Learning to communicate in a band
As a youngster, Orphy started playing music when he joined a local Scottish pipe band.
Learning snare drum rudiments was a useful start into the world of percussion, but he consistently found himself enamored with the marimba and xylophone.
He hung around the local roller disco during his teenage years where he made friends and it wasn’t long before they started jamming.
They formed what Orphy calls a “workshop” band with initially a bassist and guitarist– they’d cover Kool and the Gang tracks and the occasional attempt at an Earth, Wind & Fire song.
Over the next few years, the band evolved as players came and went.
Soon the funk band named itself “Savanna”. They would go on to release a few singles that briefly showed up on a few UK R&B charts.