"Mr Guitar."
Bert Weedon (1920 - 2012)
Guitarist Bert Weedon inspired an incalculable numbers of budding musicians to pick up the instrument and learn how to play through his Play In A Day books.
East Londoner Weedon bought his first guitar in Petticoat Lane when he was 12 and the man who would go on to become known as "Mr Guitar" played in a number of big bands (including the Ted Heath Band) in both the post-war years and the 1950’s.
By the time the rock and roll scene hit the shores of Britain later that decade Weedon’s noted talents meant he was soon in great demand as a session player and soloist.
He played on a great number of hit records and his playing not only added to the appeal of the songs but contributed to the success of early British rock and roll stars Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard, Adam Faith, Billy Fury and many others.
Those rock and roll solos led to Top Rank approaching Bert Weedon to make a record and in 1959 Weedon became the first British guitarist to have a solo record in the charts (then known as the Hit Parade) with ‘Guitar Boogie Shuffle.’
He went on to have a very successful solo career and other notable hits included ‘Nashville Boogie,’ ‘Apache’ (also recorded by The Shadows) and ‘Tokyo Melody.’
His albums put his overall sales well into the millions – Bert Weedon Remembers Jim Reeves was incredibly popular and sold over a quarter of a million copies in 1973, an astonishing amount for a British instrumental guitarist covering the songs of an American country and popular music singer.
Three years later 22 Golden Guitar Greats sold over one million copies and reached #1 on Album Charts, which meant another first in British chart history – the first solo guitarist to reach the top of the Hit Parade.
East Londoner Weedon bought his first guitar in Petticoat Lane when he was 12 and the man who would go on to become known as "Mr Guitar" played in a number of big bands (including the Ted Heath Band) in both the post-war years and the 1950’s.
By the time the rock and roll scene hit the shores of Britain later that decade Weedon’s noted talents meant he was soon in great demand as a session player and soloist.
He played on a great number of hit records and his playing not only added to the appeal of the songs but contributed to the success of early British rock and roll stars Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard, Adam Faith, Billy Fury and many others.
Those rock and roll solos led to Top Rank approaching Bert Weedon to make a record and in 1959 Weedon became the first British guitarist to have a solo record in the charts (then known as the Hit Parade) with ‘Guitar Boogie Shuffle.’
He went on to have a very successful solo career and other notable hits included ‘Nashville Boogie,’ ‘Apache’ (also recorded by The Shadows) and ‘Tokyo Melody.’
His albums put his overall sales well into the millions – Bert Weedon Remembers Jim Reeves was incredibly popular and sold over a quarter of a million copies in 1973, an astonishing amount for a British instrumental guitarist covering the songs of an American country and popular music singer.
Three years later 22 Golden Guitar Greats sold over one million copies and reached #1 on Album Charts, which meant another first in British chart history – the first solo guitarist to reach the top of the Hit Parade.
In 1976 22 Golden Guitar Greats was the first record by a solo guitarist to reach the top of the British
album charts. Another career highlight for Bert Weedon was his OBE for services to music in 2001.
Bert Weedon wasn't just a rock and roll guitarist or a session musician to top British artists. His six-string talents provided the opportunity to accompany some of the great American singers including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Rosemary Clooney.
Nor was Weedon just a studio guitarist – at the height of his powers he was an extremely popular live attraction and one of Britain’s biggest pop music tickets.
He performed at the Albert Hall, appeared in theatrical productions in such prestigious venues as the London Palladium and the Victoria Palace, played all the top cabaret clubs and hotels and was a star attraction on many a top-line Cruise Liner show, including on the famous QE2 and The Canberra.
Concert and cabaret shows were also successful in various parts of Europe, Africa and New Zealand.
And he was no stranger to other entertainment mediums – records indicate he appeared on over 5000 TV or radio shows.
But for all his success and all his hits, Bert Weedon is best remembered for his guitar teaching books and the musicians who learned through those publications.
His first Play In A Day book was published in 1957 and the books, like his records, went on to sell in their millions. They have also inspired millions, including many you will not only have heard of but will have in your record or CD collections...
Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton and Brian May learned from Weedon’s books and Clapton would later state he had never met a guitarist “of any consequence” that had not read or learned from Weedon’s publications.
When Bert Weedon was featured on the British TV show This is Your Life in 1992 Eric Clapton and Brian May were two of many music artists appearing on the show to pay tribute or acknowledge their debt to the guitarist (others included Hank Marvin, Adam Faith, Joe Brown, Lonnie Donnigan and Marty Wilde).
There were many other tributes including a Tribute Lunch hosted by the Variety Club of Great Britain in 1999 but perhaps the biggest tribute of all was the OBE received from the Queen in 2001 for services to music.
On the 20th April 2012 Bert Weedon struck his last chord but millions continue to listen to, read from or be inspired by "Mr Guitar."
album charts. Another career highlight for Bert Weedon was his OBE for services to music in 2001.
Bert Weedon wasn't just a rock and roll guitarist or a session musician to top British artists. His six-string talents provided the opportunity to accompany some of the great American singers including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Rosemary Clooney.
Nor was Weedon just a studio guitarist – at the height of his powers he was an extremely popular live attraction and one of Britain’s biggest pop music tickets.
He performed at the Albert Hall, appeared in theatrical productions in such prestigious venues as the London Palladium and the Victoria Palace, played all the top cabaret clubs and hotels and was a star attraction on many a top-line Cruise Liner show, including on the famous QE2 and The Canberra.
Concert and cabaret shows were also successful in various parts of Europe, Africa and New Zealand.
And he was no stranger to other entertainment mediums – records indicate he appeared on over 5000 TV or radio shows.
But for all his success and all his hits, Bert Weedon is best remembered for his guitar teaching books and the musicians who learned through those publications.
His first Play In A Day book was published in 1957 and the books, like his records, went on to sell in their millions. They have also inspired millions, including many you will not only have heard of but will have in your record or CD collections...
Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton and Brian May learned from Weedon’s books and Clapton would later state he had never met a guitarist “of any consequence” that had not read or learned from Weedon’s publications.
When Bert Weedon was featured on the British TV show This is Your Life in 1992 Eric Clapton and Brian May were two of many music artists appearing on the show to pay tribute or acknowledge their debt to the guitarist (others included Hank Marvin, Adam Faith, Joe Brown, Lonnie Donnigan and Marty Wilde).
There were many other tributes including a Tribute Lunch hosted by the Variety Club of Great Britain in 1999 but perhaps the biggest tribute of all was the OBE received from the Queen in 2001 for services to music.
On the 20th April 2012 Bert Weedon struck his last chord but millions continue to listen to, read from or be inspired by "Mr Guitar."
Ross Muir
April 2012
The audio track 'Guitar Boogie Shuffle' is presented to accompany the article and in tribute to the memory of Bert Weedon. No infringement of copyright is intended.
April 2012
The audio track 'Guitar Boogie Shuffle' is presented to accompany the article and in tribute to the memory of Bert Weedon. No infringement of copyright is intended.
