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Louis Cennamo biography (The Musicians' Olympus)LOUIS CENNAMO
Fantastic bassist, he has played with many great bands along his career. He's credited as being the creator of the
'electric bowed bass guitar'. Louis was born in London, on March 5th, 1946.
THE FIVE DIMENSIONS
This band is now famous because his 2nd vocalist was Rod Stewart for a while. Louis Cennamo was the bassist. This was
around 1963:
They were a quintet, but soon after, they suffered many changes when they decided teaming with singer Jimmy Powell,
thus forming Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions.
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Gary LePort
Peter Knight
Someday, these musicians will have a short tribute here:
Rod Stewart
JIMMY POWELL & THE FIVE DIMENSIONS
This was the lineup for the band:
They used to play at Ken Colyer's Club Studio 51, in Great Newport St, London, the same place where The Rolling
Stones used to play at that same time.
But Rod Stewart left them in January 1964, trying to start his solo career, as he had lost most of the spotlight since Jimmy's arrival.
They recorded a single in 1964, 'That's allright / I'm looking for a woman', although it's unknown if Rod was
still in the band when it was recorded.
When Jimmy Powell also left, they returned to their original name, The Five Dimensions.
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Jimmy Powell
Martin Shaw
Barry Wilson
Someday, these musicians will have a short tribute here:
Rod Stewart
THE FIVE DIMENSIONS
(again)
This was the new lineup:
The band was also used as touring backing band for Chuck Berry in 1965. And they also came to play with Chuck in his
album Chuck Berry in London (although uncredited).
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Pete Hogman
Jeff Krivett
Peter Knight
THE HERD
Around 1966, Louis joined The Herd, a band he already knew,as they had shared bill with Jimmy Powell & The Five
Dimensions:
They recorded one single with Louis, 'So much in love / This boy's always been true' (the A-side, being a Rolling
Stones cover).
Later, Mick Underwood left, being replaced by Andrew Steele.
After a year, Louis left the band.
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Peter Frampton
Andrew Steele
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Andy Bown
Mick Underwood
PATTO'S PEOPLE / CHICAGO LINE BLUES BAND
Patto's People was formed around 1966, with great musicians:
But they quickly changed their name to Chicago Line Blues Band. They recorded a single in 1966, 'Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop / Jump back'. They split
soon after.
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Mike Fellana
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Mike Patto
Tim Hinkley
Viv Prince
RENAISSANCE
A fantastic band! It was formed in January 1969:
Their first, self-titled album, Renaissance, is a fantastic album, produced by Paul Samwell-Smith (who
had been playing in The Yardbirds with Keith and Jim). With this album, Renaissance started exploring the folk-rock
camp with great taste. I think they influenced many later bands, even nowadays.
By the time their 2nd album was released, Illusion, the band started suffering from lineup changes. In June 1970, all the original
members (except Hawken) had left Renaissance.
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Jane Relf
Keith Relf
Jim McCarty
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
John Hawken
COLOSSEUM
Another excellent band. Bassist Tony Reeves had left the band before Summer 1970, and Louis joins them:
They played some big festivals (including Bath Festival in June 1970), but in the middle of recording their new
studio album, Louis left. Anyway, he still appears in several tracks of Daughter of time, a very
strong album, including a live track, basically a drum solo, 'The time machine' (recorded live at the Royal
Albert Hall, July 1970). The CD edition includes one bonus track, the instrumental 'Jumping off the sun'.
Apart from the band members (Louis replacement, Mark Clarke appears in the other tracks), there are guest appearances
by Barbara Thompson (flute, sax, vocals).
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Tony Reeves
Dave Greenslade
Dick Heckstall-Smith
Jon Hiseman
BOGOMAS
This band was formed after Louis left Renaissance, with two members of Jody Grind. Louis had played in an album by them, as we can read in the
sessions page, and Louis and Barry had played together before in Five Dimensions.
They didn't last too long together, and six months later, they parted ways.
