Black's Blues Band Dave Bispham on drums, Dick Jones on bass guitar, with Paul Swinton on harmonica and additional vocals. The band's first album, "The Filth" (recorded in 1983 to 1987) also included guest musicians Graham Hobbs on organ, Ian Smith on bass and Frank Sidebottom on piano. Over the following years they played their hard Chicago type of blues and acted as the houseband at Dino's Blues Bar at the West End Centre in Aldershot. Here they played with Eddie C Campbell, Lowell Fulson, Guitar Shorty, Carey Bell and others. Various line-ups featured, at different times, Sam Kelly (drums), Dan Smith (piano), George Pearson (bass), Alan Glenn (harmonica), Dino Coccia and Damon Sawyer (drums) and Bob Haddrell (organ/piano) – some of whom reformed as The Barcodes. Although performing entirely in a traditional blues idiom, most numbers were written by Sonny Black. Over time and through various line-up changes (including a change of name from Sonny Black's Blue Band to Sonny Black and the Dukes), the driving style of the band mellowed and jazz influences became more apparent. Return to acoustic roots In the 2000s Sonny Black was drawn back to playing just finger picking acoustic and national steel guitar, often accompanied by bassist Chris Belshaw. His repertoire is now a varied selection including blues, ragtime, jazz standards. He has performed live sessions for BBC Radio 2's Paul Jones and Johnnie Walker shows and, under the name of Bill Boazman, has produced a guitar tutorial DVD, Jazzin' The Blues. His recent recordings are on his own independent label, Free Spirit Records, which he founded in 2002 in Yateley, Hampshire. During 2008 Sonny Black performed at festivals in France and Italy as well as the UK. Selected discography Heron (Dawn Records) – 1970*‡‡‡ Twice As Nice & Half The Price (Dawn Records DNLS3025) – 1972*‡‡‡ From the Lion to the Plough (NYPL Records) – 1978 **** The Filth (private pressing) – recorded 1983 to 1987, date of issue not stated**‡ Smile on the Blues (Roads Records RRCD0001) – 1993 **‡ Free Spirit (Free Spirit Records FS100) – 1998 **‡‡ Heart & Soul (Bluetrack Records BRCD004) – 2000 **‡‡ Blues of a Kind (Free Spirit Records FSCD002) – 2002 ** The Blue Way (Free Spirit Records FSCD003 tbc) – date tbc ** The Corner Seat (Free Spirit Records FSCD004) – 2006 ** The Best of Days (Free Spirit Records FSCD0005) – 2007