Style Innovator: Michael Nesmith (30 December 1942)

To most people he’s recognised as the ‘quiet’ Monkee; surly, irreverent, with a good ol’ southern drawl, boy. But while Michael Nesmith may indeed have auditioned for stardom along with Davey Jones and the other members of the group, musically he seemed one or three steps ahead of the rest. Nesmith penned my favourite Monkees songs ‘The Girl I Knew Somewhere’, ‘You Just May Be the One’, and ‘Listen to the Band’, and, in my opinion, he recorded one of the best ever gigs – The Amazing ZigZag Concert, Roundhouse, 28 April 1974.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC8s_GvMccM

Style Icon: The Hamilton 'Nordon' Wristwatch

A life-long fascination with watches has led me to become a bit of collector. I must confess I am no horologist, preferring the aesthetic over the mechanics - though the fact that most of my watches date from the 1950s and all keep excellent time, appeals to my appreciation of longevity.

One of my favourite watches is the ‘Nordon’ bubbleback, which was manufactured by the Hamilton Watch Company in the United States between 1949 and 1952. The ‘Nordon’ had an innovative case design for the time that prevented dust and moisture from entering the case and damaging the movement, so was one of the first watches to be marketed as fully waterproof.

I hope to graduate in 2015 – I wonder if I’ll get presented with a ‘Nordon’?

Style Innovator: King Curtis (7 February 1934 – 13 August 1971)

The events that led to King Curtis’ death in 1971 are well documented; he was fatally wounded after challenging a couple of junkies who were using his door step to ply their trade. But this saxophone colossus left us with an amazingly varied and fascinating archive spanning almost every genre of music. It is for this reason, and for his many inspired collaborations – from Aretha to Duane Allman – that King Curtis sits alongside the greats in my personal pantheon of style innovators.

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Yakety Yak - The Coasters - featuring King Curtis (1958)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXgzQQ5XsHc

Memphis Soul Stew - King Curtis and the Kingpins (1969)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Loy55z4GpA

Whiter Shade of Pale - King Curtis and the Kingpins (1971)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBnXT225VLk