Derek “Blue” Weaver was born in Wales in 1947, which ironically
was the same year that the contributor, and David Bowie, Elton John,
Steve Marriott, Brian May, Carlos Santana, and so many more were
born. He studied music at the Royal College of Music in Cardiff. He
moved to London to get away from the constraints the Welsh music
scene and ended up as a co-founder of the 1960s Welsh hit band,
Amen Corner fronted by Andy Fairweather Low. He left to join the
Strawbs after Rick Wakeman left the band to join, Yes, the prog rock
band.
Weaver was key to the Strawbs sound by playing the Mellotron on
two of the band’s most acclaimed albums and remained with the band until 1973 when he toured the US with Mott the Hoople who were supporting Queen.
He played with T-Rex on their singles including Get It On and Telegram Sam, Lou Reed on Berlin, Alice Copper on Billion Dollar Babies and has worked with, Chicago, Stephen Stills, John Cougar Mellencamp, the Osmonds, Stevie Wonder, Duran Duran and so many more.
In 1975, following the departure of keyboardist, Geoff Westley from the Bee Gees backing band, Weaver was suggested by the drummer from his first band, Amen Corner. The revamped three-piece backing band of Weaver, Bryon and Alan Kendall became permanent musicians who went on to record most of the band’s greatest hit albums including: Main Course, Children of the World, the live album, Here at Last, Spirits Having Flown, the smash multi-platinum album: Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack, which spawned the massive worldwide hits, Jive Talkin and You Should be Dancing.
In a recent documentary it was mentioned that Weaver also influenced their hit song How Deep is Your Love, although he was not credited.
Weaver has been successful as a songwriter and was co-writer of the Andy Gibb hit, (Our Love) Don’t Throw it All Away, and a number of songs co-written with Robin Gibb for Jimmy Ruffin’s album, Sunrise, which he also produced, and included the top ten hit, Hold on To My Love.
He also wrote the soundtrack for the film, Times Square and in the 1980s worked with the Pet Shop Boys, the subject of last month’s article.
He is still sought after for live and session work and now owns a 24-track home studio in Chiswick where he continues to write, record, and produce music as well as running his multi-media company. And, since 2009 he has been a director of the Music Producers Guild.
[email protected] AUDIO & VIDEO
Derek “Blue” Weaver
BY-------Graham Sclater
TABITHA BOOKS