Fred Wedlock

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Fred Wedlock
2003-m06-d21 (11) - Somerset - Fred Wedlock (Allerford M-8bd.jpg
Wedlock performing at Allerford Folk Festival in 2003
Background information
Birth name Peter Frederick Wedlock
Born (1942-05-23)23 May 1942
Bristol
Origin Bristol, England
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Genres Comedy
Folk
Scrumpy and Western
Occupation(s) Humorist, guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor
Years active 1960s–2010
Labels Various, see Discography
Associated acts Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra
Website www.fredwedlock.com/

Fred Wedlock (23 May 1942 – 4 March 2010) was a folk singer best known for his UK hit single "The Oldest Swinger In Town".[1] He performed at many venues in Britain and Europe, presented programmes for West Country TV and acted with the Bristol Old Vic and the Ministry of Entertainment, as well as undertaking after-dinner speaking engagements.

Early life

Fred Wedlock was born in the old Bristol Maternity Hospital in Southwell Street, Kingsdown, Bristol. He was brought up in Redcliffe, where his father ran the York House pub. He sang in the church choir at St Mary Redcliffe.[2] Wedlock was educated at Bristol Grammar School in the 1950s. He represented the school and the Old Bristolians playing hockey.[2]

Career

After attending Swansea University,[3] he taught in the East End of London during the 1960s and then at South Bristol College, before taking up music full-time in the 1970s.[4] Wedlock was a regular performer at the Bristol Troubadour Club and he played the folk circuit, both prior to, and in the wake of, his single chart success, with performances at clubs and festivals all over the world. He also presented many programmes on West Country TV.[5][6][7] In 1997 Wedlock took a leading role in Bristol Old Vic's production of Up the Feeder, Down the Mouth, a theatrical history of Bristol Docks, written by A. C. H. Smith. In 2001 the production was restaged on the waterfront.[8][9][10] He also appeared in several productions for Bristol theatre company, The Ministry of Entertainment, most recently in December 2009.[11]

Wedlock's albums include The Folker (1971) (notable for the title track parody of "The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel), Frolicks (1973), Out of Wedlock (1978), The Oldest Swinger in Town (1981) and Fred Wedlock Live (1982). In early 1981 "The Oldest Swinger in Town", reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart.[1]

His daughter, Hannah Wedlock, was an occasional member of the Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra, another Bristol-based outfit, whom Fred made his support band at an early stage of their career.[12] She now performs with the Blue Note Jazz Band.[2] His grandfather, Billy Wedlock, captained Bristol City F.C. and was a regular for England in the early 20th century. The Wedlock stand at Ashton Gate is named in his honour.[13] He lived at Amesbury near Timsbury, Somerset where for many years he contributed to village life by providing entertainment and helping with raising funds for local projects.[14][15]

Death

It was announced on 4 March 2010 that Fred Wedlock had died, in hospital in Bath, Somerset, following a heart attack, after having contracted pneumonia.[4][15][16] Dick Greener of Strawbs Web, the website of folk rock band The Strawbs, said that he was "A huge comic talent, and an all round thoroughly nice guy, I know ... those who have seen Fred in the past during his long and successful career, would want to pass on their condolences to Fred's family."[17] Derek Cleverdon, chairman of the Variety Club Children's Charity South West, said Fred was also devoted to charitable causes. "He performed on numerous occasions for the Variety Club, and raised thousands of pounds for us over the years."[4]

A large number of people attended a funeral service held at St Mary Redcliffe church on 15 March 2010. Family and friends paid homage with tributes and songs. A local press report said that "he filled Bristol's largest church to capacity."[18]

Summary discography

  • The Folker — Village Thing VTS 7, 1971[19]
  • Frollicks — Village Thing VTS 20, 1973[19]
  • Home Made — Pillock Produckshuns PPS1, 1975[19]
  • Greatest Hits — Pillock Produckshuns PPS17, 1977[19]
  • Out of Wedlock — One Up OU2217, 1978[19]
  • The Oldest Swinger in Town (with Chris Newman) — Pillock Produckshuns PPS 271, 1979[19]
  • The Oldest Swinger in Town (different track listing) — Rocket TRAIN 13, 1981[19]
  • Live (with Chris Newman) — Rocket TRAIN 19, 1982[19]
  • The Complete 'Folker' and 'Frollicks' Albums — Village Thing, 2008[19]
  • Wrinklies' Revolution — own label[20]
  • Souvenir — own label[20]
  • Something Old, Something New — own label[20]
  • Festive Fred — own label[20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7 19.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Fred_Wedlock&oldid=116214"