Bryn Haworth | |
|---|---|
 Bryn Haworth | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bryn Haworth |
| Born | (1948-07-29)29 July 1948 (age 76) Blackburn,Lancashire, England |
| Origin | Darwen,Lancashire, England |
| Genres | Rock,gospel,folk,R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Musician,Composer,Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar,mandolin,vocals |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Labels | Island RecordsA&M, Chapel Lane, Word Records, Bella Music |
| Website | www |
Bryn Haworth (born 29 July 1948) is a BritishChristian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pioneer ofJesus music in mainstreamrock. Born inBlackburn,Lancashire, UK, he has released some twenty-two albums and several singles since the 1970s as well as guesting as guitarist on many other albums by rock andfolk artists. He continues to tour in the UK, appearing mostly at smaller venues, Christian centres and at prisons. He has also appeared three times at the UKGreenbelt Festival. His chosen instruments includeguitar (particularlyslide orbottleneck guitar) andmandolin.
He recorded sessions for theJohn Peel show onBBC Radio 1 in 1974, 1975 and 1976,[1] and made two television appearances onBBC Two'sThe Old Grey Whistle Test. Also in the 1970s, Haworth appeared on the weeklyITV television show "Pop Gospel", presented byBerni Flint.
Together with wife Sally, Haworth has engaged in extensive musical and evangelical work in prison settings.[2] Haworth has his own website[3] and is featured in the current Crossrythms artists catalogue.[4]
A sample of Haworth's music, together with a list of forthcoming concert dates, may be found on hisMySpace Music page.[5] A 2003 review ofThe Gap album concluded: "He's largely unknown, but those who follow virtuosos know about this guy".[6]
John Ingham, forSounds music paper, wrote:
. . . if we are to have God-rock, then let it be Bryn Haworth; he thinks of the music foremost . . . you owe yourself a listen.
Bryn Haworth was born in 1948 inBlackburn,Lancashire, UK and was brought up in the nearby town ofDarwen. His father was a maths teacher and he attended the secondary school where his father taught, Darwen Technical College[7] His main musical influence, however, was his mother, who would often buy the latest78 releases by such artists asElvis Presley,Jackie Wilson andLittle Richard as well as classical records[8] At the age of 11 Haworth obtained his first guitar and attended lessons inclassical guitar for a year. Contemporary musical influences included guitar-based groups such asThe Ventures andThe Shadows. While still at school, during the era of theMerseybeat groups such asThe Beatles, Haworth started playing guitar himself in various local groups, includingThe Mustangs,The Railroaders andThe Mike Taylor Combo.[7]
His first job on leaving school was at the localpaper mill, but his band-playing activities led to his dismissal. Haworth later recalled "I couldn’t get up in the morning as I’d been out late the previous night playing in a band, so something had to give."[8]
At 17 Haworth left Lancashire forLondon, with only a suitcase and a guitar and ended up sleeping rough atVictoria bus station. He eventually met up with members of the bandWynder K. Frog and was able to sleep on the floor of the house which the band shared.[8]
Within six months of his arrival in London, Haworth joinedThe Fleur de Lys, a Motown/soul/psychedelic band, which became house band forAtlantic Records in England, and whose members included bassistGordon Haskell and pianistPete Sears. As houseband for Atlantic, Fleur de Lys recorded albums with such artists asIsaac Hayes, Dave Porter andBarney Kessel.[8] 1968 also saw Haworth providing guitar backing forSharon Tandy on such singles as "Hold On". "Daughter of the Sun", "Gotta Get Enough Time", "Look and Find", "Love is not a Simple Affair", "Stay With Me", "Somebody Speaks Your Name", "Our Day Will Come" and "Hurry Hurry Choo Choo". The band had a residency at London'sThe Speakeasy Club and on one occasion Haworth enjoyed a jam-session, playing "Red House", on stage withJimi Hendrix. For a time Tandy and Haworth were a couple.[9]
When Fleur de Lys folded, Haworth travelled toCalifornia. In 1969 he met American musicianLeigh Stephens who had just left the acid band "Blue Cheer" (in the Guinness Book of Records at the time as being the loudest band in the world). He toured extensively in the US as guitarist in various American bands, including theJackie Lomax Band, and Wolfgang, (with Leigh Stephens and managed by the legendaryBill Graham who named the band after his own original Polish name) appearing with such artists asLed Zeppelin,Jefferson Airplane,Taj Mahal,Grateful Dead andThe Moody Blues.
