Capricorn duo was formed in 1979 when Robin Williams, a veteran of many Country music bands in Southern England advertised for someone to join him in a new duo. That someone was John Scott. John Scott has been a Country music fan as far back as he can remember. He recalls family parties, and the singing of Country songs as well as traditional Scottish and Irish ones, where he always had to do a turn, although from behind, the settee sometimes! His greatest influences in those days were George Jones, Buck Owens and Hank Williams. A week didn’t go by without buying an LP and writing down the words of the songs! It wasn’t only the songs that appealed, but also, Country music’s intricate history, which he still loves to explore.
From the age of 16, he sang in halls in his native Glasgow and helped to run a Country club. Later, with a friend, he performed in pubs and community centres, singing Everly and Louvin Brothers songs. John joined the army in 1976 aged 19, and spent two years trying to convert West German folk club audiences to Country music. He likes to think he had some success! He formed Pure Country duo with Janine Clarke, performing George Jones and Tammy Wynette songs mainly in the folk clubs at British army bases. On leaving the army he settled in Salisbury where, in 1979, he answered Robin’s advertisement.
John has met many of Country music’s major stars from Garth Brooks to Kitty Wells, and still remembers, as a 17 year old, how his knees trembled the first time he met George Jones. He is proud to have sung a couple of songs in Tootsie’s Orchard Lounge in Nashville and he even sang and acted in a Scottish Tattoo at the Albert Hall in front of 5000 people.
Robin and John chose the name Capricorn for their new venture as it was their joint star sign. They worked locally in Country clubs, pubs and social clubs playing mainly popular Country music. In the mid 1980s, Robin decided to take a break from singing and went to America for a 6-month holiday. John Scott didn’t want to give up singing during this time or go solo so, instead, he put a new 4-piece Capricorn band together while John was away.
The band comprised John Scott (Lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Jim Pritchard (Pedal steel guitar). Terry Parkinson (Bass) and either Bill Street or whichever dep drummer was available. Following his return from the US and realising there was no longer a place for him in Capricorn, Robin tried to form another band with local musicians but nothing came of it. Mike Pretty joined the band as full time drummer in 1991.
Mike Pretty was born in Bournemouth and grew up listening to the likes of Johnny Ray, Guy Mitchell and Frankie Laine on the radio. Then, like many of his generation, rock ‘n’ roll arrived and had a profound effect on him making him want to be part of it. He also discovered Johnny Cash, and it was on hearing The Ways Of A Woman In Love that his lifelong love affair with Country music began.
Mike started out as a singer but soon discovered his drumming ability, and for the princely sum of £25 he acquired his first drum kit. This led to the formation of Ricky Marshall and the Deputies (circa 1960) a Country-sounding name but heavily influenced by Cliff and the Shadows. Mike’s involvement lasted until 1962, when his interest in cycle racing brought an end to his musical career, or so he thought. However, by 1965 he began singing again, this time with a piano player, though after a year or so his showbiz career was once again put on hold. Old habits die hard though and his passionate interest in Country music, plus his ever-increasing record collection, combined to encourage Mike’s eventual return to playing. An informal jam session in 1979 led to the formation of the Cottonwood Country Band and for the next 12 years Mike was their drummer, until a chance meeting with John Scott in 1991 resulted in Mike joining Capricorn. Among Mike’s many favourite singers are Rodney Crowell, Bobby Bare, Ed Bruce and Jimmy Buffet.
In 1996 Mike Loft replaced Terry Parkinson who wasn’t really a Country bass player. Initially hooked on The Shadows, Mike started playing guitar at the age of 12 when he formed a school band. By the age of 15 he was doing private gigs and playing in pubs. He played in a rhythm and blues band on leaving school, based around Basingstoke and Reading. He then moved to Poole, and helped form Cincinnati Hog Farm in 1971, swapping over to bass guitar and playing a mixture of Country/folk/fun songs all around the Bounemouth area.
In 1975 he formed Three ‘n’ Easy with two former Hog Farm members, who, with the addition of a drummer in 1977, rebranded themselves as Western Approach, and were successful on the southern Country scene for 18 years, eventually disbanding in 1995. Mike then helped form Dorset-based Shameless, who performed a programme of high energy, modern Country material; a year later he joined Capricorn.
