Daren Reid
Daren Reid, born in London spent his youth dreaming about being a great singer and entertainer. It was all that mattered to Daren even though he never really shared this. Daren’s father had been in many successful bands in the UK and had played with the majority of the UK rock legends. It was a hard act to follow. Keen to follow in the family footsteps, Daren joined a Perth band in 1986. The band featuring brothers Lance and Greg Outridge and Ian Martinus on drums. The band was called Excite soon to change to Low Clearance.
It was an exciting time playing in the outer suburbs of Perth and country shows pulling an old trailer of PA gear. The show quickly developed into the nucleus of the Soul City Groove. According to Daren’s band members, the idea was simple, “let Daren say and do as he pleased and if we get out of town in one piece it was a good show.”
Daren was prepared to push the boundaries of entertainment to learn what he could get away with and what people would come back to see. The band had worked out to “Embellish and watch for the signals. They threw away the set list after about a week.
Low Clearance disbanded after two years, due to other work commitments.
Daren’s first love had always been soul music and this was an opportunity to play and develop a band around the great soul classics that he had grown up with. The Soul City Groove was born.
The first line up for the Soul City Groove featured Tony Deluca (drums) Louis Machado (keys) Doug Ryken Rapp (guitar) and Wayne Fisher (bass), this line up performed possibly the most country shows and far flung places of any Soul City Groove line up to date. They would play for anyone, anywhere at anytime, maybe this is why they are so versatile, from Bikies to Buddhists it didn’t matter!
The second coming of the Soul City Groove featured Marcus Johnson (drums) from LA. Louis Machado (keys) Lance Outridge (bass) Doug Ryken Rapp (guitar) Daren felt that it was time for a change and he wanted to perform some more traditional soul and funk and this line up was absolutely fun! The show antics got sillier with Marcus the drummer sometimes crying, Lance was the ring leader and Daren’s side kick.
But good things must come to and end and the next chapter became the band that people would associate with in the mid to late 90’s. They became very popular, from 1992 – 1998. These were probably the memorable years as they achieved so much and did so many things that set the bar for the rest of the incoming members. They had played new territories such as Hamilton Island and toured Indonesia.
The line up included Bradley Outridge (percussion and Lance’s brother) Warren Wightman (drums) and a young Howie Morgan (guitar) and it was an amazing time for all of them producing two very successful albums (available now at Cash Converters and good Hock Shops ) Daren went to a friends place one day and she was using it as a coaster!
In the mid 90’s the Soul City Groove morphed into the line up and concept that really stands today. The line up featured Daren’s cousin Ms Aloma Reid as the inaugural diva and the superb drumming ability of young Jarrod Pizzata, during this time Danny Achurch made an appearance and the band hit new highs. Other musicians that played a major part in the Soul City Groove were Mark Cunniffe (keyboards) followed by Chris Martin. Danny Achurch was replaced by Jesse Beaton. Ian Martinus returned from very early Excite days and finally Lance called it a day after 15 years of fabulous service. Lincoln Matthews replaced Lance Outridge. Daren is always very grateful for the loyalty and service that all of the members of the Soul City Groove have all played a part in developing the ongoing success which is the Soul City Groove Band.
In the many years that Daren Reid has been entertaining he believes every crowd has a silver lining and the show is all that matters.
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