NICK PICKETT

Nick was born in London in 1949, but raised in the West Country. Living in a small village he got his first taste of music by listening to the regular broadcasts of Jazz and Blues from the French radio stations in the 1960's. He had always been a keen singer, but didn't take up the guitar and harmonica until he was 16 and began studying at art college in Somerset.

In 1968 he moved to college in Bristol, where he became a resident singer at the Troubadour Club. Deciding that music was more to his liking than art he quit college and moved to London in search of work. Late in 1969 he joined the John Dummer Band as lead singer and guitarist. He wrote and produced a number of recordings with the band, including their hit single "Nine By Nine", which reached the top of the sales charts in many European countries. By this time, however, he had decided to resume work as a soloist and returned to acoustic performances.

He has recorded as a soloist for Warners, as well as recording as a guest with many other artistes, including Fleetwood Mac, Chicken Shack, Daddy Longlegs, Mungo Jerry, and Andy Fernbach. In the late 1980's he returned to college to study design, and in 1993 he was awarded a Ph.D. for his work in devising music equipment for people with physical impairment. Nick performs mainly at acoustic clubs and festivals, where his steel-strung guitar and cutting harmonica help to deliver original songs with jazz and blues overtones.

©M&K2002