Don Wise
Donald "Don" Wise ( born March 24, 1942 in Westerly, Rhode Iceland ), is a U.S. American tenor saxophonist, songwriter and music producer. He gained greater attention as a sideman of congenial singer-songwriter Delbert McClinton from Lubbock ( Texas), in whose band he twenty-three years a member, and to whose success he was instrumental. Since the early 1960s, he became a sought-after rhythm and blues and soul saxophonist and played in his 50-year career as a musician with many stars and sizes of the scene, including Huey Lewis, Taj Mahal, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles. Wise has released four solo CDs. In 2008, he officially retired from the music business in order to devote himself more to his private life. His passions include besides music gardening, cooking and painting.
Wise is married and lives with his family in Knoxville (Tennessee ), USA.
Development and musical career
At the beginning of his musical life cycle learned to play the clarinet Wise. At the age of 12 he moved to the saxophone, initially on an alto sax, a year later to the tenor saxophone. He was inspired by the blues and rock 'n ' roll of the 50s, however also played country music, swing and big band music. He joined his first band in 1957, the Rhythm Rockers. According to the company were in his musical career, the influences of musicians such as Red Prysock, Sam " The Man" Taylor, Earl Bostic, David " Fathead " Newman, King Curtis, Sam Butera and Junior Walker in the foreground, the basis for his later high recognition factor with regard to sound, sound production and playing technique.
This made Wise addition to his versatility over the years into a sought-after session musician. He toured for a long time with various bands across the U.S., in the 70s and 80s, often through west Texas, and played with stars such as Jeffrey Osborne, Ruben Ramos, Chuck Jackson, Maxine Brown, Taj Mahal, Willie Nelson, Marcia Ball, Rickey Godfrey, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Tower of Power, Huey Lewis, Hal Ketchum, Teresa James and Joe Ely. A milestone was the invitation from Ray Charles to a common nationally broadcast TV concert for the ESPYs in New York City, 1997.
During the recording sessions in 1985 with a Texas rock band, Radio Zebra, with whom he had a few weeks earlier been on a four-week tour of Germany, he got by Delbert McClinton the unexpected offer to take the place as a saxophonist in his band. Wise took the opportunity remained for 23 years, a central pillar of the group and was instrumental in the success of the singer-songwriter from Lubbock. Among other things, he was nominated as an instrumentalist and co-producer for McClinton 's Grammy album Live from Austin in 1989 and was responsible musicians on Cost of Living 2005, which eventually won the Grammy. Even in Europe, especially Scandinavia, a large fan base grew, which repeatedly led to longer stays outside the U.S. and Wise ' increased awareness.
Wise were given various honors, and he was honored in detail in John Laughter 's standard work, Contemporary Saxophone, with four solo contributions. The reviews in professional journals and magazines musicians were positive. This led in 1997 to the fact that he went to the production of a solo CD, which should be three more to follow over the next eight years, until it fully up to his claims. Critics all highly praised, participated in it as Delbert McClinton colleagues, Marcia Ball, Big Joe Maher, Gary Bunton, Britt Johansen, Robin Griffin, Bugs Henderson, Teresa James and Steve Williams part. Constant reference point was also his friend and co-producer Wally Moyers, in his studio 84 in Lubbock originated many of the shots. Wise came here as a composer, lyricist and singer in appearance.
In 2008, Wise left after a successful tour of Finland and Norway, especially because of the now decades-long touring hardships, the band Delbert McClinton of to devote his time to more of his family and his hobbies. Every now and then he plays as a guest musician with various artists, including with the band Mingo Fishtrap from Austin (Texas), or on the occasion Delbert McClintons annual Sandy Beaches Cruise.
Instruments
Wise plays for many years a " The Martin Tenor " from 1951 with Otto Link 7S, metal Otto Link mouthpiece ( adapted from "Doc" Tenney in Cedar Falls, Iowa). In addition, he has another, silver Martin tenor saxophone from 1947, which he had bought with gold valves in exchange for a black Keilwerth few years ago, as well as a Martin alto saxophone and a Conn Soprano Saxophone.
Awards
- Saxophone Player of the Year - in 1980 elected by the Oklahoma Country Music Association
- Cammy Award - Best Instrumentalist in 2002, Beach Music Association
Discography
Excerpts productions in which Wise has worked as a saxophonist, producer, composer and / or lyricist:
Solo CDs
Released on the label Horn O ' Copia Recordings.
Sideman, Session-/Gastmusiker
Sources and links
- Official website of Don Wise
- Video Interview with Don Wise on his homepage
- Don Wise & Marcia Ball on Youtube
- Delbert McClinton: Standing on Shaky Ground on Youtube
- Rickey Godfrey website