On Thursday 24th May 2001 Dave Dryden's Prophets played the Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge with top Los Angeles based session singer Mark Williamson, making a rare appearance in the UK. Though Mark hails from the North of England he has been based in the States for some years, the artists he has backed up in both live and recorded sessions provide a catalogue of all-time greats: the Mamas and Papas, Elton John, Freddie Mercury, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, Sheryl Crowe, Roger Daltrey, Paul Anka, Little Richard the list goes on.
Stokesley's Dave Dryden is one of the region's greatest pro guitarists - world tours with Chris Rea and numerous stints with a whole range of American R&B and Soul artists. (Dave has recently returned from Ireland where he was backing up the legendary Four Tops).
On bass: from Newcastle - Neil Harland sideman for Kathryn Tickell and Joe Cocker. On drums the great Paul Smith. No stranger to Blakey, Paul's work includes sessions and tours with Art Farmer, Harry Sweets Edison, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sting, Jimmy Nail, Echo and the Bunnymen, the Toy Dolls, Smokie, Prendo etc. etc.
