One the Juggler -

One the Juggler was an English rock band from London that made six singles and the 1983–85 albums Nearly a Sin and Some Strange Fashion on RCA/Regard. Saxophonist Ian Trimmer hailed from Seventies pre-wave legends Burlesque; drummer Steve Nicol came from Eddie and the Hot Rods.

Members: ‘Rokko’ Raymond Sham Morris (vocals, acoustic guitar), Lushi Lee (bass, guitar), Lin Minchin (guitar), Steve Nicol (drums), Ian Trimmer (saxophone)

Background

One the Juggler formed in mid-1982 in south London when singer–guitarist Rokko (Raymond Sham Morris) teamed with bassist Lushi Lee (Jerry Thornton-Jones). Both men grew up in Romani families and described fairground childhoods where they played acoustic guitars and sang for visitors.

The pair recruited guitarist Colin “Lin” Minchin and drummer Steve Nicol for the initial quartet. Minchin came from Tennis Shoes; Nicol came from Eddie and the Hot Rods. Saxophonist Ian Trimmer, formerly of Burlesque and the Trimmer/Jenkins duo, played shows and sessions with the quartet as an unofficial fifth member. The musicians took the name One the Juggler from the first Tarot card.

By summer 1982, One the Juggler circulated demos among multiple receptive record companies. The group appeared as an unsigned act on Channel 4’s The Tube in December with a filmed performance of “Passion Killer.” They supported Elvis Costello at the Royal Albert Hall Christmas concerts and signed with RCA-distributed Regard Records near year-end.

One the Juggler issued “Passion Killer” in January 1983 (b/w “Dangerous Daze”) and reached No. 71 on the UK Singles Chart in February. They followed with “Damage Is Done” in July (b/w “Lovit Go”) and “Django’s Coming” in September (b/w “Rip the Cat”).

One the Juggler mounted a British club tour in July 1983 and played the Reading Festival in August. The band joined Big Country for a September UK tour, then issued “Are You the One?” in January 1984 (b/w “Diamonds You Meet” and “Dancing Hard”) on Regard Records. One the Juggler returned to the Marquee in April as sessions wrapped on their debut album.

Discography: