Bruce Welch OBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

, (born Bruce Cripps, 2 November 1941, Bognor Regis

Bognor Regis

Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...

, Sussex

Sussex

Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

) is an English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 guitarist

Guitarist

A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

, songwriter

Songwriter

A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...

, producer

Record producer

A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...

 and singer, best known as a member of The Shadows

The Shadows

The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...

.

Biography

His parents (Stan Cripps and Grace Welch) never married but his mother relocated him to 15 Broadwood View, Chester-le-Street: she died when Welch was aged 6. Welch grew up with his Aunt Sadie in Chester le Street, County Durham

County Durham

County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...

. After learning to play the guitar

Guitar

The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

, he formed a Tyneside

Tyneside

Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...

 skiffle

Skiffle

Skiffle is a type of popular music with jazz, blues, folk, roots and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments. Originating as a term in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, it became popular again in the UK in the 1950s, where it was mainly...

 band called The Railroaders when he was fourteen. His Rutherford Grammar School friend Brian Rankin (later to be known as Hank Marvin

Hank Marvin

Hank Brian Marvin is an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard...

), joined the group and they travelled to London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

 in 1958 for the final of a talent competition. Although they did not win, they joined with members of other entrant bands and formed The Five Chesternuts with Pete Chester (born 1942), son of comedian Charlie Chester

Charlie Chester

Charlie Chester was a British comedian and TV and radio presenter, broadcasting almost continuously from the 1940s to the 1990s. His style was similar to that of Max Miller.- Life and career :...

 on drums

Drum kit

A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....

.

On moving to London Bruce and Hank Marvin

Hank Marvin

Hank Brian Marvin is an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard...

 briefly operated as the Geordie Boys before enlisting in an outfit called The Drifters.

In September 1958 Welch and Marvin joined The Drifters, later to become The Shadows, as Cliff Richard

Cliff Richard

Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....

's backing band

Band (music)

In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...

. As well as success with The Shadows, Welch also acted as producer for (among others) Cliff Richard and songwriter for his ex-fiancée, Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...

. He also released a solo single "Please Mr. Please

Please Mr. Please

"Please Mr. Please" is the title of a popular song from 1975 by the Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. The song was written by Bruce Welch and John Rostill, both members of British pop singer Cliff Richard's backing band, The Shadows. Welch had originally recorded the song himself in 1974 with...

", which was not commercially successful, even though the song

Song

In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...

 has been covered

Cover version

In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...

 by several recording artists (most notably Newton-John, who would take it into the top 10 of the U.S. pop and country charts in 1975).

Welch wrote several #1 hit singles for Cliff and for The Shadows. Among songs written or co-written by Welch are the Shadows' hits "Foot Tapper

Foot Tapper

"Foot Tapper" is an instrumental by the British guitar group, The Shadows. It went to number one in the UK and was the Shadows' last UK number-one hit...

" and "The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt

The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt

The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt is an instrumental by the British guitar group, The Shadows. It went to number 5 in the UK. The character Flingel Bunt is an imaginary character invented by the actor Richard O'Sullivan, a friend of The Shadows...

", Marvin Welch & Farrar's "Faithful" and "My Home Town", and Cliff Richard hits ""Please Don't Tease

Please Don't Tease

"Please Don't Tease" is a UK number-one single of 1960 by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. The single also reached the #1 spot in India, Holland, New Zealand, Norway and Thailand selling 1.6 million worldwide....

", In the Country", "Summer Holiday

Summer Holiday (song)

"Summer Holiday" is a song recorded by Cliff Richard and The Shadows, written by rhythm guitarist Bruce Welch and drummer Brian Bennett. It went to number one in the UK. It is taken from the film of the same name and is one of Richard's best known titles...

", "I Love You

I Love You (Cliff Richard song)

I Love You is the second UK number-one single of 1960's by Cliff Richard and The Shadows, written by Shadows' rhythm guitarist Bruce Welch. Released in December, it was a Christmas number 1, although it did not carry a traditional holiday theme....

" and "I Could Easily Fall (In Love With You)".

He was the musical consultant for the West End

West End theatre

West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...

 musical Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story is a jukebox musical in two acts with a book written by Alan Janes, and music and lyrics by a variety of songwriters. Based on the life and career of early rock and roller Buddy Holly, the musical hews closer to Holly's actual life story than the 1978 film version...

.

Welch plays occasionally with his second band, The Moonlight Shadows, a Shadows-style band with Phil Kelly taking Hank Marvin's place on lead guitar

Lead guitar

Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...

 at various Shadows style conventions such as Shadowmania.

He was appointed OBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

 (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours

British honours system

The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories...

 List for services to music.

Welch has been married (and divorced) twice. His only son, from his first marriage to Anne (née Findlay), is Dwayne Welch who currently works within the music industry as a record label executive. Welch divorced his 2nd wife Lynne Welch in 199?.

