Revered British muso ZOOT MONEY died today, Sunday, 8th September. He was aged 82 and no details are forthcoming. The sad news was confirmed on his social media channels with this simple message : “Ladies and gentlemen – Zoot Money has left the building. May the circle be unbroken. George Bruno Money 17th July 1942 – 8th September 2024”
Money was born and brought up in the staid UK resort of Bournemouth, but he was drawn to music from a young age – first pop and rock and roll before he developed an obsession with Black American rhythm ‘n’ blues and embryonic soul. Taking his stage name from jazz musicians Zoot Sims, he eventually became a key fixture on the south coast club scene. Learning the Hammond organ, he formed his first group – the Big Roll Band in 1961 and changed his name to Zoot Money in honour of one of his jazz heroes – Zoot Sims. Zoot Money and the Big Roll Band quickly broke out of Bournemouth and soon became a big draw on the London/Soho club scene where their shows – a mix of blues, jazz and soul covers made them big favourites with the nascent mod crowd.
The band eventually succeeded Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames as the resident band at the legendary Soho Flamingo Club and though they recorded regularly they enjoyed just one hit – a version of ‘Big Time Operator’. The band’s recordings from this era are sought after by soul collectors – amongst the featured tunes in the recorded repertoire are wonderful covers of things like The Impressions’ ‘I’ve Been Trying’, Rufus Thomas’ ‘Jump Back’ and the Drifters’ ‘Please Stay’. Amongst the various players in the band at this time we guitarist Andy Summers – later to form the Police with Sting!
In 1967 the band morphed into Dantalian’s Chariot and embraced the then currently fashionable psychedelia-oriented sound. Money later returned to his soul and jazz roots and became an in-demand session player both in the UK and in the States. He also worked as an actor an oversaw the soundtrack for cult classic TV series Tutti Frutti.
In later years Money worked regularly on nostalgia tours joining forces with people like Paul Jones (of the Manfreds), Chris Farlowe, Alan Price and his old pal Georgie Fame – all pioneers in the evolution and acceptance of soul in to the UK.
