Isaac Guillory
Encyclopedia
Isaac Guillory was an American
folk
guitar
ist. He wrote over 70 songs during a career that spanned 30 years.
, Cuba
, his parents were Easton Joseph Guillory, an American sailor who was from a Jewish American family, and Victoria Ojalvo, of Jewish, Spanish
and Turkish
origin. His maternal grandparents were Turkish
immigrants who met and married by arrangement only 10 days before they sailed for Cuba.
He attended the Conservatory of Music, Havana
, where he studied classical piano
at the age of six. Guillory's mother, a professional musician taught him to play guitar. When he was 11, Guillory moved to Tallahassee, Florida
. At age 14, he moved again to Gainesville
, then finally settled in Palatka.
By age 14, after enroling in University of Florida
's swimming program, he became an assistant swimming intructor. He was a student at St. Johns River State College, at the time named St. Johns River Junior College, in Palatka, Florida
. There he studied the cello
and saxophone
.
He married twice, first to the English model Tina Thompson (divorced 1990), mother of Jace and British actress and model Sienna Guillory
, then in 1993, to Victoria McMillan, mother of Jacob and Ellie.
Guillory died on New Year's Eve
2000. His death was attributed to complications from cancer
that had gone undetected for some time.
While studying music at Roosevelt University
in Chicago
during 1965 to 1969, he recorded two albums with The Cryan' Shames
as bass
player.
Towards the end of 1965, Guillory moved to Chicago
where he studied guitar at the Chicago School of Music.
He then attended Wright Junior College for three years where he played with 'The Revelles. The group played with Chicago DJ, Art Roberts, of WLS. He then played with 'The Flock', and The Cryan' Shames
.
During 1970 to 1976 Guillory performed at the Shakespeare's Head Folk Club in Carnaby Street
, London
.
After active resistance to the Vietnam War
, Guillory left the USA in November 1970, acquired a Martin D-35 and lived throughout Europe
. He worked as an acoustic solo performer and settled in the United Kingdom
. Guillory came to earn the reputation as one of the best guitarists ever. Many guitarists today emulate techniques Guillory evolved in the early 70's while living in the south of Spain
. A particular signature technique that he developed was 'hybrid picking', where he would sustain a bass line with a plectrum
held between his thumb and first finger, whilst picking chord
and melody
lines with his second and third fingers.
Having studied Classical Guitar in his younger years, Guillory would often incorporate quasi-classical techniques into his playing and on occasions would even throw in some pure classical guitar pieces, merging them into various songs as a medley.
His soft American accent always went down well with British audiences and Guillory would exploit this with his witty on-stage bantor between songs. Throughout his career, Guillory sought to encourage younger musicians at every opportunity and would often allow them to play as a 'floor-act' before he came on stage.
He was widely known for insisting on carrying his own PA sound system with him from gig to gig. This allowed him to reproduce the exact sound he wanted night after night regardless of the venue. This was quite rare at the time with solo singer/guitarists on the folk circuit and certainly helped him to communicate his renowned performing skills to his audiences without having to fear the usual technical blips that can occur using a venue's house PA.
He always concentrated on live solo performances (which put him up-close with more intimate small audiences) and sharing his understanding of music; touring, creating his own online guitar school. After an initial recording deal with Atlantic Records
published five more CDs on his own independent label, Personal Records. As a performer he was dedicated to sharing his gift with both audience and fellow musicians, and as a teacher he never hesitated to share in a manner that others could understand.
He performed frequently as a guest artist for recordings and films with, among many others, Al Stewart
, Donovan
, Mick Jagger
, Buggles, Barbara Dickson
, Nick Heyward
and Elkie Brooks
. Guillory released Isaac Guillory, a self-titled album in 1974. For a while he delved into jazz fusion
and recorded with Pacific Eardrum. Isaac lectured at the Guildhall School of Music in London
. His music can be heard on 'A' Net Station, a web radio station that he helped found, where his website continues to be available.
He also wrote The Guitar Hand Book with friend, Ralph Denyer, which became the foundation for the BBC TV
series Rock School.
In his later years, he performed on the folk club circuit in Great Britain
. His virtuoso guitar playing made him popular with audiences and ensured a steady stream of work as a performer and teacher. His final album, The Days of '49, recorded on tour during late 1999 and released in early 2000, included a number of solo compositions as well as arrangements of some folk standards. His tribute to the British guitarist John Renbourn
, "Dear John", is one of the highlights of an outstanding album.
