Making music – it’s in the blood of a Capaldi

9:37am Monday 1st September 2008

CAPALDI. The name’s even got a rhythm to it, so no surprise it has bred a dynasty of musicians.

Mention it to the flower power generation anywhere in the UK and there will be nodding approval for Jim Capaldi, sadly now called to a real land of peace and love in the sky, who was drummer/singer /songwriter with Traffic, one of the best British bands there’s ever been.

But mention it anywhere in south Worcestershire, especially around Evesham, and there will be memories of the rest of the family too, Nick and Carmino, Marie, Nicolette, Marlene and young Phillip, Jim’s junior brother.

So propping up the pile, Phil’s had quite a weight to carry.

“Has it helped or hindered, being a Capaldi?” I asked. “A bit of both,”

he replied. “Most people remember Jim, of course, but I’ve never felt I’ve lived in his shadow. I’ve always been an individual in that respect.”

Phil’s a drummer too and living life to his own beat. He’s been Joe Brown’s regular sticks man for several years and soon begins a 50th anniversary tour with the Cockney legend, kicking off with a show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday, September 24.

He’s also one of the tutors at Worcester School of Rock and Performance, encouraging the percussionists of the future and passing on his skills and knowledge.

Being born a Capaldi, Phil could hardly not have been a musician.

Despite their Italian name, the Capaldis have been in England a very long time and Phil’s grandfather was a skilled accordionist who had his own accordion school in Evesham in the early 1900s with branches in Worcester, Gloucester and Tewkesbury.

He passed his talent on to his son Nick – Phil’s father – who made his debut as a variety artist in 1928.

In a lengthy career on the boards, Nick Capaldi played most of Britain’s major theatres with his accordion act, sometimes appearing as a duo with his wife Marie or brother Carmino.

Nick also taught at Birmingham Accordion School, recorded film soundtracks and made several BBC radio broadcasts.

In January 1970 he appeared on Hughie Green’s Opportunity Knocks with his elder daughter Nicolette, who sang Ciri Biri Bin to Nick’s accordion accompaniment. Younger daughter Marlene was also an excellent singer, appearing in many amateur productions.

But no TV talent shows came knocking for Jim Capaldi. By then Traffic had already been in the Top 20 twice – with Paper Sun and Hole in My Shoe – and although the band’s life was quite short, throughout his subsequent career either as a solo performer or as a guest in other outfits, Jim Capaldi remained a major talent on the British popular musical scene.

Growing up in his slip-stream proved an education for his younger brother by five years.

“By the time I was 11 or 12, I was going to watch him play,” said Phil.

“In the late 1950s he joined a band called the Severn Vale Rockets and then they changed their name to The Sapphires.

“Jim started off as the singer, but later he switched to playing drums.

They just came naturally to him.

“I can remember when his first set arrived at our house in Battleton Road. It was a Rogers Constellation kit in black bags and I can see Jim unpacking them and setting it up in the kitchen just to see what it looked like. I was bog-eyed.”

Surrounded by all this, it wasn’t long before Phil started playing drums, too. His first local band was Big Front Yard, in which he played percussion and sang. When they folded he moved on to drums with The Fruit Hill Band and then joined the backing group of Birmingham country rocker Raymond Froggatt.

By then, brother Jim was getting into his solo career and Phil joined his band, appearing on the session at Island Records’ Basin Street studio in London in 1975 that produced the legendary hit Love Hurts.

“It was one of two Everly Brothers numbers Jim had recorded and he wasn’t sure which was the more commercial,” said Phil. “Eventually Island Records’ boss Chris Blackwell picked Love Hurts.”

When Jim moved to Brazil for a while, Phil returned to Raymond Froggatt and then 15 years ago joined Joe Brown’s backing group The Bruvvers.

“I heard Joe was looking for a rhythm section for his band for a tour,” he explained. “I initially joined with Dave Nilo, who played bass and was also from Evesham. I liked it so much I stayed. Joe’s a great bloke to play with and we have some good times.”

Almost unbelievably, Phil’s still playing the same Rogers drum kit he started out with. There have been a few subtle alterations, but in the main the skins have remained the same. “Why change?,” he said.

“It’s a good set up.”

Which might not be a bad attitude to instill into the students at Worcester Rock School. If you’re good enough, you can play it. And the Capaldis have always been rather more than good enough.

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