Isaac Guillory - The Days of Forty Nine (2018)

b. 27 February 1947, US Navy Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, d. 31 December 2000, England. Having played piano and guitar from childhood, Guillory first explored the electric guitar while in Florida, playing with the Illusions. Moving to Chicago in 1965, he studied Theory and Composition at Roosevelt University. He joined the Chicago-based pop outfit the Cryan’ Shames in 1967 as bass player, and recorded two albums with them before leaving in 1969. In 1970 Guillory left the USA in order to travel. He made his British debut at the Cambridge Folk Festival in 1971, when he was invited to accompany Al Stewart. Having earned a growing reputation as a session musician, Guillory was signed by Atlantic Records to a solo contract in 1973 - his self-titled debut appeared the following year. Continuing as a session musician, he appeared on albums such as Tall Tree by Peter Sarstedt, Past, Present And Future by Al Stewart, and Two Days Away by Elkie Brooks. Proving his versatility, Guillory went on to play on albums by the jazz fusion band Pacific Eardrum (replacing guitarist Big Jim Sullivan on two 70s collections), Donovan, Buggles, Barbara Dickson (for whom he became musical director) and Nick Heyward. He pursued a solo career from 1986, touring the UK, USA, Europe and Canada. In addition to being a guest lecturer during the Guildhall School Of Music’s summer programme, Guillory also wrote all the musical information in The Guitar Handbook by Ralph Denyer - a definitive textbook which served as the inspiration for the BBC television series, Rock School. He also accompanied Joan Baez in a televised concert in France and toured with both John Renbourn and Pierre Bensusan. Despite not achieving commercial success in his own right, Guillory thrived in the live environment, remaining a much in demand virtuoso performer. His death from cancer in December 2000 robbed the music world of a great talent.