John Warwick began singing the blues in the West Midland car capital of Coventry when he was 13 years old. JW met Roy Butterfield, one of the best blues guitarists in the Midlands, at school and the two became best friends. Seeing JW's love of the blues, Roy encouraged him to sing, as well as playing blues harp, and the two went down well in local jazz and blues clubs.
At the time, JW was listening to great American Blues singers like Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles and Howlin' Wolf. Roy's good friend John Mayall told Roy he should get a band together, and the Roy Butterfield Blues Band was born, playing university gigs with John Mayall and Long John Baldry. At one point Baldry asked JW to join him on vocals but at 15, JW was too young.
JW came to London looking for session work when he left school, becoming friends with Jimmy Page and Big Jim Sullivan. After two years JW had had enough of pop music and went on the road with his own band, Soul Express, voted best band in the UK by the Melody Maker.
After short spells in France and Germany, JW returned to play once more with Roy Butterfield as well as other bands. He then, with friends Del Mandell (a great blues guitarist) and Mick Avery (ex-Kinks), formed his own band to continue his love affair with the blues. After 44 years JW still loves the blues and still gets a buzz out of singing them.
In addition to being a blues singer, JW is also a composer of some note, able to turn his art of composition to songs in almost any genre or idiom. He says himself - 'I write across the board with my songs - pop, rock, blues, folk and film scores'