Early career groups (pre-Shadows/Drifters)

1956/7 - The Railroaders(#1)

• Hank Marvin (guitar), Bruce Welch (guitar), George Williams (guitar) and Jim ? (drums)

1956/7 - The Railroaders(#2)

• Hank Marvin (guitar), Bruce Welch (guitar), Eddie Silver (guitar), George Williams (b) and Jim ? (drums)

1958 - The Five Chesternuts

• 7"single - ("Jean Dorothy"/"Teenage love" on Columbia)
• Gerry Hurst (v), Hank Marvin (guitar), Bruce Welch (guitar), Neil Johnson (b) and Pete Chester (drums)

Groupography

• The Railroaders.
• The Five Chesternuts.
• The Drifters
• Cliff Richard and The Drifters.
• The Shadows
• Cliff Richard and the Shadows.
• Marvin Welch and Farrar.
• Bruce Welch's Shadows.

Discography

• Please Mr Please//Song of Yesterday - EMI 2141 - 7" - 1974.
• Marvin Welch and Farrar - 'Marvin Welch and Farrar' - 1970.
• Marvin Welch and Farrar - 'Second Opinion' - 1972.
• The Five Chesternuts - Jean Dorothy - Columbia - 7" - 1958.
• The Shadows - too many to list.

Production credits

• Cliff Richard - We Don't Talk Anymore
  We Don't Talk Anymore
  "We Don't Talk Anymore" is a song recorded by Cliff Richard that reached number one in the UK singles chart in August 1979, remaining there for four weeks...
  
  - 7" - EMI/EMI???? - 1979.
• Cliff Richard - We don't talk anymore(extended mix) - 12" - EMI/EMI???? - 1979.
• Cliff Richard - I'm nearly famous - LP/CD - EMI/EMC???? - 1975.
• Cliff Richard - Every face tells a story - LP/CD - EMI/EMC???? - 1976.
• Cliff Richard - Green light - LP/CD - EMI/EMC???? - 1978.
• The Shadows - XXV - LP/CD - Polydor - 1983.
• Tarney / Spencer Band - Cathy's clown - 7" - A&M - 1979.
• Roger Whittaker - The genius of love - LP/CD - 1986.
• Olivia Newton-John - Olivia Newton-john - LP/CD - Pye - 1971.
• Olivia Newton-John - Olivia - LP/CD - Pye - 1972.
• Charlie Dore - Where to now - LP/CD - Island/Lemon- 1979.
• Cilla Black - Especially for you - LP/CD - Ktel/Hallmark - 1980.
• Alan David - Alan David - LP - EMI/EMC3365 - 1981.
• Alan Davy - - 1981.
• Sutherland Brothers and Quiver - Down to earth - LP/CD - CBS/Lemon - 1977/.
• Page Three - Hold on to love - 7" - WB.
• McArthur Park - Taffeta Rose/Sammy - Columbia - 7".

Instruments

• Electric Guitar - as Rhythm guitar.
• Acoustic guitar - 6 string and 12 string.
• Bass Guitar - Euro-vision song contest.
• Keyboards.

Instruments (career)

electric guitar

• 1958-1959: Grimshaw. (The Drifters).
• 1958-1959: Vega Electrovox archtop (black). (The Drifters/The Shadows).
• 1959-1962: Gretsch 6120 (orange stain finish). (The Shadows).
• 1960-1961: Fender Jazzmaster (sunburst). (The Shadows).
• 1961-1961: Fender Telecaster (blonde). (The Shadows)
• 1961-1963: Fender Stratocaster (red). (The Shadows).
• 1963-1964: Fender Stratocaster (white). (The Shadows).
• 1964-1970: Burns Marvin. (white). (The Shadows).
• 1964-1970: Burns Marvin (green sunburst). (The Shadows).
• 1973-1983: Fender Stratocaster (white). (The Shadows).
• 1983-1990: Fender Stratocaster (red - the same instrument as that immediately above). (The Shadows).
• 2004-2010: Fender Stratocaster (red). (The Shadows).
• 2009-2010: Johnson Electric (Sunburst). (The Shadows).

acoustic guitar

• 1960-1970: Gibson J200. (The Shadows).
• 1961-1970: Gibson J35,J45. (The Shadows).
• 1970-1990: Martin D12/D28 (Marvin Welch & Farrar/The Shadows).
• 2004-2010:Johnson Acoustic (The Shadows).

Amplifiers

• 1958-1959: Selmer Truvoice Constellation. (The Drifters).
• 1959-1960: Vox AC-15. (The Drifters) & (The Shadows).
• 1960-1960: Vox AC-30. (The Shadows).
• 1960-1961: Vox AC-30/4. (The Shadows).
• 1961-1961: Gibson (SA tour w/The Shadows).
• 1961-1970: Vox AC-30/6. (The Shadows).
• 1970-1973: Arbiter(?) & Jennings amplifiers. (Marvin Welch & Farrar/Marvin & Farrar).
• 1973-1990: Vox AC-30/6. Mesa Boogie Mk3 Graphic (The Shadows).
• 2004-2005: KCP and Pinnacle and Vox AC30/6 top boost. (The Shadows).
• 2009-2010: JMI AC30/6 and Vox AC30/6 top boost. (The Shadows).

bass

keyboards

External links

• Bruce Welch Tribute by Rune Moe