Isaac Guillory: Guitars, Bass, Mellotron
, ARP, Vocals
Jim Fairs: Guitar, Dulcimer
Peter Gavin: Drum
s (1)
Jim Carey: Drums (2, 8, 10)
Roger Pope: Drums (5)
Fred Gandy: Bass (1, 5, 7)
Jim Cole: Bass (8, 10)
Sam Gopal: Tabla
s (7, 8, 9)
Cathy Hall: Flute
Johnse Holt: Electric Guitar (8)
Mox: Harp
Side One
1. St.Peter (Guillory)
2. Staying Awhile (Klemens)
3. Brusselles (Guillory)
4. Steamboat (Guillory)
5. Sidewalks Of America (Boyan)
Side Two
6. The Carbondale Strutt (Guillory)
7. Movin’ On (Guillory)
8. Ice Cream Phoenix (Kaukonen/Cockey)
9. El Jadida (Guillory)
10.Karma Blues (Carey)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist. He wrote over 70 songs during a career that spanned 30 years.
Personal life
Born at the Guantanamo Bay Naval BaseGuantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, his parents were Easton Joseph Guillory, an American sailor who was from a Jewish American family, and Victoria Ojalvo, of Jewish, Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
and Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
origin. His maternal grandparents were Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
immigrants who met and married by arrangement only 10 days before they sailed for Cuba.
He attended the Conservatory of Music, Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, where he studied classical piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at the age of six. Guillory's mother, a professional musician taught him to play guitar. When he was 11, Guillory moved to Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
. At age 14, he moved again to Gainesville
Gainesville
Gainesville is the name of several places in the United States of America:*Gainesville, Alabama*Gainesville, Florida, largest municipality with this name*Gainesville, Georgia*Gainesville, Missouri*Gainesville , New York...
, then finally settled in Palatka.
By age 14, after enroling in University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
's swimming program, he became an assistant swimming intructor. He was a student at St. Johns River State College, at the time named St. Johns River Junior College, in Palatka, Florida
Palatka, Florida
Palatka is a city in Putnam County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,033 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,796. It is the county seat of Putnam County and includes East Palatka. Palatka is the principal city of the Palatka...
. There he studied the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
.
He married twice, first to the English model Tina Thompson (divorced 1990), mother of Jace and British actress and model Sienna Guillory
Sienna Guillory
Sienna Tiggy Guillory is an English actress, and former model. She is known for playing the title role in the TV miniseries, Helen of Troy, her portrayal of Jill Valentine in the science fiction action horror film Resident Evil: Apocalypse, and as elf princess Arya Dröttningu in fantasy-adventure...
, then in 1993, to Victoria McMillan, mother of Jacob and Ellie.
Guillory died on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
2000. His death was attributed to complications from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
that had gone undetected for some time.
Career
Guillory first began performing in 1965, while still attending St. John's River Junior College where he became a member of 'The Illusions', eventually becoming lead guitarist.While studying music at Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
during 1965 to 1969, he recorded two albums with The Cryan' Shames
The Cryan' Shames
The Cryan' Shames is an American garage rock group from Hinsdale, Illinois. They originally formed as The Travelers, with founding members Tom Doody , Gerry Stone , Dave Purple of The Prowlers, Denny Conroy and Jim Fairs from The Roosters, Jim Pilster , and Bill Hughes...
as bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player.
Towards the end of 1965, Guillory moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
where he studied guitar at the Chicago School of Music.
He then attended Wright Junior College for three years where he played with 'The Revelles. The group played with Chicago DJ, Art Roberts, of WLS. He then played with 'The Flock', and The Cryan' Shames
The Cryan' Shames
The Cryan' Shames is an American garage rock group from Hinsdale, Illinois. They originally formed as The Travelers, with founding members Tom Doody , Gerry Stone , Dave Purple of The Prowlers, Denny Conroy and Jim Fairs from The Roosters, Jim Pilster , and Bill Hughes...
.
During 1970 to 1976 Guillory performed at the Shakespeare's Head Folk Club in Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street is a pedestrianised shopping street in London, United Kingdom, located in the Soho district, near Oxford Street and Regent Street. It is home to numerous fashion and lifestyle retailers, including a large number of independent fashion boutiques...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
After active resistance to the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, Guillory left the USA in November 1970, acquired a Martin D-35 and lived throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He worked as an acoustic solo performer and settled in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Guillory came to earn the reputation as one of the best guitarists ever. Many guitarists today emulate techniques Guillory evolved in the early 70's while living in the south of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. A particular signature technique that he developed was 'hybrid picking', where he would sustain a bass line with a plectrum
Plectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand...
held between his thumb and first finger, whilst picking chord
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
and melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
lines with his second and third fingers.
