Singer, 72, signs record deal after decades-old song unearthed by DJ

Viv Danning, 72, headshot, with beanie hat on, grey beard and holding the new Haze "Jazz Carnival" record at by the water on the canal at Redhill Marina with trees and sky in background behind him
-Credit: (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)


Viv Danning was clambering out of the driver's door of his MWB Mercedes camper van when a text came through on his mobile phone. He didn't recognise the number.

"I was on the way to visit a friend in Derby," explains Viv from his narrowboat at Redhill Marina near Ratcliffe-on-Soar. "I didn't have a clue who it was. I thought: 'Who the hell is this?' I told my friend: 'I've just had the weirdest message.'"

The suspicious SMS asked a question pertaining to Viv's tenure as the lead singer of a function band called Haze in the 1970s. He responded with one word: "Correct."

It had been 43 years since Viv had touched a stage with Haze, who frequented the Devon circuit in the 1970s. He had stayed in touch with the guys, but of the quintet, three had died and the other, Tony Ridley, had gone off the radar.

Their one album, Silver Tops Reflects Haze, was a collection of covers of pop songs by the likes of ABBA and Barry Manilow mixed with deep cuts of niche jazz and funk tracks. Funded by the local school for the deaf, where the band rehearsed, only 1,000 copies were pressed and the profits went to the school.

So who was this on a text message, four decades later, asking about it?

"I've just heard your album and would like to reissue two tracks and promote the record," came the response. It could - could - have been a hoax.

But it wasn't. The voice on the other end of the phone was deadly serious.

The mystery man introduced himself as Miche - a DJ and independent record label owner based in London. With an interest in a variety of genres, his label, Panorama Records, has found success in reissuing old, unheard disco and jazz records to a growing worldwide audience of collectors.

A friend of his had been scouring the crates of a second-hand record store in Hastings when he came across the dusty Haze LP. He had bought it out of curiosity.

It was the seventh track, a re-working of the funk number Jazz Carnival by Brazilian trio Azymuth, that piqued his interest. He was straight on the phone to Miche.

"I thought it was a brilliant reimagination of a London jazz-funk classic," says Miche, real name Michael Davies, who scoured the internet to find and buy his own copy of the album as soon as he could. "It was the first time I'd heard Azymuth with a screeching guitar solo in it. It fit the label's ethos to an absolute tee. It's music that's been lost in time that needs to be heard."

Viv Danning, centre, with bandmates (L-R) Pete Greenham, John West, Tony Ridley and Mike Emery in red shirts and black trousers (apart from Viv in white trousers), on grass outside parked big coach-style tour bus in 1981 with fence behind and light blue car, and grey sky
Viv, centre, with his bandmates Pete, John, Tony and Mike in front of the band's tour bus in 1981 -Credit:Supplied

Having left Haze in 1982, Viv eventually moved to Cornwall and then to Nottinghamshire in 2010 for a calmer life on a narrowboat upon the county's canals. He'd all but retired from music and hadn't played for years until an old friend got in touch in 2019.

It reignited a spark and the pair toured musical theatre shows with Viv on bass until 2021. And it was that return to roots that proved fortuitous - Miche, in search of contact details for Viv after finding his record, discovered a two-year-old Facebook post advertising Viv's last ever show.

Miche messaged the musical director responsible for the post, crossing his fingers that he'd have Viv's number. He did - and the rest, as they say, is history.

Over the two and half hours between Miche's first text to Viv and lunchtime that day, the two had agreed to terms - a flat fee for Viv and royalty payments twice a year. A contract came through through via email - and the deal was signed and sorted within a matter of day.

"I just honestly couldnt believe it," says Viv, now 72. "It was a bolt right out of the blue. I'm so, so pleased. Financially I have no idea whether I will be able to go out and buy a Yorkie bar, or a new campervan or a Jag. But what I do know is that Miche is so into the record and so excited by it and has connections within the industry.

"For me, it's just for the guys' memory. We were a cracking band. They deserve it. It's sad they're not around now. But I'm honoured to sign the contract on their behalf. After 43 years, we get a record deal. What? It's amazing."

Jazz Carnival by Haze will be released on 7-inch vinyl and on streaming services by Panorama Records on October 4.