Chas hodges biography of william hill

Chas Hodges – A life in music

Chas was born on the 28th December to Daisy and Albert Hodges. His earliest memories were when he was about 3; “music was amongst the most vivid of ‘em.” His mum played the piano which she taught herself with the aid of his Nan, who had a great ear for music. His first instrument was an old Spanish guitar that his mum got him from his Uncle Alf.


It was the same guitar she remembered having around the house when she was a kid. Rock ‘n’ Roll was his first love and at the age of 14 he bought a banjo for one shilling 
at a jumble sale and joined his first band, the Horseshoe Skiffle Group.

THE OUTLAWS

Now playing bass, Chas joined Billy Gray and the Stormers and had regular gigs at the Kings Head in Edmonton where Chas first met his wife, Joan.

Following this he was asked by Joe Meek to play bass in Mike Berry’s backing band, forming The Outlaws with Reg Hawkins, Billy Kuy and Bobby Graham. He was with Reg when he learned his first chords on the p