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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZWEEDON, Bert(b Herbert Maurice Weedon, 10 May 1920, East Ham, London; d 20 April 2012, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire) UK guitarist. Studied music at nine, guitar at 13; studied classical music (once accompanied Beniamino Gigli) but played with local dance bands; first broadcast '40. Played with Stephane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt; with Ted Heath early '50s, Cyril Stapleton BBC Show Band '56; sessioned with Cliff Richard, Dickie Valentine, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Nat Cole; 10 top 50 hits '59-61 began with top 10 'Guitar Boogie Shuffle'; 'Mr. Guitar' '61 was written and dedicated to him by the Shadows. Gold and platinum discs for no. 1 compilation 22 Golden Guitar Greats '76. Though his dance-band oriented style was soon considered old-fashioned by the younger audience, he had great influence on UK music with teach-yourself books Play In A Day (two million copies in print) and sequel Play Every Day, translated into many languages. He was proud that so many world-famous British musicians had learned to play using his books, but complained about groups who 'try to blast their way to success with too much noise and not enough talent', adding 'I can't understand why anyone should want to smash a cup and saucer, let alone a guitar.' |