Sarah has also been in the Chocs for a few years now! As well as doing shared vocals with Harry, Sarah will be your first point of contact for the Chocolates! Ensuring all the admin, finances, publicity and advertising gets done Sarah also deals with bookings for the band and liaising with clients, agents and venues. Sarah has a long musical background with her father and brother both playing in hugely successful dance bands in the South West. The first gig she went to was at the age of 6 weeks old and every weekend after that. Once old enough to walk she became her Mum’s dance partner and can dance a mean Quickstep when pushed! Her first singing experience in public was at the age of 5 singing Summer Loving but there’s no accounting for taste! Sarah can play keyboards and was playing solo and in duo’s until rescued by the Chocs! Sarah is also a Band Leader for a four piece resident dance band in the Weston area. Sarah loves being a part of the Choc team as the band have played at some awesome venues and always have a laugh and enjoy performing at every function!
Justin started playing trombone at the tender age of 11 and had reached grade 8 by the age of 15! Since then he has learnt how to play the trombone properly(??!!) Justin has been seen playing his trombone in many places including the Royal Albert Hall, Symphony Hall and also at Glastonbury Festival on numerous occasions! He loves the versatility the trombone offers and plays in an array of different styles from big bands to orchestral and theatre work. Justin is also coorganising the band and dealing with clients so you may well get to speak to Justin if you need any help with any of your arrangements for your event.
Stuart began playing at the age of 11 and by the age of 16 was principal trumpet in the Somerset Youth Orchestra. He also performed three solo concertos by Haydn, Arutunian and Bach during his sixth form years. He studied at Birmingham Conservatoire, playing in both the classical and jazz forms. Since college he has returned to the West Country where he has built up a successful playing and teaching career. He has played in the Choccies since 2001!
Steve joined the RAF at the age of 17 and has been a professional musician since this time. He can play saxophone, clarinet and flute and is in a couple of original bands as well as Doctor Chocolate. Steve is the saxophone tutor for the South West Youth Wind Sinfonia and also Conductor of the North Somerset Jazz Orchestra. Steves favourite chocolate bar is a curly wurly!
Paul, Bass Player extraordinaire! Paul began his playing career aged 17. He joined forces with the legendary Gary Moore’s brother Cliff in a band called Stage Fright! Paul continued to focus on original material with various bands up until 1998 when he joined Doctor Chocolate. Prior to this Paul has made numerous appearances and has been featured on the rock channel VH1 in a previous band that had been named European unsigned band of the year! He has also appeared in Europe’s biggest selling guitar magazine “Guitarist”. Paul is now one of the two longest standing members of Doctor Chocolate.
Johnny was born in Morcombe in Lancashire and started playing drums at the age of 9. He has played for some top brass bands such as Ferry Engineering and Leyland Vehicles. Johnnie studied music at Salford College Manchester and studied percussion with John Moates, Symphonist of the Halle Orchestra and he rehearsed with them regularly. Johnny is a freelance musician and has been since the age of 17 playing with artists such as Norman Wisdom, Frankie Vaughan, Cannon an Ball, Jimmy Cricket, Jim Bowen to name but a few. He has done pantomimes and shows all over the country. Joining the RAF as a musician from 1983 until 1999 Johnny has travelled the world and has had trips with Her Majesty the Queen. Since leaving the RAF Johnny is now a Lecturer of Music at a local college and a gigging musician. Johnny is married with three children – Sam, Dave & Otis – as well as a goldfish! Johnny likes playing with the chocs as he never knows whats gonna happen next!
Sam has been with the band for a couple of years now and is THE most awesome guitarist…. EVER! Sam grew up listening and learning his love of guitar from his father. Many hours spent listening and playing The Blues, he has developed a unique style of playing and will nail instantly any guitar rift from any song. His solos are out of this world and Sam has even been known to play the solo from Michael Jackson’s Beat It with his teeth! As well as the Chocs, Sam also keeps himself busy with a Kinks Tribute band. When he’s not out gigging you’ll find him with his guitar in hand, practising even more (not that he needs to!) or looking after his little boy.
Rob has always loved music! From 6 years old he started playing drums. He then started messing about on the family piano and realised what a great instrument it was! He used to put his Dad’s records on and play along with them and has been hooked ever since. Not a day goes by when Rob doesn’t think about music but working in a music shop helps with that! Music is a great away to communicate with lots of people! Anyway, Rob says that since joining Dr Chocolate it has shown what entertainment is all about, as the whole band dances around while playing! He hasn’t played in a band like it before and loves every minute! Rob’s currently building his own sound studio to pursue his passion for recording (no guessing who his first band to record will be!!) and also spends a lot of his time filming short stories. Added to all this he has just had his first baby and he is now expecting a second! (His wife Kelly that is… not Rob!)