1960s band releasing album after chance discovery

In 1966, five men from Luton formed a band called Genesis. The members were Snip Turner, Mick Loughton, Chris Stokes, Jock Carleton, and Siggi Holmes. They are not the famous Genesis band known for progressive rock, but a different group with their own unique style. The band members wore Asian-style shirts with high collars and paisley patterns, and their promotional photos were taken in black and white, showing their 1960s hairstyles. Chris Stokes, now 80 and living in Essex, played a big role in the band's recent discovery. He sold his old electric piano on eBay and included some sound clips from his band in the listing. Will Twynham, a music producer from Bishop's Stortford who goes by the name Dimorphodons, found the piano and was immediately drawn to the music. Will said he was searching for unusual musical equipment when he heard the sound clip and was stopped in his tracks by the quality of the song. He realized the music was unknown and wanted to learn more.

After meeting Chris, Will was amazed to discover that there were 80 more tracks recorded between 1964 and 1974. He couldn't believe that so much good music had never been released. Will decided to help by releasing some of the songs through his record label, Hand of Glory. The original Genesis band never registered their name and had already broken up by the time the famous Genesis became popular. Chris remembers their only connection to the other Genesis was through record producer Jonathan King, who managed a band they once supported at a gig. Later, King became the first manager of the famous Genesis. The five men from Luton started their band in 1966, with two of them working at the Vauxhall factory. They practiced at a local church and played gigs, performing wild versions of songs like Bob Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone' and Vanilla Fudge's 'You Keep Me Hanging On. ' But they wanted to do more than just covers. They wrote and recorded their own music, including a pop opera that told a story. They recorded in a small studio with basic equipment, and Chris remembers meeting members of Jethro Tull there.

Luton was a lively place for music in the 1960s, with many international acts performing in the area. Chris and Snip Turner recently reunited at a musicians' event in Luton, and they were both surprised and amused that their old music was finally being released. Chris said his bandmates think it's crazy that anyone is interested in their songs after so many years. Will Twynham believes the music is waiting to be discovered and includes many styles from the era, such as beat group sounds, psychedelic, progressive rock, glam, and even a 15-minute Brit-jazz track. Chris describes his life as a series of happy accidents, and this discovery is just another one. He is pleased that people are finally listening to the music he and his friends created decades ago.

The story of Genesis shows how forgotten music can be found and appreciated by new audiences. It also highlights the importance of preserving creative work, as you never know when it might be rediscovered. If you have a story about music from Beds, Herts, or Bucks, you can share it with the local news. The tale of Genesis is a reminder that sometimes, unexpected events can bring old memories and art back to life.