Blue Weaver

Blue Weaver
Weaver
Weaver
Background information
Birth nameDerek John Weaver
Also known asBlue Weaver
Born (1947-03-11) 11 March 1947 (age 77)
Cardiff, Wales
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
  • songwriter
  • producer
InstrumentKeyboards
Years active1960s–present
Labels
Formerly of
Websiteblueweaver.com

Derek John "Blue" Weaver (born 11 March 1947) is a Welsh rock keyboardist, session musician, songwriter and record producer.

Career

[edit]

Derek Weaver was born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1947. He took up the piano and organ as a child. His first job at the age of 15 was in Gamlin’s Music Store, and later in Barretts Music Store.[1] He played his first gig in the Drill Hall in Cardiff with a group called The Insects. He then joined Brother John & the Witnesses, which included Dennis Bryon.[1] After playing with several local bands, he moved to London and joined "The Heatwave", who backed Tawny Reed.[1] He soon moved to back to Cardiff.

Weaver's career as a musician began as a co-founding member of 1960s Welsh rock band Amen Corner and its successor Fair Weather. In 1971, Weaver joined Strawbs after keyboardist Rick Wakeman departed to join Yes,[2] contributing notable keyboard and Mellotron parts on Grave New World and Bursting at the Seams, the bands' most successful and critically-acclaimed albums. Weaver left Strawbs in 1973 and toured with Mott the Hoople on their US tour with supporting act Queen.[3] The following year, he toured with Streetwalkers.[citation needed]

In 1975, former Amen Corner bandmate Dennis Bryon, who had begun playing drums in The Bee Gees backing band the year before, suggested Weaver as a replacement keyboardist for the band following the departure of Geoff Westley. The three-piece backing band of Weaver, Bryon and the perennial Bee Gees sideman, Alan Kendall, played on the Bee Gees' albums Main Course (1975), Children of the World (1976), Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live (1977), and Spirits Having Flown (1979), as well as the band's famous contributions on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, including songs like "Jive Talkin'" and "You Should Be Dancing".[1]

As a songwriter and composer, Weaver was credited as a co-composer on Andy Gibb's hit song, "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away", as well as songs for Jimmy Ruffin's 1980 album Sunrise with Robin Gibb as lyricist, including the top 10 hit single, "Hold On To My Love”. Weaver composed the soundtrack for the film Times Square, again collaborating with Robin Gibb on Gibb's duet with Marcy Levy, "Help Me". In the 1980s, Weaver worked as a session player for the Pet Shop Boys.[1]

Weaver is a director and supporter for the Music Producers Guild since 2010.[1] Weaver lives in Germany.[1] He tours in a Bee Gees tribute act called "Massachusetts".[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Blue Weaver – SaturdayNightWeaver". Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  2. ^ Thompson, Dave (12 May 2021). "Strawbs make a strong statement with "Settlement"". goldminemag.com. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Blue Weaver Reprises His Sounds from Classic Hits With Gig Performer". mixonline.com. Future Plc. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
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