Sam Ford and Trudi Green


As co-leaders of The Sam Ford Verandah Band and The Neighbours, Sam Ford and Trudi Green built up a loyal following by playing New Zealand towns, big and small, from the late 1970s to the late 1980s. In 1999 the musical couple moved to London, where they continue to make music as a trio called Soulahula.

I first came across Sam and Trudi in 1981 when they were in The Neighbours with Rick Bryant, then one of the hardest working live bands in New Zealand. Trudi commanded attention with her raspy Cockney accent and blonde hair. Sam, a small, wiry man, led the band, sharing vocals and playing fluid rhythm guitar. Rick Bryant, a much slimmer presence then, roared upfront.

The Neighbours with Rick Bryant, Trudi Green and Sam Ford, Athletic Park 1983, opening for Taj Mahal and Toots and the Maytals.
Photo credit: John Pilley
Sam Ford - Jack (1993)
Southern soul great Otis Clay and Trudi Green in France
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
The Only One You Need - The Neighbours Compilation (Director Gaylene Preston,1982)
Sam Ford and Trudi Green - Well, Well, Well (2020)
Trudi Green at Nambassa with The Sam Ford Verandah Band
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
Trudi Green
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
Trudi Green- Bury the Dead
Trudi & the Exceptions - You're On My Mind 1989, directed by Merata Mita
Local Heroes, later The Neighbours
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
Sam Ford and Trudi Green - Bedtime for Baby (2020)
Trudi & The Exceptions - You're On My Mind (1989)
Sam Ford at a No Mining Coromandel concert
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
Sam Ford and Trudi Green in a 1980 Radio With Pictures special on Red Mole
The Neighbours with Rick Bryant, Trudi Green and Sam Ford, Athletic Park 1983, opening for Taj Mahal and Toots and the Maytals.
Photo credit: John Pilley
The Neighbours Mk.1
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
The Neighbours - The Only One You Need (from the Neighbours' 10-minute Break The Bank short - directed by Gaylene Preston)
The Neighbours, fronted by Rick Bryant, Trudi Green and Sam Ford – opening for Taj Mahal and Toots and the Maytals, Athletic Park 1983.
Photo credit: John Pilley
Sam Ford in his London home studio with Auckland-based US steel guitarist Glenn Ross Campbell, 2015.
Photo credit: Babs Campbell
Soulahula, 2014
Sam Ford and Trudi Green - Smoocher (2020)
Sam Ford & Trudi Green - Dreamer (2020)
Sam Ford with The Jordanaires at Montage Studio
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
The 1980 Red Mole single 'I'll Never Dance Down Bugis Street Again', featuring Sam Ford. This was self-released by Red Mole after a nationwide tour of the Bugis Street show, with the Sam Ford Veranda Band, and some filming with Gaylene Preston on the West Coast. 
Trudi Green
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
Sam Ford & Trudi Green - New Devil Blues Pt.1 (2020)
Sweet As
Sam Ford & Trudi Green - Division Pt 1 (2023)
Sam Ford - Same 3 Chords
Sam Ford - Stop Me
Trudi Green with Freshly Squeezed in the early 1980s
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
In 2023 Sam Ford and Trudi Green released Oooee!, recorded with the Soulahula Band: Chris Nielson, Ernie Semu, Neil Hannan, and Tim Robinson. 
Photo credit: Melanie Church
The Neighbours Mk.2
Metro, March 1984
The Neighbours
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
Sam Ford's 1993 album Unhinged, released on Jim Moss' Jayrem label
The Sam Ford Verandah Band
The Neighbours - Break The Bank (feat. The Only One You Need - directed by Gaylene Preston)
The Neighbours Mk.3
Labels:

Key


WEA


Jayrem


Choice Records

Trivia:

Sam and Trudi backed Red Mole on their final 1980 tour of New Zealand.

Sam and Trudi toured widely with The Topp Twins in the early 1980s.

Filmmaker Gaylene Preston spent a week in Blackball shooting videos of the band for their mini-album The Only One You Need.

Sam now works for London’s National Gallery where he transports expensive masterpieces around the world.

Sam Ford's Verandah Band performed at the Nambassa festival in 1979.

Members:

Sam Ford - guitar, vocals

Trudi Green - vocals

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