Asa teenager Roger Chapman would take the mic “for a laugh” when the dance band at his local palais ran through some of the rock’n’roll hits of the day. He tried to emulate the likes of Little Richard, Eddie Cochran and Chuck Berry, but he never dreamt that he would become a singer, let alone one of the most original vocalists of his generation. Chapman sang with bands on the Leicester gig circuit, including the Rocking Rs and The Exciters, then in 1966 he joined rhythm and blues band The Farinas who soon became Family. Over the next seven years Family developed through the psychedelia of their debut Music In A Doll’s House (1968) into one of the most imaginative and respected groups of 70s progressive rock era. Their wide stylistic remit encompassed rock, folk, blues, jazz and eastern influences. They went on to release another six albums, and their singles the Strange Band EP (1970), In My Own Time (1971) and Burlesque (1972) all entered the UK Top 20.