Mickey Jupp
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Michael 'Mickey' Jupp (born 6 March 1944, in Worthing, Sussex) is a musician and songwriter, mainly associated with the Southend music scene.

Mickey Jupp played in several Southend bands after leaving art college in 1962 and was in R & B group The Orioles (1963 - Late 1965), with Mo Witham guitar, vocals. In 1968 he formed Legend, signed to Bell Records, Jupp released 'Legend' playing a mix of pop, rockabilly and blues rock styles using no electric instruments. The original band Nigel Dunbar, Chris East, Steve Geere, that recorded this album split soon afterwards but Jupp subsequently put together a new line-up which included Mo Whitham on guitar, John Bobin on bass and Bill Fifield on drums (later with T. Rex where he was re-christened Bill Legend by Marc Bolan).

This was the line-up that recorded the first Vertigo album. When Bill joined T. Rex he was replaced on drums by Bob Clouter who had played with Mickey in his original band The Orioles. It was this line-up which recorded the second Vertigo album "Moonshine" which has been re-released on CD in 2007.

A recording deal with Vertigo produced a second album (also called 'Legend') in 1971 and the follow-up 'Moonshine'. In spite of some championing by John Peel, sales were disappointing and the band broke up.

Returning to Southend, Jupp pursued a low-key existence until the pub-rock revolution (spearheaded by local bands such as Dr Feelgood) created a fresh interest in rock and roll. He signed to Stiff Records in 1978 and the first compilation covered the first three Legend albums. This was followed by his first solo album 'Juppanese' with production by Nick Lowe and Gary Brooker of Procol Harum (there was a long-standing connection with Procol Harum; their bassist David Knights produced the 2nd Bell Legend 45!).

Mickey Jupp went on to produce a further seven solo albums, some appearing on Swedish and German labels. His songs have been recorded by Rick Nelson, Elkie Brooks, The Judds and Chris Farlowe, Delbert McClinton, Nick Lowe, Gary Brooker, The Hamsters, Dr. Feelgood and The Searchers.

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