Barnstormers Spasm Band

The Barnstormers Spasm Band, also known as the Original Barnstormers Spasm Band, were a jazz band active from 1956 to 1961. The band was almost unique in remaining a semi-professional group for the entire duration of their existence.

The friends John Gunn and James Robinson created the band in 1956 when they met in a hospital, then later they recruited John and Peter Wadley. In mid 1957 were joined by Brian Rust, a respected jazz journalist, writer and erstwhile washboard player. In late 1957 the banjoist John Denning completed their line-up. They applied and subsequently auditioned for Hughie Green's 'Opportunity Knocks' and were turned down. This spurred them on to produce a demonstration disc (at Oriole Records) which they sent to Rex Harris at the BBC who played it on his show. The jazz guitarist and agent Neville Skrimshire either heard the broadcast or was given the demo and recommended them to Parlophone where they recorded several sides. 'Whistling Rufus' was moderately successful and accordingly the Barnstormers appeared in a number of television shows and also appeared at the Royal Festival Hall. In 1958 the multi-instrumentalist John R T Davies briefly replaced Brian Rust after the BBC; his employer, citing conflict of interests, refused him permission to appear on TV. Rust rejoined the band soon after, until eventually leaving for good in late 1960. In January 1959, they transferred to Decca Records' Tempo label and made probably the last 78rpm record to be issued in the UK. Several recordings were subsequently made at Levy's Sound Studios - Oriole in 1960 but were never (to my knowledge) released.

The Barnstormers disbanded in 1961.

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