Wizz Jones

A discreet figure on the British folk scene, guitarist Wizz Jones has nonetheless been influential and important in its development. Born Raymond Ronald Jones in Thornton Heath, Surrey, on April 25, 1939, he discovered American folk and blues and began performing in London clubs, particularly in Soho, the local epicenter of the counterculture. He traveled between Germany and France, before recording his first album, Wizz Jones (1969), which showcased his finger-picking technique. The man who had learned the rudiments of the instrument from Keith Richards and was admired by peers such as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page continued his solo journey with The Legendary Me (1970), Right Now (1972), When I Leave Berlin (1973), Happiness Was Free (1976) and Magical Flight (1977). Continuing to perform in clubs, he formed a duo with his brother Simeon Jones, and together they recorded Late Nights & Long Days (1993). Further solo productions followed, before collaborations with John Renbourn on Joint Control (2016), Ralph McTell for About Time Too (2017) and Pete Berryman on Come What May (2017). Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2019, Wizz Jones passed away on April 27, 2025, at the age of 86.

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