Jeff Gallant was brought up on country music from a baby thanks to his Mum (Steph) and Dad (Barry) who were big Country fans and especially his uncle Tony who was a music promoter.
Despite growing up with a love of Country music, Jeff’s first band was a rock band called Taboo which he formed in 1996.
They played some original songs as well as covers by bands like Sex Pistols, Black Crowes, Elvis, Rolling Stones, and The Beatles etc. The line up was Jeff Gallant (lead vocals and rhythm guitar). Adam Austen (lead guitar), Ellen Maxwell (bass) and Tom Eagle (drums and vocals).
Taboo continued until 2000.
In October 2001 Jeff formed his first 5-piece Country band, Jeff Gallant & The Norfolk Cowboys.
At their first festival gig at Pontins, Pakefield on 7 October,
they received three encores and a standing ovation
– he has never looked back.
The line up was
Jeff Gallant (vocals and rhythm guitar),
Colin Watson (lead guitar),
Jay Dee Read (pedal steel guitar),
Terry Annison (bass)
and George Ing (drums).
Once the band started travelling further afield from East Anglia they were told that the word ‘Norfolk’ was putting off people in other areas from booking them so,probably around mid 2000s, they became The Jeff Gallant Band, although there was never an official change of name.
Over the years, band personnel have come and gone and the lineup has changed seven times but Jeff has always surrounded himself with top musicians, always with a wealth of experience on the Country circuit, he is now the only original band member left.
The second line up comprised Jeff Gallant (vocals and rhythm guitar), Jay Dee Read (vocals, pedal steel guitar and electric guitar), Titch Reader (vocals, fiddle and keyboards), George Ing (vocals and bass) and Dick Hewitt (drums and banjo).The next change saw the departure of Jay Dee Read who was replaced by Ray Philips (vocals, pedal steel guitar and lead guitar).The band then lost two members and became a quartet with the arrival of Big Dave Watson (vocals and bass). Next to arrive was Clive Grant (bass and vocals), a veteran of many country band including Spellbound and Memphis Roots. Long serving drummer Dick Hewitt was next to depart, being replaced by Matty Baker.
When the Jeff Gallant Band returned after covid, the lineup Jeff Gallant (lead vocals and lead guitar), Clive Grant (bass), Mark Dunn (pedal steel and electric guitar) and Matty Baker (drums). Clive, Mark and Matty also play with Nashville Numbers and Clive is also a member of Memphis Roots. Mark Dunn has now left the band and has been replaced by Jim Martin (pedal steel, electric guitar and fiddle). Jim is a veteran of many bands since he first learnt electric guitar in 1968 and has been playing Country music since 1979. Some of his bands include Premonition (1971), Sting (1973), Stampede (1980), Tracy Elsdon Band (mid-1980s), Mean Business (1990), John Douglas Band (2001) and most recently Black Steel Duo with Bob Schwartz.
As well as playing on the Country circuit, Jeff has also worked in holiday camps under the name Jib Phillips and in a duo called Full Measures which comprised Jeff Gallant (lead vocals and rhythm guitar) and Darren Francis (lead guitar). Both Jib Phillips and Full Measures played pop and rock covers, everything from Ed Sheeran to The Beatles.
All activities came to an end during Covid in 2019 and once all restrictions had been lifted Jeff decided to stick to performing under his own name.
Jeff Gallant is now available solo, duo (with Clive Grant),trio (with Clive Grant and Jim Martin) or 4-piece band. He also works as a guitar teacher (face to face or online) and this and his singing commitments ensures he is now busier than at any time during his career.