Having studied Classical Guitar in his younger years, Guillory would often incorporate quasi-classical techniques into his playing and on occasions would even throw in some pure classical guitar pieces, merging them into various songs as a medley.
His soft American accent always went down well with British audiences and Guillory would exploit this with his witty on-stage bantor between songs. Throughout his career, Guillory sought to encourage younger musicians at every opportunity and would often allow them to play as a 'floor-act' before he came on stage.
He was widely known for insisting on carrying his own PA sound system with him from gig to gig. This allowed him to reproduce the exact sound he wanted night after night regardless of the venue. This was quite rare at the time with solo singer/guitarists on the folk circuit and certainly helped him to communicate his renowned performing skills to his audiences without having to fear the usual technical blips that can occur using a venue's house PA.
He always concentrated on live solo performances (which put him up-close with more intimate small audiences) and sharing his understanding of music; touring, creating his own online guitar school. After an initial recording deal with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
published five more CDs on his own independent label, Personal Records. As a performer he was dedicated to sharing his gift with both audience and fellow musicians, and as a teacher he never hesitated to share in a manner that others could understand.
He performed frequently as a guest artist for recordings and films with, among many others, Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart is a Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician.Stewart came to stardom as part of the British folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s, and developed his own unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history.He is...
, Donovan
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
, Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Buggles, Barbara Dickson
Barbara Dickson
Barbara Ruth Dickson, OBE is a Scottish singer whose hits include "I Know Him So Well" and "January February"...
, Nick Heyward
Nick Heyward
Nick Heyward is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the frontman of the early 1980s band Haircut One Hundred, and also had a briefly successful solo career after he left the band in 1983.-Haircut One Hundred:Nick Heyward formed Haircut One Hundred after the...
and Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice...
. Guillory released Isaac Guillory, a self-titled album in 1974. For a while he delved into jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
and recorded with Pacific Eardrum. Isaac lectured at the Guildhall School of Music in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His music can be heard on 'A' Net Station, a web radio station that he helped found, where his website continues to be available.
He also wrote The Guitar Hand Book with friend, Ralph Denyer, which became the foundation for the BBC TV
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
series Rock School.
In his later years, he performed on the folk club circuit in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. His virtuoso guitar playing made him popular with audiences and ensured a steady stream of work as a performer and teacher. His final album, The Days of '49, recorded on tour during late 1999 and released in early 2000, included a number of solo compositions as well as arrangements of some folk standards. His tribute to the British guitarist John Renbourn
John Renbourn
John Renbourn is an English guitarist and songwriter. He is possibly best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo career before, during and after that band's existence .While most commonly labelled a...
, "Dear John", is one of the highlights of an outstanding album.
Album Isaac Guillory
Isaac Guillory was produced by Ian Samwell, Jeff Dexter, Jim Fairs, and was released in 1974 by Atlantic Records SD 7307, 1974.Isaac Guillory: Guitars, Bass, Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
, ARP, Vocals
Jim Fairs: Guitar, Dulcimer
Hammered dulcimer
The hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. Typically, the hammered dulcimer is set on a stand, at an angle, before the musician, who holds small mallet hammers in each hand to strike the strings...
Peter Gavin: Drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s (1)
Jim Carey: Drums (2, 8, 10)
Roger Pope: Drums (5)
Fred Gandy: Bass (1, 5, 7)
Jim Cole: Bass (8, 10)
Sam Gopal: Tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
s (7, 8, 9)
Cathy Hall: Flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
Johnse Holt: Electric Guitar (8)
Mox: Harp
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
Side One
1. St.Peter (Guillory)
2. Staying Awhile (Klemens)
3. Brusselles (Guillory)
4. Steamboat (Guillory)
5. Sidewalks Of America (Boyan)
Side Two
6. The Carbondale Strutt (Guillory)
7. Movin’ On (Guillory)
8. Ice Cream Phoenix (Kaukonen/Cockey)
9. El Jadida (Guillory)
10.Karma Blues (Carey)
Discography
Guillory created and contributed to a number of albums, including:- A Scratch in the Sky - 1967
- Synthesis - 1968
- Past · Present And Future - 1973
- Isaac Guillory Side One (The Atlantic Years 1977) - 1973
- Isaac Guillory - 1974
- Two Days Away - 1977
- Fred Piek - 1981
- Cabrel Public - 1984, 1986
- Live - 1986
- Postcards From Home - 1986
- Quelqu'Un De L'Intérieur - 1987
- Easy - 1988
- Slow down - 1992
- The Days of '49 - 2000
External links
- Official website
- Isaac Guillory at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- [ Isaac Guillory at Allmusic]
- Article on Isaac Guillory
- Cryan' Shames website