Progressive rock band Family was formed in Leicester, England in 1966. Founded by vocalist Roger Chapman, multi-instrumentalist John ‘Charlie’ Whitney, saxophonist Jim King, bassist Ric Grech, and drummer Harry Ovenal, the band’s line-up revolved over time with Chapman being the only constant member throughout their career. Influenced by everything from hard rock, progressive rock, and soul music, Family has been classified as a progressive rock band although their style has changed with each album, sometimes shifting between genres within the same song. The band’s albums have included musical assistance from artists such as Dave Mason, Peter Hope-Evans, Nicky Hopkins, Linda Lewis, George Bruno, and many others. Family released their debut album, Music in a Doll’s House, in 1968 and rose to number 35 on the albums chart in the UK. The group’s commercial momentum sent their second album, Family Entertainment (1969), to number 6. Still riding high on commercial and critical acclaim, their 1970 album, A Song for Me, reached number 4 and was quickly followed at the end of the year by Anyway (number 7). When Fearless was released in 1971, the album didn’t make the Top 10 but still landed comfortably at number 14. It was the group’s first album to make the Billboard 200 in the US, reaching number 177. Bandstand (1972) managed to reach number 15 in the UK and 183 in the US. Their album It’s Only a Movie (1973) missed the Top 20 and only reached number 30 in the UK. The group toured to support the album, but the lackluster response led the band to split up towards the end of 1973. Since their split, Roger Chapman released a series of beloved solo albums and Family’s music has been reissued in many collections, live recordings, and remasters. Between 2013 and 2016, Family reunited for a series of live releases. The line-up included Roger Chapman, Rob Townsend (drums), john ‘Poli’ Palmer (keyboards / woodwinds), and Jim Cregan (bass). Several members of the various line-ups of Family have passed away including Ric Grech (1990), Tony Ashton (2001), Jim King (2012), and John Wetton (2017). Former keyboardist John ‘Poli’ Palmer – who played with Family between 1969 and 1972 and during the reunion live shows – died on July 21, 2025, at the age of 82.