Bert Weedon
His guitar tutorial taught a generation of British rock stars how to play, shaping the sound of 1960s music.
1920–2012 (age 92)·English guitarist·Birthday: May 10·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bert Weedon was a working-class Londoner whose clean, melodic guitar playing became the soundtrack to Britain's post-war dance halls. While his instrumental hits like 'Guitar Boogie Shuffle' made him a chart star, his true legacy was forged in print. In 1957, he published 'Play in a Day,' a deceptively simple instruction book that demystified the guitar for countless teenagers. Its straightforward approach provided the foundational chords for future legends like Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, and John Lennon, who all credited the book as their starting point. Weedon never sought the spotlight of his famous pupils, instead enjoying a long career as a respected session musician and TV variety show regular, his OBE in 2001 a quiet acknowledgment of his role as the unassuming godfather of British rock guitar.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bert was born in 1920, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1920
#1 Movie
Way Down East
Bert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1920Born
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1925Started school
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1933Became a teenager
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Could drive
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1938Could vote
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Turned 21
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1950Turned 30
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 40
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 50
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 60
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 70
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 80
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2012Died at 92
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Became the first British guitarist to score a UK Top 20 hit with the instrumental 'Guitar Boogie Shuffle' in 1959.
- Authored the seminal tutorial book 'Play in a Day,' which influenced the foundational skills of a generation of rock musicians.
- Had a prolific career as a session guitarist, playing on recordings for artists like Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland during their UK sessions.
- Was awarded an OBE in 2001 for his services to music.
Did You Know?
He initially trained as a violinist before switching to guitar.
He was a regular performer on the BBC's 'Saturday Club' radio show for over a decade.
His signature guitar was a distinctive, custom-built instrument with a scroll headstock, often mistaken for a violin.
Despite his rock student fanbase, his own playing style was rooted in the jazz and dance music of the 1940s.
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