Roy Wood British rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Date of Birth: 08.11.1946 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Roy Wood
2. Early Career
3. The Move
4. Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)
5. Wizzard and Solo Career
6. Other Projects and Achievements

Biography of Roy Wood

Roy Wood, born on November 8, 1946 in Kitts Green, Birmingham, is a British rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. He has been a frequent visitor to the British charts and is known for his love of forming new bands.

Early Career

In the early 1960s, Wood joined his first Birmingham band, the Falcons, but left in 1963 to join the Avengers. He then moved on to Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders, later known as the Idle Race. During this time, he also studied at Moseley College of Art before being expelled in 1964.

The Move

Members of various Birmingham bands, including Wood, formed the group Move, which quickly made its way onto the British singles charts. Their single "Night of Fear" reached second place in 1967, and their third single, "Flowers in the Rain," became the first song played on the launch of BBC Radio 1. After the departure of vocalist Carl Wayne, Wood's influence within the group grew.

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)

While the Move was still on tour, Wood, along with Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan, formed the rock group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), which became a highly successful commercial project. Initially, the Move and ELO were meant to coexist, but the first group soon disbanded. Wood left ELO in July 1972 due to growing tensions within the band.

Wizzard and Solo Career

Wood formed a new band called Wizzard, featuring cellists, brass players, a large rhythm section, and several drummers and percussionists. During this period, he also released several solo albums, including "Boulders" and "Mustard." In the late 1970s, Wood began to appear less frequently in public, but continued to work in the studio as a musician, producer, and songwriter.

Other Projects and Achievements

Wood was a fan of Elvis Presley, but was never able to persuade the "King of Rock and Roll" to sing one of his songs. In 1976, he recorded the songs "Lovely Rita" and "Polythene Pam" by the Beatles for the unsuccessful documentary "All This and World War II." Wood also formed the jazz-rock ensemble Wizzo Band in 1977, which disbanded shortly after a canceled tour in early 1978.

Throughout his career, approximately 20 of Wood's tracks made it onto the British charts, with three of his songs reaching number one. The single "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" by Wizzard was one of his most frequently played hits. In January 2008, Roy received an honorary doctorate for his contribution to music from the University of Derby.

Benny Hill portrayed Roy Wood in a parody of the program "Supersonic."