Bryn eventually moved toWoodstock in upstateNew York, working again with Jackie Lomax on his second and third albums. It was in Woodstock that Bryn met future wife Sally. Returning to the UK in 1973, Bryn lived with Sally in a remote cottage inNorth Wales before being signed toIsland Records for whom he made his debut solo albumLet the Days Go By.
A further album for Island,Sunny Side of the Street, was recorded in 1974. He then continued his career as a solo recording artist withA&M Records with whom he recordedGrand Arrival (inNashville withJ. J. Cale's producer Audie Ashworth) andKeep the Ball Rolling. During this period he made numerous radio and TV appearances, and toured extensively in UK and Europe supporting such artists asTraffic,Bad Company,Gallagher and Lyle andFairport Convention. His prowess as a guitarist was recognised byAlexis Korner who played Bryn's records on his wonderfully eclectic BBC programme.
In 1974, Haworth and wife Sally becameChristians and this life-changing experience brought a strong gospel influence into his music.
Haworth has recorded with a number of well known musicians includingChris de Burgh,Joan Armatrading,Ian Matthews andGerry Rafferty (on five of his albums, but notably onOn a Wing and a Prayer,Over My Head andAnother World). He has also toured as part of the band withCliff Richard.
From 1989 to 1992, Haworth worked with the SW London Vineyard developing the worship and prison ministry, and leading worship at many UK conferences. He continues to travel extensively, performing concerts both solo and with a band and also leads seminars and guitar clinics throughout the world, in a wide variety of venues including concert halls, colleges, churches and prisons.
Haworth also has a long song-writing pedigree and has had several of his compositions recorded by other artists includingLulu,Sandy Denny andMary Black (for the latter on her 1999 albumSpeaking with the Angel).
He made a brief UK tour in September 1997, with a line-up of Haworth (vocals, guitar), Jeff Hamer (guitar), Terry 'Tex' Comer (bass) (previously of the bandAce) andHenry Spinetti (drums). He has recorded ten further albums (see discography below) includingSongs & Hymns which was recorded atFairport Convention'sWoodworm Studios inOxfordshire.
The CDWater From The Rock, a compilation of faith tracks, was the first release on Haworth's own new record label, "Bella Music Ltd". A long-awaited CD of brand new songsKeep the Faith was released in 2005.
Haworth's latest albums, released in August 2010, areOne Way Ticket andInside Out, both on Bella Music.One Way Ticket is a mix of 12 brand new songs and instrumentals.Inside Out is a compilation for prison inmates with six new songs plus half a dozen tracks from previous albums which are particularly relevant for them.[10] The recordings were made between January and March 2010 at the ICC Studios inEastbourne and were mixed in early June. Neil Costello is co-producer. Other musicians include Henry Spinetti on drums,Dave Bronze on bass, Mark Edwards on keyboards andMal Pope on backing vocals. There is also a special guest appearance from well-knownharmonica playerPaul Jones on the title track of theOne Way Ticket album.
In December 2018, he uploaded the instrumental "Blue Jumper" to hisYouTube channel.[11] In May 2019, collaborating with filmmaker Nigel Walk, he launched his latest single and video project, "Enough is Enough", which was written in response to the My Tree Matters campaign, speaking out against theindiscriminate felling of trees.[12]
In September 2020 Haworth released a new albumPeace & Understanding[13] and in September 2021 another titledReady or Not.[14][15]
In March 2024 Haworth re-recorded the song "All I Need Is a Home", originally recorded for his 1974 debut albumLet the Days Go By, and produced a video, with international film director Nigel Walk, to help raise awareness of homelessness.[16][17]
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