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Ivan Zagni
Barry Wilson
STEAMHAMMER
This superb outfit was commanded by guitar maestro Martin Pugh. Many musicians were recruited for the band. Louis
Cennamo joined them around 1971.
After some German tours, vocalist Kieran White leaves them. They become a power trio:
They released a new album in 1972, Speech, recorded several months before, with help from Louis' old
mate in Renaissance, Keith Relf (poducing the album). By the way, the album was released only in Germany. The album
features guest appearance by Garth Watt-Roy on vocals and additional guitar.
But very soon, disgrace came when Mick Bradley suddenly died of leukemia in February 1972, while the album
was being mixed. The band was struck deep inside. They try keeping on with a new drummer, John Lingwood, and a new singer:
They played at Reading Festival 1972. But soon after, Bruce Payne leaves. A new attempt is done to recapture the old magic.
Martin Quittenton comes back to the band (he was a founding member):
NOTE for me: I need to check if Louis appears in the 8 bonus tracks of the CD reissue of Steamhammer's 3rd album,
'Mountain'.
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Kieran White
Martin Pugh
Mick Bradley
Bruce Payne
Martin Quittenton
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
John Lingwood
AXIS
This was the latest incarnation of Steamhammer.
They recorded a new album for Brain (their German label), but it was shelved. It still remains unreleased up to this day.
After six months under this new name, they finally disbanded.
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Martin Pugh
Martin Quittenton
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
John Lingwood
ARMAGEDDON
After Steamhammer was over, Martin Pugh and Louis Cennamo decided keeping on playing together. Keith Relf,
who had been producing last Steamhammer album was also involved. They needed to find a powerful drummer. After
asking Aynsley Dunbar to join the band, he declined, but in turn, he recommended the mighty Bobby Caldwell.
Armageddon was ready to start. It was February 1974.
They released a self-titled album, Armageddon, in 1975. But after a while, they decided going
separate ways.
(NOTE: Just for completion. There was also a different Armageddon band, from Germany).
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Keith Relf
Martin Pugh
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
Bobby Caldwell
ILLUSION
It was still 1975, and the original members of Renaissance started thinking about reforming the band. Since the
band was still active, they decided using the name of their 2nd album as band name. That's how Illusion was born.
They recorded some demos, trying to get a recording contract. But again, disgrace came when Keith Relf was
electrocuted in his flat in Whitton on May 14th, 1976.
They decided carrying on with new members, including the superb guitarist John Knightsbridge (from Strawbs):
They released an album, Out of the mist.
Their 2nd album was called Illusion, being produced by Paul Samwell-Smith.
They started recording a 3rd album, but due to lack of interest, the band decided calling it a day in late 1979.
Fortunately, these songs have finally been released in 1989, forming the album, Enchanted caress. The
album also features the last recording ever made by Keith Relf, a song called 'All the falling angels' (recorded
with Louis on bass), and guest appearances by Chas Cronk (bass), Tony Fernandez (drums).
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Jane Relf
Keith Relf
Jim McCarty
John Knightsbridge
Eddie McNeil
Someday, these musicians will be fully covered here:
John Hawken
And then?
For a while, Louis was out of music business. But in 1982, he released a solo album, called Diamond harbour, with keyboardist Eugene Romain.
STAIRWAY
This is a duo formed in 1986 by Louis and long-time fellow Jim McCarty. They mainly perform instrumental music, in the
new age style.
They've been releasing several albums during the 80s: Aquamarine and Moonstone. Both albums feature old mate Jane Relf
on vocals.
They also released two albums with Malcolm Stern: Meditation dance and Chackra dance.
Their new album in the 90s is Raindreaming, again featuring Jane Relf on vocals.
They have made a few gigs together, and there's a video from one of those concerts.
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Jim McCarty
LIMITED EDITION
This band marks the reunion between Louis and his old mate from the Five Dimensions times, Gary LePort:
I don't have more info about them, so any help will be very appreciated!
Click for short, additional info on bandmates:
Gary LePort