Phil Stanley

Vocals

Phil has always had a keen interest in the soul vocal tradition. He gained experience with soul band "NPG" (later to become "Get Serious") as a backing vocalist. When the lead vocalist retired, Phil was persuaded to step in.

Although his natural instinct is to harmonise to a melody, he found his ability to lead and front the band was as good as his harmonising and continues to add dynamic stage presence to his dynamic voice.

James Barnett

Trumpet & keyboards

James, like many brass players, has played in a wide variety of musical genres. He began playing in brass bands, but soon widened his experience to encompass orchestral and big band work.

In the mid-Eighties, he was a founder member of "Brassmonkeys" (now "Derventio Brass") brass ensemble, but could still be found playing with jazz orchestras and pop groups "Steam Engine" and "Soul Train". James joined "NPG" in the late Eighties and now considers himself settled in soul. He doubles as the bands occasional keyboard player, but will gladly relinquish the chair if there are any takers!!

Phil Street

Bass guitar

Phil joined the group in 2003 after playing in a wide range of music genres

Chris Shaw

Lead guitar & vocals

Chris got his first guitar at 10 years old and has been hooked ever since. He began playing with club bands, but wanted to play to a different type of audience. He invested in a distortion pedal and embarked on a successful rock career with bands such as "Concrete Parachute", "Phoenix", and later "Road House".

Always a versatile player, Chris was head-hunted by "NPG". He soon adapted to the soul sound and eventually took over the role of musical director which he still holds today.

 Dave Southgate

Saxaphones

Dave was mainly inspired by R&B and soul from the Motown, Atlantic & Stax labels, especially their saxophonists such as Junior Walker & King Curtis.

Having started on Alto, then adding Tenor, he played the big band scene around the Midlands with "Savanna Saxe" followed by several years with pop cover band "Beaujolais". He returned to his soul roots with "NPG" and added Soprano & Baritone to his line up of instruments, to cater for the range of sounds required for the soul repertoire.

Graham Clarke

Valve Trombone

Graham began his playing career at the tender age of 7 with the local Salvation Army band. He made his way up the ranks and gained much experience with them, including recording at Maida Vale Studios and featuring as a soloist at the Royal Albert Hall, before turning his ability to other genres.

After various orchestral positions, Graham was invited to join "NPG" in the early Eighties. He has been a stalwart of the band since then. Graham switched to valve trombone when Adrian Flowers joined the band playing trumpet. Grahams experience on the euphonium in his early playing days with brass bands have stood him in good stead for this.

Steve Hill

Drums

Steve began playing the drums at the age of 17 and gained much experience playing with pop, rock, folk, reggae, R&B and soul bands in the Leicester area. He has since completed various sessions and albums with a variety of popular musicians from the Midlands.

After spending a musically challenging and enlightening two year period playing original roots music with "The Liberty Cats", Steve joined "Get Serious" in 1996 to pursue his love of Funk & Soul music.

Adrian 'Herbie' Flowers

Trumpet

The man with the hat!!!! Herbies musical background has been mainly in brass bands, playing with some of the countrys' finest including Black Dyke Mills, Fodens & Desford Colliery.

The opportunity to join "Get Serious" in the summer of 1999 has given him a completely new direction and style which he thoroughly enjoys.

Ian (Big “E”) Roulston

Valve Trombone & Vocals

Ian is a recent addition to the band who began playing Brass at School by chance, after he decided that the recorder had too many holes. He soon chose to play something with just three valves when he picked up the Baritone horn. 

After leaving school he continued to play in various local brass bands, until finally he stopped playing due to other commitments.  After seeing ‘Get Serious’ by chance one night in 2003, his flame for playing once again ignited, and now puts him where he is today, alongside the ‘Get Serious’ horns.

Andy Buck

Keyboards

Andy started playing when he was young and if there is a style of music, he’s played it.  His particular love is Jazz, but he also enjoys the Soul Funk sound.  Andy joined the band at the end of 2002 and has been ‘tickling the ivory’s’ ever since.