Bert Weedon OBE (born 10 May 1920, East Ham, Essex, now Greater London) is an influential English guitarist and composer during the 1950s and 60s.

Bert Weedon studied music as a child and by the time he'd entered his teens had decided to try his hand with the guitar. Although he didn't initally have very lofty ambitions with the instrument, after hearing it played classically he became fascinated by the complexity of the music it could produce. He decided that he wanted to be able to play in the same way and was very fortunate to find a local tutor who was capable and willing to teach him the instrument to this high standard. Despite his classical training, the greatest demand was for jazz and popular dance music and it was this that brought him his first engagements and raised him to the status of a professional musician. His skill with the guitar placed him at great demand, and by the end of the 1940s he had begun a progression that would lead him to play with the great orchestras of the time including those of Cyril Stapleton , Ted Heath and the Squadronaires. He is also known to have accompanied the great Django Reheinhardt, and Stephane Grappeli when these legendary members of the 'Hot Club Of France' toured the UK..

When 'Rock And Roll' hit the UK during the late 1950s, Bert was already producing recorded material- frequently as a session musician. Despite the fact that he sometimes found himself backing singers who had little musical ability Bert decided to embrace the new music rather than spurn it, as many musicians of his generation did. As the 1950s drew to a close Bert was undoubtedly recognised as the UK's premier popular guitar soloist. In addition to playing and recording, Bert also began composing 'rock and roll' instrumental numbers, the best known of which is probably 'Ginchy'- a number that has been covered and remade by guitarists on both sides of the Atlantic.

The first British guitarist in the UK Singles Chart, with "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" in 1959, he was an influence on many of today's big names, including Eric Clapton, Brian May, Mike Oldfield, The Shadows and The Beatles. His playing style is best known nowadays through the music of The Shadows, especially Hank Marvin. (photo of Bert with Duane Eddy)

As well as his hits and TV appearances at a crucial time in modern British music history, his best-known contribution to British guitar style is his tutorial guide "Play in a Day", which many stars claim was a major influence on their learning and playing.

His playing style focuses on both rhythm and melody, and is itself influenced by the jazz guitarists of the 1950s, notably Les Paul. Weedon placed a lot of emphasis on control of tone, and wanted to make the guitar the star of his music. He won, and his name was synonymous with the guitar for a whole generation of young music fans

Modest, gentle and unassuming, he is a far cry from the modern guitar hero. The later 1960s generation of underground rock performers satirised him as too mainstream, the Bonzo Dog Band singing the line "We are normal and we dig Bert Weedon" in 1968.

Married to Maggie Weedon with two sons by marriage, Lionel and Geoffrey. Grandchildren Jeremy Weedon, Colin Weedon, Nicholas Weedon, Jim Weedon, Annie Weedon, Matthew Weedon, Oscar Weedon and Theo Weedon.

A Water Rat, he is highly active in charity work and fundraising, especially for children and the disabled, and was elected King Rat in 1992. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2001 for his services to entertainment and charities.

(Info edited from Wikipedia & 45-rpm.org)