The Strawbs formed in 1964 as the Strawberry Hill Boys while the founder members were at St Mary’s Teacher Training College, Strawberry Hill, London. The name was shortened to ‘the Strawbs’ for a June 1967 concert in which they wanted to display the band name on stage.  Their long-time leader and most active songwriter is guitarist and singer Dave Cousins (guitar, dulcimer, banjo, vocals) (born David Joseph Hindson, 7 January 1945, Hounslow, Middlesex). In the early days, Strawbs played with Sandy Denny (later lead singer of Fairport Convention and Fotheringay).