Ianbriankennedy:

12-18-1964

My name is Ian Kirkham was born March '63 in Liverpool,England.and is the saxophonist and Musical Director with Simply Red. I grow up in Preston, Lancashire, I was encourage by late dad, studied piano from the age of 5 and a half, switching to saxophone at age 11 while at Ashton-On-Ribble High School. I went on to play for the Lancashire Schools Big Band (LSB and many other local Big Bands, jazz ensembles and soul/funk groups, most notably local funkateers Spiral Axis (voted in the top 10 best jazz-funk acts in the UK by the Daily Star newspaper) and Images (winners of the Lancashire Evening Post Rock & Pop Challenge 1982). Happy days! In 1986 i was 23-year association with UK band Simply Red, playing on all but our debut album and performing with Mick and the band on every world tour since, including the Mick Hucknall album "Tribute to Bobby" celebrating the music of Bobby "Blue" Bland.