Colin Gilbert
is Mr.Bograt
Hello
My journey in music started in my senior school years. The music teacher recognised something in me and gave me the initial push that gathered momentum very quickly.
I started by playing the drums in a Rock 'n' Roll band and continued playing live music for 30 plus years. After retiring due to health, I began writing and recording more seriously.
Here I am, doing what I love, writing music and making videos, writing children's stories and other music related stuff.
My Story
UK drummer turned songwriter Colin Gilbert shares his journey through rock, funk, R&B, and orchestral music. Multi-instrumentalist with a passion for film scores.
My Musical Journey – From Drummer to Songwriter and Composer
I began my music career as a drummer with a UK-based pop and rock ’n’ roll band called Memphis T Rock and Bograt. Like many working musicians, we occasionally used other band names to book gigs. We toured pubs and clubs across the UK, building unforgettable memories and musical experiences. Eventually, as bands do, we went our separate ways. Paul joined Cadillac and the Cruisers, Dave went on to play with Tonight and Yen, while I explored new horizons.
Over the years, I performed with a wide range of bands covering genres like rhythm and blues, funk, progressive rock, pop covers, and rock ’n’ roll. Some of these included The Jumping Stingrays (R&B), Steam (Funk), Mr. Zero (Prog Rock), The Funky Monks, Street Legal (R&B), and The Rockin' Devils. I also had the pleasure of sitting in with acts like Next(featuring two of Benny Hill’s Angels), Les Gray’s Mud, and The Basie Bros. (Jazz).
As my career developed, I picked up new instruments—starting with acoustic guitar and a 5-string banjo. While the banjo didn’t stick, the guitar did. I later added the ukulele and more recently, piano, to my musical toolkit.
After stepping back from live drumming, I began focusing on songwriting and studio recording. I write ballads and have ventured into orchestral and electronic compositions. Some of my music is cinematic in feel—perfect for film scores—though I continue writing and producing independently until those opportunities arise.
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Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.