Robb Appleton
Robb grew up in 
Southend-on-Sea where he learnt to play the harmonica at 15 years old – he needed company after enjoying the distractions of the seafront, missing the last bus every weekend and then having to walk six miles home. The police can verify this as they were constantly having to stop him on his walk and tell him to refrain from that awful wailing sound that was likely to scare residents in the early hours. His harmonica playing was pretty good though.
Robb moved to Cambridge in 1970 to take theatre into prisons, borstal and schools but his musical R&B and blues roots took over when he was asked to session live with Eddie and the Hot Rods in concert. After a brief stint with blues/rock band Pariah and playing solo at the legendary Cambridge Folk Club he met some down-at-heel students and townies of similar musical taste and lifestyle. As a result, 
Duke Duke & The Dukes was formed. From the debris of this band and Pete Sayers Grand Ole Opry Roadshow rose a force, 
first nurtured at the Cambridge Folk Club, that was to take almost all of the town - if not the whole country - by storm – Telephone Bill & The Smooth Operators.
Robb played harmonica, vocals, and occasional double bass with ‘The Bill’, all of which he has incorporated into the original sound of band.
Someone from Newport in Wales once said, “I have never heard the harmonica played so expressively before”.
Robb has his own website at www.robbappleton.co.uk.
