Deke Leonard

A veteran of a small but thriving Welsh beat group scene, Roger "Deke" Leonard was a member of Lucifer and the Corncrackers, the Jets, the Blackjacks, the Jets (again), the Smokeless Zone, and the Dream prior to replacing Vic Oakley in the Bystanders in 1968. Concurrently, this close-harmony act had decided to pursue a more progressive direction and became Man upon the newcomer's arrival. Influenced by Mick Green of the Pirates and Bo Diddley, Leonard's guitar work and compositional skill were crucial in their evolution from concept album acolytes to free-flowing improvisers. ...