Brian Auger & The Trinity

Brian Auger, born on July 18, 1939, is an English jazz rock and rock keyboardist renowned for his mastery of the Hammond organ. Over the course of his career, Auger has collaborated with prominent artists such as Rod Stewart, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Burdon, and John McLaughlin, blending various genres like jazz, R&B, soul music, and rock. He has also received a Grammy Award nomination, highlighting his impact on the music scene.

In 1965, Auger played as a session musician on The Yardbirds’ hit “For Your Love,” where he initially intended to use the Hammond organ but ended up on the harpsichord. That same year, he formed The Steampacket with notable musicians including Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart, although contractual issues prevented official recordings. The group laid down several tracks, which were later released on an LP and CD. After Stewart’s departure in early 1966, the band disbanded.

Auger later collaborated with Julie Driscoll and the band Trinity, producing a successful cover of Bob Dylan’s “This Wheel’s on Fire,” which reached number 5 in the UK charts. After performing in the U.S. on the NBC special 33⅓ Revolutions Per Monkee, they released the album Streetnoise in 1969. In 1970, Auger founded the jazz fusion ensemble Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, which featured several notable musicians, including drummers from Average White Band. He also produced Mogul Thrash’s only album that year, contributing to the evolution of the jazz rock genre.