From the band Contrasound Red Express were formed in the mid 70's with bassist Jeremy (jumbo) Barker and drumming brother Steve (ex Plastic Dreamboat), Malcolm Tagg-Randall (saxophone) and Bill Sharpe (ex Saffron Jack). They were joined by singer Larraine O'Dell, guitarist Mark Jackson (ex Saffron Jack) and ex Telephone Bill and the Smooth Operators' drummer Brian Wren (ex White Mule, Alias and Baby Whale).

In 1976 Dennis Andrews (ex Soul Committee) replaced Larraine.

Covering a wide range of tunes, with a smattering of Santana and Stevie Wonder Red Express soon made the Deodato version of 2001: A Space Odyssey their theme tune and this grew to be the highlight of any live performance, along with Donny Hathaway's The Ghetto. As writers Sharpe and Andrews became more prolific the characteristic original songs soon overwhelmed the set list, featuring Fairweather Girl, 59 th Street, the melodic Waiting for the Man and the unforgettable Wop It Down Song.

Rehearsing at Great Sampford and recording in Bill's front room in Bishops Stortford they played contemporary Cambridge venues such as Alma Brewery, Grad Pad, Raffles, The Great Northern Hotel and were one of the acts at the original Strawberry Fair Festival in Cambridge playing from a trailer.

Red Express supported such diverse acts as Elvis Costello, Landscape and Humphrey Littleton's big band. Their eclectic sound brought a huge following from the university students and made Red Express one of the premier live acts in the Cambridge area.

After Malcolm left the sixth member of the band changed rapidly through Raff Ravenscroft (saxophone) and Bubs White (guitar) until Keith Winter joined as the second guitarist with Roger O'Dell bringing in his inimitable drums in the absence of Brian.

They released one single, 'Happy' recorded at Spaceward studios and released on 12" single with Taxman as the B side.

In 1980 Roger, Bill and Keith found themselves becoming more in demand with their jazz funk band Shakatak.

Red Express found it difficult to continue without the distinctive keyboard of Sharpe and like all good things slowly faded into the memories of their loyal fan base in the Cambridge area.

They occasionally re-form for one off gigs.

www.redexpress.net/index.html