trumpet for 32 years for big bands, orchestras, brass bands, musical shows, you name it, he has blown it. Mike's career hi lite was playing "You Got Rhythm"to a dozen cobras in India.
Mike currently plays for anyone with cash and the B-BBBand.
Tim (Timber) on Trumpet
Has been blowin' his own horn for the last 30 years from the days of St Dominie's College concert and jazz bands.
He is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of music where for two years he was the lead chair for the Cons Big Band. Moving on Tim worked as a music teacher in schools and also moonlighted as a professional performer. Some of Tim's highlights have included, The Australian Blues Brothers Show, The Australian Tom Jones Show. The Ed Wilson Wacky Big Band and now a top horn blower for The Big-Big Boogie Band.
Theatrical companies have also poached Tim's talents as resident music director for the Gold Coast Arts Centre, directing the music for stage shows, Footloose, Annie, Buddy, West Side Story, High Society, Grease,
The Mikado and with Rob Guest in 42nd Street and Jekyll & Hyde. The B-BBBandits are proud to have Tim as a member of the gang.
Phil (AlCapone) on Flugal Horn
Being young, stary eyed and broke with a yearning to blow rhythm, it is said that Phil fashioned his horn from an old shotgun barrell, a piece of copper tube, a motorcycle exhaust and a vision to play jazz. Hailing from Newcastle Phil busked his way through the ranks onto the music scene and now plays super brassy sounds for Coffs Brass, The Tarnish Brass, The Bello Big Band and the B-BBBand.
Norm (Notnormal) on Trombone
Got his start in music during the 50's rock n roll era playing cornet. Taking a liking to the colour green and a fab opportunity to further his musical development Norm joined the army as a muso, eventually becoming Artillery Bandmaster at Singleton Barracks, also on call playing casual trumpet for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Norm left the army in 1980 to take up playing trumpet and trombone professionally for various bands including the Pigeon House Jazz and the Nambo Valley Jazz Bands. Norm is now the B-BBBand's resident man with a bone.
Bill (Sgt. Billco) on Trombone
Born in the then mining town of Newcastle Billco scratched up just enough pocket money to pay for his piano accordion lessons, but his heart was set on the shiny brass instruments and after a few years savings from his piggy bank acquired a new trombone. Conscripted into the Army Band Corps at 18 made a muso out of him. Since his Army days he has played with many Orchestras, Big Bands and Musical Shows and now blows his horn for The B-BBBand as well as The Coffs Brass and The Tarnish Brass Bands.
Sax Section
Rosso (Bosso of Sax, Alto)
Watch this space for Rosso's story, coming soon.
Jenny (Jen or Gem) Tenor Sax
Born in the Aussie bush, far West Broken Hill, Jen's late fascination for music happened around the campfire (where the wild dingoes call) after a long days cattle muster with an introduction to the didgeridoo. Jen took to playing it but the limitations were getting her down as it was cumbersome strapped to the horse and her playing spooked the cattle, dried up the water holes and attracted fruit bats which was upsetting the other jackeroos. On a brief visit to town Jen spotted a dusty old clarinet in a pawn shop window, love at first sight, she offered the shopkeep all she had, 25 quid, the deal done, Jen polished the stick until it reflected the sunsets, now playing sweet tunes to the dozey cattle and bushmen, Clari & Jen became inseparable. The years in the bush passed until a move from the outback to the Coast. Passing yet another Op shop window Jen spotted a new bright n shiny tenor saxophone, "Wow!! a mate for Clari", saving a small fortune Jen snapped it up, falling head over heals for the soft, smooth & sultry timbre notes she could now produce.
Jen no longer plays out on the range but spreads her musical talents as a passionate member of Coffs Brass, Coffs Orchestra, The Bello Big Band & our own B-BBBand.
Jacinta (Jazzy, Alto)
Watch this space for Jazzy's story, coming soon.
Tom (Alto)
Tom started playing sax at the age of 9 and has been playing jazz and swing from the very begining. At the age of eleven he had mastered grade 5 of the trinity exams. In 2005 Tom took up residence in Coffs Harbour, still with his musical study hat on completed AMEB grade 5. Juggling his high school studies with his music Tom played his sax for any band going and eventually developed a passion for jazz and swing music for his HSC which lead him up the university pathway for more musical knowledge and a chance to blow his horn for the UNE Jazz Band.
Finishing his uni studies Tom returned to Coffs were his passionate saxophone ability was promptly snapped up by the B-BBBand. Still thirsty for knowledge and the desire to blow out a tune Tom also accompanies The Honky Tonk Woman.
Dave de Sax (Big Barri, Baritone)
Watch this space for Davo's story, coming soon.
