‘From Here to Obscurity in 240 Days’

The Art Baxter story

Britain’s First King of Rock ‘n’ Roll

A biography by Eric Gomm & Julian King

 This remarkable biography about Art Baxter, who was born Arthur Charles Gomm in Canterbury, Kent, in 1926, finally puts the record straight about who was Britain’s first ‘King’ of rock ‘n’ roll.

Art’s musical career started in London during the war with bands led by Matt Moore, Billy Ternent, Oscar Rabin and Jan Ralfini before his first big break in 1953 when he signed a two year contract to sing with Ronnie Scott.

Art Baxter and his Rock and Roll Sinners were formed in 1956 and immediately played to packed venues nationwide receiving rave reviews from the critics and public alike. His record company, Philips, hailed him as ‘The King of Rock ‘n‘ Roll in Britain.’

Art Baxter and his Rock and Roll Sinners were unique and this book charts his life and the Sinners tour in intimate detail, full of never before known facts and photographs that will intrigue rock ‘n’ roll fans and music lovers in general.

They also starred in Britain’s first rock ‘n’ roll film ‘Rock You Sinners’ in 1957.

This book also chronicles the demise of the ‘Sinners’ after 240 days and his subsequent life before he rose again in the 1970s to become a South London legend at the ‘Frog and Nightgown Club.’

Art Baxter died, still singing, in 1997 at Greenwich Hospital in South East London.

The research for this biography started in 1996, albeit casually through an interest in Art Baxter’s recording career. It gathered more momentum in 2004 and thereafter through various meetings and conversations with family, musicians, managers and others who worked with him or knew him, until finally early in 2012 the authors got together to pool resources and write this book.Great xmas present.please see the website,1926/1997.please listen to radio caroline on dec 10th,6 to 9 pm.records and chat about art baxter.internet only.