Bournemouth's biggest musicians - do you know them all?

From DJ's to rock bands and successful solo artists, the town has had its fair share of stars:

Alex James

Blur at the Brit Awards in 2012 (Yui Mok/PA).

Bassist for the alternative rock band Blur, Alex James grew up in Boscombe, Strouden Park and Southbourne. In an interview with the Echo Alex James famously said:

"You can take the boy out of Bournemouth but you sure can't take Bournemouth out of the boy."

He attended Bournemouth School and later went to Goldsmiths College in London where he met Graham Coxon, a founding member of Blur. The band released eight studio albums including Modern Life is Rubbish, Parklife and The Great Escape.

Gareth Malone 

Gareth Malone at the Sentebale Audi Concert 2019 (Ian West/PA)

Presenter of the BAFTA-award-winning TV series The Choir, the musically-gifted Gareth Malone was educated at Bournemouth School and sang with the Symphony Chorus of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Malone used to busk in Bournemouth town centre before doing gigs at Mr Smiths, O'Neils and Yates' during the 1980s and early '90s. 

He was given an OBE in the 2012 Birthday Honours list for his services to music. During lockdown Malone was applauded for bringing together lonely singers in an at home choir. 

Max Bygraves

Max Bygraves OBE was a singer, comedian, actor and variety performer and he made 20 Royal Variety Performance appearances. 

He lived on Sandbourne Road in Westbourne where he and his wife Blossom raised their three children, he had three other children from extramarital affairs. In August 1974 he became stuck on a cliff near his home when a kite flown by his grandson Michael became trapped beneath the edge of the cliff. He suffered friction burns on his hands and was in shock when police and firefighters helped him to safety.

In 2008 he and Blossom moved from Bournemouth to Queensland, Australia, where he died in 2012.

Tony Blackburn

Tony Blackburn at the Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA).
 

Tony Blackburn is most famous for being a Radio One DJ and broadcasting on the 'pirate' stations Radio Caroline and Radio London in the 1960s. 

When he was three his family moved to Bournemouth and he spent several years living in Lilliput, he went to school at Castle Court School in Parkstone. 

He currently DJs on BBC Radio 2, BBC Local Radio and KMFM and he has had a singing career. 

Zoot Money

George Bruno "Zoot" Money is a vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader.

Money is best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band. He took his stage name 'Zoot' from Zoot Sims after seeing him in concert.

Inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles, he was drawn to rock and roll music and became a leading light in the vibrant music scene of Bournemouth and Soho during the 1960s. He can still be seen playing live concerts across the country and has recently played at the Jazz Cafe in Sandbanks.

Have we missed anyone off the list? Let us know in the comments.