Shortly after Mike’s arrival, James Furguson left after 18 months with the band and Mark Jacobs came in on lead guitar. At this time, Capricorn were still a semi-pro band and Mark wanted a full time guitarist job so he only stayed with Capricorn for a while, eventually leaving to join Rick McKay who was putting together a new pro band. Instead, Rick McKay went to America so Mark ended up joining Kaliber. Next to leave was steelie Jim Pritchard which took Capricorn back to a 4-piece. Andrew Fletcher (Fletch) then joined the band as lead guitarist. He was a good musician but not really a Country player and many people considered him to be too rocky so his time with the band was short. The band advertised for a new Country guitarist although they had in mind Pat O’Dea who John already knew. By a strange coincidence, Pat O’Dea answered their ad and joined the band in 2003 as lead guitarist and vocalist. Pat 0’Dea was born in Ireland with a lifelong love for his native music heritage. Pat was bitten by the Country music bug on first hearing Marty Robbins’ El Paso. He initially began performing back in the ’60s with a Merseyside band The Lounge Lizards then worked as a solo singer/guitarist in London and Liverpool, before forming his own band, After Hours in Dorset, in the mid 70’s playing Country, blues and rock music.
Pat joined Bridport band Okie in the late 1970s, then moved to Bournemouth, singing and playing guitar in numerous club and for 10 years. In 1990 he helped form The Buckin‘ Broncos, who toured successfully around the southern Country circuit before disbanding in 1999. Pat then played locally again in Bournemouth before seeing John’s ad joining Capricorn.
Pat is also a prolific songwriter, writing and recording under the name Owen Moore. His material is generally folky with an Irish flavour and doesn’t feature in Capricorn’s repertoire. Over the years Capricorn won many club awards including the Southern Country (Magazine) Club Band of the year in 2008.
Around 2010 veteran Country singer Frank Jennings decided to revive his career. Many people consider Frank to be one of the best British Country singers. He achieved national recognition winning Opportunity Knocks in 1975 with his band, Syndicate. Frank Jennings Syndicate were one of the first UK bands to get a major label deal and during his long career he has recorded at Abbey Road for EMI and also in Nashville, where he appeared at the Grand Ole Opry, he has also appeared at the London Palladium. He toured in the UK opening for major artists like Don Williams and Tammy Wynette. During his revival, Frank was backed by Capricorn who in fact became the new ‘Syndicate’. Frank Jennings was inducted into the British Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2013. Frank has now retired from singing.
In 2012 John Scott was forced to take a year away from the band for medical treatment. This would have brought them down to a trio but they were able to find a new steel player, Mike Wrixton who joined the band in June that year. Mike was born in Bridport, Dorset and his roots come from a musical family where his father played piano and piano accordion in local pubs, his mother played piano and his brother is still playing Sax, Clarinet, Flute and Drums with several bands in Bridport and the surrounding area.
After learning the piano as a youngster he took up playing acoustic guitar in local folk groups before being drawn to Country music. He then joined a Country band called Okie, still playing guitar, which was the start of his Country journey. Mike was deeply influenced by bands like New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Flying Burritos, The Byrds, Pure Prarie League and got hooked on the sound of the pedal steel guitar. After a telephone conversation with Gordon Huntley, British steel player with US band Mathews Southern Comfort, he purchased his first student model MSA pedal steel from Gordon. His main steel influences are Buddy Emmons, Lloyd Green, Doug Jernigan and J. D. Maness. On Moving to Bournemouth in 1976 to take up a new job, Mike played in various bands most notably playing steel with local band Country Pride until the band broke up in 1985. Over the following years Mike played mostly as a stand in steel player with most of the local Country bands as he was unable to commit to a full time position in a band due to his job. However he managed to find time to play steel on a couple of Capricorn’s CDs. In 2008 Mike started working for himself and was soon back on the road with several local bands until he joined Capricorn.
They carried on for a year as a 4-piece without John. John eventually returned and Capricorn went back to a 5-piece for a year. During lockdown, John announced his retirement from playing. The other four members considered folding the band at this time but following lockdown they decided to carry on as a 4-piece. Pat O’Dea retired from the band at the end of 2023 and in 2025 they decided to call in a day at the end of the year. They are still a four piece with Mike Pretty (drums and lead vocals), Ray Philips (lead guitar and lead vocals), Mike Loft (bass) and Mike Wrixton (pedal steel guitar). Ray also works with Ridgeway Country and the Ian Highland band so if he isn’t available Mark Jacobs stands in on lead guitar and some lead vocals. Mark was previously a member of the band in in 1994 before joining Rick McKay and later Kalibre.
Capricorn organised a farewell concert in Wimborne, Dorset on 23rd December 2025. The hall was filled to capacity with over 200 coming to see the band for the last time. A video of the concert was made and this will be available on DVD some time in 2026.
Research by Nick Catford.