Biography

The love of music, and in particular the drums, has been with Paul from a very early age, his first experience being provided by his father in the form of a parchment covered bucket. The passion grew until aged ten he joined the Marple Prize Band initially as a cornet player, before moving into the New Mills Prize Band to play the snare drum.

Even during his National Service Paul continued to play, this time in the Royal Signals Dance Band. On his return from Germany in 1958 he started work as a musician at the Hulme Hippodrome (shown on the right).

Next was a position with the Moorside Country Club, which provided an ideal environment to expand his musicianship across vibes, bass and drums.

By 1959 he'd made a move to Bredbury Hall. It proved to be significant and seminal moment in his musical career, meeting up with reeds man Brian Smith, trombonist Gordon Robinson - a partnership that's endured over the decades and still exists today in the form of The Paul Cheffings Band.

The trio were joined by trumpet player Dave Browning - best known his trumpet solo in the Coronation Street theme tune - form a quartet which played at Bredbury Hall for six years.


Next was the Richman Club in Macclesfield to play with other big names including Joe Palin, Toby Crofts, Paul and Alan Howarth on keyboards. As a quintet they were very successful, winning the Alderley Edge Musical Festival two years running.

TV appearances came soon after. First for ITV Granada's evening Scene and Late Scene Extra programmes as part of the Vic Bullock Quartet. BBC auditions soon followed, resulting in The Paul Cheffings Trio, which included Tony Croft and Alan Howarth, playing on the BBC Light Programme in 1967.

Paul's career continued on at the Poco Poco and some of the top clubs in the area and some of the biggest names in show business, including Matt Monro, Bob Monkhouse, Frankie Howard and Tommy Cooper. He's justly proud to have played with likes of Syd Laurence, Joe Palin, Jeff Lowe, Tony Crofts, Dave Browning, Gordon Robinson, Bobby Willins, Garry Cox and Steve Moore.

And, of course, Paul still plays when The Paul Cheffings Band swings into the Cheadle Hulme Conservative Club every first Thursday in the month. The band consists of Brian Smith on saxophone, Gordon Robinson on trombone, Steve Moore or Vinny Parker on piano, Dave Turner on bass and vocalist John Hargreaves - occasionally supported by Helen Rodgers.

Gordon Robinson won the prestigious Don Lusher Trombone Competition and his band won the Euro Jazz Festival competition in Switzerland in 1984, along with Brian Smith. Brian has played with the famous Maynard Ferguson band in the late 1970 and 1980s.