Don Wise

Don Wise

Don Wise performing in Notodden, Norway, 2005
Background information
Birth name Donald Grover Wise
Born (1942-03-24) March 24, 1942
Westerly, Rhode Island, United States
Genres Rhythm and blues, swing, country, rock 'n' roll
Occupation(s) Musician, music producer, songwriter
Instruments Tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, vocals
Years active 1957–present
Labels Horn O' Copia Recordings
Associated acts Delbert McClinton, Marcia Ball, Ray Charles, Joe Ely, Bugs Henderson, Big Joe Maher
Website donwise.com

Donald Grover "Don" Wise (born March 24, 1942 in Westerly, Rhode Island) is an American tenor saxophonist, songwriter, and music producer. He gained attention as reliable sideman of the singer-songwriter Delbert McClinton from Lubbock, Texas, for more than 20 years. Wise played with many artists and in venues all over the globe in his more than 50-year musical career. He released four CDs under his own name before officially retiring from the music business in 2008, in order to devote himself more to his private life. His passions outside of music include gardening, cooking, and painting.[1]

Wise is married and lives with his family in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States.

Development and musical career

At the beginning of his musical life cycle Wise learned to play clarinet. At age 12 he moved to the saxophone, initially alto sax and a year later settled on the tenor sax. He was inspired by the rhythm and blues of the 1950s; however, he also played country, swing, and big band music. He joined his first band in 1957. It was at the birth of rock 'n' roll, and they called themselves the Rhythm Rockers.[2] Early saxophone influences were Red Prysock, Sam "The Man" Taylor, Earl Bostic, David "Fathead" Newman, and a little later, King Curtis, Sam Butera, and Junior Walker. With these musical inspirations, over the years he developed his versatility and his own signature sound and became a sought-after session musician.

Wise toured with various bands across the U.S. in the 1970s and '80s and has performed with Jeffrey Osborne, Ruben Ramos, Chuck Jackson, Maxine Brown, Taj Mahal, Willie Nelson, Marcia Ball, Rickey Godfrey, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Tower of Power, Huey Lewis, Hal Ketchum, Teresa James and Joe Ely. A milestone was the invitation from Ray Charles to back him on a nationally broadcast TV appearance for the ESPYs in New York City in 1997.[3][4] Wise was also member of the "Allstar Band" performing the Inaugural-Concert for George H. W. Bush in 1989.[5]

While recording in 1985 with Radio Zebra, a Texas rock group with whom he had toured Germany a month prior, he received a call from Delbert McClinton to fill the position as saxophonist in his band. Wise took the opportunity and remained a pillar of the group for 23 years. He served as instrumentalist and co-producer of McClinton's Grammy-nominated album Live from Austin in 1989[6] and as musician of Grammy winner Cost of Living in 2005. After more tours in Central Europe and Scandinavia, a large fan base grew outside the U.S. and led to Wise' increased recognition and the popularity of his music.

His eclectic skills brought various honors, from Country Sax Player of the Year at the Oklahoma Country Music Awards in 1980, to 2002 when he earned the Best Instrumentalist Cammy Award from the Beach Music Association. His playing style is written about in John Laughter's Contemporary Saxophone, with four of his solos from the Live from Austin CD featured on the book's companion disc.[7][8] Reviewers in a variety of journals, magazines, and e-zines describe his soulful solos and just-right backup playing.

In 1997 he produced the first CD of his own, which garnered excellent reviews and led to three more discs over the next eight years. Colleagues including Delbert McClinton, Marcia Ball, Gary Bunton, Britt Johansen, Robin Griffin, Bugs Henderson, Big Joe Maher, Teresa James and Steve Williams helped get his ideas heard and appreciated.[9] Friend and co-producer, Wally Moyers, owner of Studio 84 in Lubbock, was invaluable in achieving the sound Wise wanted. Besides featuring his friends' and colleagues' talents, Wise complemented these projects with his own musicianship as a sax pro, as well as his gifts as a composer, lyricist, producer, and singer.

In 2008, after an acclaimed tour of Finland and Norway, Wise exited the Delbert McClinton band to devote his time to his family and hobbies. Sometimes he still plays as a guest with various artists, such as Mingo Fishtrap from Austin, Texas, or on Delbert McClinton's annual Sandy Beaches Cruise.[10]

Instruments

Wise' "The martin tenor" saxophones

Wise plays "The Martin Tenor"[11] built in 1951 with the Otto Link 7S, metal mouthpiece (adapted By "Doc" Tenney in Cedar Falls, Iowa). In addition, he has a Martin silver tenor saxophone (which he acquired in trade for a black Keilwerth tenor with golden flaps), a Martin alto, and a Conn soprano sax.[7]

Awards

Discography

Excerpt of productions, Wise has contributed as a saxophonist, producer, composer and/or songwriter:[12][13]

Solo-CDs

All released by Horn O' Copia Recordings.

Sideman, Session-/Guest-Musician

Don Wise, Germany 1984

References

  1. ↑ Don Wise Blog
  2. ↑ Interview with Don Wise on barikada.com
  3. ↑ Don Wise mit Ray Charles LIVE at the ESPYs, New York City, 1997
  4. ↑ DarielB: Interview with Don Wise, March 2009
  5. ↑ A Celebration Of Blues And Soul: The 1989 Presidential Inaugural Concert
  6. ↑ Album information on Alligator Records
  7. 1 2 Interview with John Laughter on saxontheweb.net
  8. ↑ John Laughter: Contemporary Saxophone. Publisher: Music Sales, 1999, ISBN 0-931759-58-7.
  9. ↑ Rebecca West: Interview with Delbert McClinton, Medina Entertainment Center, 1999
  10. ↑ Sandy Beaches Cruise
  11. ↑ The Martin story
  12. ↑ Don Wise Credits on allmusic.com
  13. ↑ Don Wise Credits on artistdirect.com
  14. ↑ Review by Marc A. Cole on Blues on Stage
  15. ↑ Genuine Snake Review by William Michael Smith on rockzilla.net
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