Biography
England's doo wop revival act the Roomates originated when Steve Webb put the ensemble together. A dedicated enthusiast of older rock idioms, Webb had become a regular participant in the British rockabilly revival throughout the 1980s, yet by 1987 he sensed the scene's energy fading and turned his attention instead to the classic vocal-group sounds of the 1950s and 1960s, as heard from Dion and the Belmonts, Jay and the Americans, the Mystics, the Elegants, Vito and the Salutations, and other American doo wop outfits. Further exploration of those vocal traditions led him to like-minded listeners, prompting him to launch his own group. The Roomates' first roster featured Webb, his brother Mark Webb, Nick Kennedy, John Wells, and Marc Haley, though Wells and Haley departed before the release of the band's debut album, 1998's Can't Live on Memories, at which point Glenn Brentnall joined and the lineup had honed a precise, genuine style through countless appearances on the U.K. rock-revival circuit. Ace Records, Britain's foremost archival label, signed the Roomates in 2004 and issued their third album, Classic Sound of the Roommates. During a 2005 engagement in Finland the group encountered retro-styled pop singer Sweet Jenna; mutual admiration led to a joint recording and to Jenna's occasional appearances on tour with the Roomates. Dawning, the band's third Ace release, appeared in 2012. The British Roomates should not be mistaken for the respected American doo wop act that shares the name, though the two groups have grown friendly across the years and original member Bob Minsky supplied liner notes for one of the U.K. band's albums. The English ensemble has shared stages with its idol Dion Di Mucci and received endorsements from doo wop figures Phil Cracolici of the Mystics, John Gummoe of the Cascades, and Jay Traynor of Jay and the Americans.
Albums
