Musical History

Brian Preston served his apprenticeship as a floor singer, resident and organizer in the folk clubs of his native Lancashire, in the early years of the ‘Folk Revival’.

Then in 1966 he was invited to join the respected and popular group ‘The Wayfarers’, by the band’s founder, Ian Gartside. Brian learned much and toured the northwest folk circuit, making two L.P. records, and playing the first of many gigs in Europe, touring Holland.

In 1970 he formed the semi-professional duo ‘Horden Raikes’, where he polished his trade, making two more L.P. records for the prestigious ‘Folk Heritage’ label. The owner and producer of the company, Alan Green, became a life long friend and a great influence on Brian's musical career. He also helped Brian and his partner Ron Flanagan set up ‘Raikes Recordings’, which recorded local northwest acts.

1973 saw Brian resigning as a superintendent engineer to become a professional musician. The first two years were spent touring the UK and Europe as a singer of unaccompanied traditional songs, such was the plethora of folk clubs at that time. Two more LP albums and a cassette followed.

Between 1975 and 1979 Brian again toured constantly with the critically acclaimed ‘Tom Tiddlers Ground’, which he formed with Chris Parkinson & Hugh O’Donnell; later adding the Yorkshire duo, Robin Garside & Paul Gough. A further two L.P. records and a single were made at this time.

From 1980 to the prestent, Brian has been solo, occasionally working with other musicians on projects. In this time Brian has made two more albums and eight cassettes.