© The members of Gentle Influence - 2012
Jeff Arundell - Bass guitar & backing vocals
Martin Hester - Lead vocals
Mark Pawley (Left) - Lead guitar & backing vocals
Simon Needler (Right) - Hammond organ & backing vocals
George Schwyzer - Drummer
Jeff was born 24 February 1948 - Witney Oxfordshire. After Gentle Influence I moved back to Oxford and threw myself
into my 'day job' as an HP Finance Representative for Bowmaker who had supported me when the group de-camped to
London to seek fame and fortune. At the same time, Martin and I recruited a new guitarist and drummer and started
happily gigging again. After that, I started rehearsing with a succession of semi-pro close harmony groups as I always
fancied myself as a 'Four Season' or 'Beach Boy'. However, as my former band-mates will undoubtedly confirm, I sadly
didn't have the voice.... so I finally waved goodbye to the music scene in 1974. Also, after realising that there was much
more money in buying and selling second-hand cars than financing them, and to my eternal embarrassment, I became a
'dodgy used car dealer' for a few years, started playing squash.... and got married! Maria and I had 2 children, my eldest
son, Alex and my daughter Lucy. In 1982 I started my career in property development by buying a field in Carterton and
speculatively building a block of 16 flats for sale. Then, after moving to my present home in Bath in 1986, I continued
building, developing and managing property, playing squash more seriously.... and getting married.... to Caroline!
My youngest son Marcus came along in 1988. For many years I continued investing in businesses, principally building
residential blocks of flats all over the UK, and enjoyed my 5 minutes of fame by appearing on the TV show
'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire', playing even more squash at a higher level.... and, Oh Yes, getting married....
for the third time in 2001!! Then in 2008, 2 of my house-building companies got caught in the 'property crash' and went
spectacularly 'bust'! So, after proving what an expert I was at managing my own finances.... I started doing the same for
other high net worth individuals and families... and with some unexpected success! At the time of writing,
I'm semi-retired.... still managing money... still playing competitive squash... and still married! Her name's Diane but I call
her my 'third wife'..... it keeps her on her toes!
Martin was born 2 July 1948 - Witney Oxfordshire.
Mark was born 30 April 1948 - Stratton St Margaret Wiltshire. After Gentle Influence I worked for
my Father-in-law for a while in the steel fabrication industry. In 1970 I joined WH Smith in the Data Preparation
department going on to Programming, Computer Operations Support etc and ended up at the
company Training College as the IT Instructor before being made redundant after 27 years service.
I then joined Style Conferences as IT Manager again facing redundancy 11 years later.
I then set up my own company and worked until 2011 as a computer support consultant for people
with home-based businesses before taking retirement. I remarried in 1997 live in south-west London.
Simon was born 31 January 1950 - Faringdon Oxfordshire. After Gentle Influence split, I gave up music
altogether and concentrated on running the family Sportswear business, which evolved into a specialist
Winter Sport concern. My two daughters eventually persuaded me to return to music so in 1996 I went
back to drums, which had been my first instrument in the early Sixties, and played all over the South of England
with the James Duke band amongst others. After seven years I felt I was too old to thrash around on drums
every night, so I returned to keyboards, and since then have played and continue to play with a Joe Bonamassa
tribute band, a party/function band, depping for various Blues/Rock outfits, and currently my main band,
Shades of Blue. I am now retired, and live on a smallholding surrounded by my wife, Wendy, and what on
occasions, seems to be thousands of assorted animals!
George was born 11 December 1947 - Liverpool. After Gentle Influence George attended the University
of Vienna until 1971 having gained a BA. Whilst in Vienna George met an American girl who he married in 1973.
He then moved to America and attended the University of Cincinnati where he gained a Ph.D in German Studies.
He went on to create a career in investment banking with the likes of Chase Manhattan Bank and Deutche Bank.
George divorced in 2011 and is currently Chairman and Chief Financial Officer for Project Solutions Group
International dealing in hydrocarbon products, commercial real estate precious metalbullion diamonds etc.
George currently lives in New York and seeks a soulmate.
Apparently after Gentle Influence broke up - he hasn’t done anything!
