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Having learned most of his blues licks from Long John Baldry and Davey Graham whilst playing in the coffee bars of Soho, Wizz followed the time-honoured trail - busking throughout Europe with many different musicians including at one time a budding young blues-man named Rod Stewart!
In Paris Wizz met Sandy. She played the five-string banjo and together they hitch-hiked down to Morocco. They married in 1963 and returned to England to raise a family. Wizz then formed a bluegrass duo with banjo picker Pete Stanley, a partnership which was to last for four years during which time Wizz and Pete recorded a single and an LP for EMI and enjoyed great popularity on the booming Folk Club and College circuit of the 1960's.
Wizz and Pete went their separate ways at the end of 1967 and Wizz returned to solo work, collaborating with songwriter Alan Tunbridge (an artist friend from the Soho days) and occasionally with guitarist Pete Berryman. He enjoyed considerable success throughout the 70's in Europe and Scandinavia both as a touring soloist and together with Sandy in the group "Lazy Farmer".
However back in England and several albums later -in spite of being often mentioned as an important early influence by artists such as Eric Clapton, John Renbourn and Ralph McTell, Wizz retained a certain "musicians' musician" reputation, only occasionally playing club gigs and the odd festival spot sometimes with his son Simeon on Saxophone, Flute and Harmonica.
Wizz's climb back into the attention of the public commenced with the interest shown in his album, “The Grapes of Life”, released in 1988 and a feature in Folk Roots Magazine in October 1990, along with his appearances at several major Festivals. Around this time Wizz also appeared in a TV documentary, “Acoustic Roots”, and this was followed in the early 90s by a re-release of several of his classics in “The Village Thing Tapes.” (Wander Tute). Then came another album, “Late Nights and Long Days” (Fellside), featuring Wizz and Simeon Jones. More recordings followed, particularly with an American company called Scenescof, and this led to his first trip to America and another appearance in a documentary, this time called “The Ballad of Rambling Jack Elliot.”
“With his unique guitar style and eclectic repertoire and a right hand worthy of Broonzy, Wizz continues to tour on the acoustic Folk and Blues circuit.”
For bookings and more details contact us at Perrotts Folly
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