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Gentle Giant

Gentle Giant
Country
England
Bio / info
Gentle Giant was a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members, except the first two drummers, were multi-instrumentalists. The band's beginnings are with the psychedelic pop band Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, which featured three Shulman brothers, Phil, Derek, and Ray. After modest success with the single "Kites," they became frustrated with the pop music business, and dissolved the band in 1969. In 1970, they got together with guitarist Gary Green and Kerry Minnear, a recent Royal College of Music graduate in composition who played mostly keyboards. With drummer Martin Smith (a Simon Dupree holdover), Gentle Giant came to be. With five members singing and a wide range of instrumental capabilities, a broad sonic pallette became the band's hallmark, and Minnear's complex arrangements drew from both Renaissance music and modern theory. After a period with Malcolm Morimore on drums, John Weathers joined, to solidify the group's personnel. Oldest brother Phil departed in 1973 to concentrate on family obligations and alleviate the stress of touring, leaving the band a five-piece. Through varying record labels and changes in musical climate, the group continued recording and touring until splitting up in 1980. After the group's demise, Derek Shulman went on to a career on the business side of music and Ray did some work on soundtracks and production for other artists. John Weathers joined the band Man, and Gary Green has made occasional guest appearances with other artists. Kerry Minnear has concentrated on religious music and also runs Alucard Music, which administers the Gentle Giant catalog. The band has consistently resisted calls for reunions, though Green and Mortimore have performed with other musicians (including Minnear at one point) as Three Friends.
Website
http://www.blazemonger.com/GG
Related articles (26)
Releases on file (31)
Various Artists — Romantic Warriors: A Progressive Music Saga Various Artists — Romantic Warriors: A Progressive Music Saga
(Zeitgeist Media 1, 2010, DVD)
Various Artists — Giant for a Life - A Tribute to Gentle Giant Various Artists — Giant for a Life - A Tribute to Gentle Giant
(Mellow MMP 300 A/B, 1997, 2CD)
Various Artists — Supernatural Fairy Tales Various Artists — Supernatural Fairy Tales
(Rhino Records R2 72451, 1996, 5CD)
Gentle Giant — Unburied Treasure Gentle Giant — Unburied Treasure
(SMABX1091, 1981/2019, 29CD+BR)
Gentle Giant — Civilian Gentle Giant — Civilian
(One Way A 28591, 1980/1997, CD)
Gentle Giant — Front Row Center - US Dates 1976-1980 Gentle Giant — Front Row Center - US Dates 1976-1980
(Madfish, 1980/2022, 10LP)
Gentle Giant — Scraping the Barrel Gentle Giant — Scraping the Barrel
(Alucard ALU-GG-04, 1980/2004, 4CD)
Gentle Giant — Under Construction Gentle Giant — Under Construction
(Alucard alu-gg-01, 1980/1997, 3CD)
Gentle Giant — Giant for a Day Gentle Giant — Giant for a Day
(Alucard ALU-GG-016, 1978/2009, CD)
Gentle Giant — Out of the Fire - The BBC Concerts Gentle Giant — Out of the Fire - The BBC Concerts
(Hux Records HUX008, 1978/1998, 2CD)
Gentle Giant — The Missing Face Gentle Giant — The Missing Face
(Glass House GLASS105CD, 1977/2003, CD)
Gentle Giant — The Missing Piece Gentle Giant — The Missing Piece
(Alucard ALU-GG-015, 1977/2009, CD)
Gentle Giant — Playing the Fool Gentle Giant — Playing the Fool
(Alucard ALU-GG-014, 1977, CD)
Gentle Giant — Artistically Cryme Gentle Giant — Artistically Cryme
(Glass House GLASS104CD, 1976/2003, 2CD)
Gentle Giant — Interview Gentle Giant — Interview
(Alucard ALU-GG-013, 1976/2009, CD)
Gentle Giant — Live at the Bicentennial Gentle Giant — Live at the Bicentennial
(Alucard ALUGG046, 1976/2014, 2CD)
Gentle Giant — Free Hand Gentle Giant — Free Hand
(Alucard ALU-GG-012, 1975/2009, CD)
Gentle Giant — Giant on the Box Gentle Giant — Giant on the Box
(Alucard Alu-gg-03, 1975/2004, CD+DVD)
Gentle Giant — King Biscuit Flower Hour Gentle Giant — King Biscuit Flower Hour
(King Biscuit Flower Hour Records 70710-88035-2, 1975/1998, CD)
Gentle Giant — Out of the Woods - The BBC Sessions Gentle Giant — Out of the Woods - The BBC Sessions
(Band of Joy BOJCD 018, 1975/1996, CD)
Gentle Giant — Playing the Cleveland Gentle Giant — Playing the Cleveland
(Glass House GLASS106CD, 1975/2003, CD)
Gentle Giant — The Power and the Glory Gentle Giant — The Power and the Glory
(Alucard ALU-GG-011, 1974/2009, CD)
Gentle Giant — In a Glass House Gentle Giant — In a Glass House
(Alucard ALU-GG-10, 1973/2009, CD)
Gentle Giant — Octopus Gentle Giant — Octopus
(Alucard ALU-GG-035, 1972/2011, CD)
Gentle Giant — Octopus (Expanded Edition) Gentle Giant — Octopus (Expanded Edition)
(Alucard ALUGG052, 1972/2015, CD+BR)
Gentle Giant — Three Friends Gentle Giant — Three Friends
(Alucard ALU-GG-034, 1972/2011, CD)
Gentle Giant — Three Piece Suite Gentle Giant — Three Piece Suite
(Alucard ALUGG057, 1972/2017, CD+BR)
Gentle Giant — Acquiring the Taste Gentle Giant — Acquiring the Taste
(Repertoire REPUK 1072, 1971/2005, CD)
Gentle Giant — King Alfred's College Gentle Giant — King Alfred's College
(Alucard alu-gg-07, 1971/2009, CD)
Gentle Giant — Gentle Giant Gentle Giant — Gentle Giant
(Repertoire REPUK 1035, 1970/2004, CD)
Simon Dupree & the Big Sound — Part of My Past - The Simon Dupree and the Big Sound Anthology Simon Dupree & the Big Sound — Part of My Past - The Simon Dupree and the Big Sound Anthology
(EMI 7243 593727 2 3, 1968/2004, 2CD)
 

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