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Will Wilde, an ace blues harp player, is a long time resident of Brighton
on the south coast and thus, is planted firmly in the BiTS area.
Known for his dynamic stage presence and masterful technique, he
has garnered international acclaim as one of the world's top
harmonica players.
A new album “The Blues Is Still Alive” is on the launch pad and will
undoubtedly bring him much success.
Ian McKenzie spoke to him on the telephone to learn more.
BiTS: Hello Will, it's Ian McKenzie, of course.
WW: Hi Ian, how you doing?
BiTS: I'm doing very well indeed, thank you. I'll tell you
what I want to do here. I want to talk to you about your
new album, of course, towards the end. But I really want
to find out where you're coming from. What
attracted you to be a harmonica, harp player in the
first place?
WW: Right (chuckles).
BiTS: Are you happy with that?
WW: Yeah, sure, yeah.
BiTS: My guess is that you were influenced
somewhat by your sister.
WW: Umm, somewhat. Yeah. I mean, we both
became interested in blues because our dad
listened to a lot of blues when we were growing up.
So I grew up hearing people like Muddy Waters and
Howlin’ Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson around the
house. The reason I play harmonica is pretty much all
down to one song which was ‘Help Me’ by Sonny Boy
Williamson.
BiTS: [Laughs] Fabulous tune as well.
WW: Yeah, right. Yeah. I just always loved the sound
of the harp on that song, like from a very young age,
five years old or so. So that was kind of the first time