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Brett Wales

Telephone Number :  01159 274925

Email address :  brett.wales@sky.com

Website :  www.brettwales.com

Address :  14 Earlsfield Drive,  Rise Park,  Nottingham,  Notts,  NG5 5BQ 

About Brett

Brett was born on the 23rd of August 1978 in Nottingham and raised by his grandparents Marianne and Alwyn, He still lives and works from the very same house to this day. His grandfather owned an Elka 707 Organ and the house was always full of music, so it is little wonder that at a very young age Brett displayed a keen interest in music, singing all the popular songs of the day.

Alwyn returned home from work one day to discover his young grandson playing the organ with his left hand, and keeping time to the rhythm unit.   Alwyn asked if he could do the same with his right hand?  The response was astounding - unruffled by the request, he did as asked, but with both hands at once. Brett was only three at the time and Alwyn realised his grandson might be talented.  Marianne and Alwyn continued to encourage Brett to play as a hobby. Brett’s ability to listen to songs and then sing them with uncanny accuracy was to manifest itself yet again.  He began playing by ear the music he heard, not just the melody, but accompaniment as well.

This uncanny accuracy and ability to hear and then play sections and phrases, separate parts of a complete score, has stayed with Brett to this day - the Blue Danube played by him today being testament to the fact.

Meanwhile, Alwyn had discovered an organ product new to him, the Wersi.  They sold a range of organs in kit form that could be home built. We are not talking about putting set pieces together here; this was serious stuff, right down to soldering individual resistors and component parts on to circuit boards!   Alwyn knew Brett needed a more complete ‘orchestral type organ’ and decided to rise to the challenge and built himself the Wersi Helios. Once complete it wasn’t long before Brett had mastered the new sounds and rhythms on this amazing instrument. His grandparents felt this obvious natural talent should not be wasted and sought private lessons from a local music teacher, who said it was rare to find in one so young the patience to sit, listen and learn all that was being taught. Brett’s enthusiasm and dedication to music, so much a hallmark of the man today, found him being described as a ‘Boy Genius’ when later he was to meet with Wersi Stars, Klaus Wunderlich and Franz Lambert.

In April 1986 Ron Franklin (formally W.E.S.) organised a five day trip to the Wersi headquarters in Halsenbach Germany, a visit to where Wersi organs are still produced today. As reward for his improvement and dedication to musical studies, Brett’s grandparent’s decided to take Brett on the visit.

They had the pleasure of seeing some of the greatest players & musical talents in the world including Mark Whale, Hady Wolf, Curt Prina and of course the master himself Klaus Wunderlich where Brett had the unusual privilege of shaking his hand.

One of the highlights of the visit for Brett was the Saturday evening spent in the legendary Franz Lambert’s Felsenkeller.  Brett stood at the side of Franz’s organ, transfixed and mesmerised, watching and learning more than most people realised. It was then Brett decided his ambition was to be the same one day as Franz Lambert, a famous organist.

Back home the practice and tutorial sessions continued apace.  There was a noticeable change, though, in Brett's music; he began to repeat all that he had heard at the Felsenkeller.  Encouraged by the effect the visit had on Brett, Marianne, Alwyn and Brett made the same trip the following year but, unfortunately, Franz was unable to play for them.  Instead, they went for the evening to a Bier Keller in Koblenz, where organist Udo Kemp was performing. Having heard Brett play previously, Udo asked if Brett would play for the people to dance.  Amazingly, without a trace of nerves and oblivious to his audience, he proceeded to play music from his examinations. He also cheekily played a Franz Lambert Felsenkeller medley just as if he was at home playing to himself.  Was this the first sign we saw of the humourist we have on stage today? The reaction from the audience - a standing ovation - was to be the first of many in Brett's career to date.  A star was born – proud Grandparents, and Udo had a major problem getting Brett to leave the organ!

1989 was to be a memorable year for Brett and his family; they made the same trip as the two previous years, but this time they went, once again, to see Franz live at the Felsenkeller. This time, however, after hearing of Brett’s achievements at Koblenz, Franz requested Brett to play for him and his audience. One of the pieces Brett chose to play for Franz was one that Franz himself plays, “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometimes” with that Franz took the microphone and said “Brett we must play together”. The crowd stood around the organ amazed that this nine year old played seemingly without a care in the world.  You can imagine it brought the house down and, later, Franz was to remark on Brett’s composure. That a professional musician, the stature of Franz Lambert, should take time out to encourage a young boy speaks volumes not just of Franz Lambert’s generosity, but his obvious recognition of an artistic and musical talent. Franz’s music is an influence on Brett’s style, particularly Brett’s late night spots, which have a definite Franz Lambert Felsenkeller ring to them! Yes, I think we can safely say that one of Brett’s idols is Franz Lambert!  

The annual trip to Germany in 1989 brought yet another duet between Brett and his idol Franz, this time playing “Strangers in the Night”. On the Sunday evening they attended another fantastic concert, by the ever impressive Mark Whale. Mark is often thought to be Brett’s older brother. Reinhardt Franz, one of the co-owners of Wersi GmbH, asked Brett if he would like to play during Mark’s concert in the auditorium at the Wersi headquarters.  As always, Brett needed no second bidding to sit down and play, and gave a composed and professional performance.  After the concert Brett was promised by Reinhardt and his brother W. E. Franz that in the following year he could have his own concert, which inspired Brett, then 11 yrs old, to prepare for 1990.

Even though Brett wasn’t yet twelve years old he started doing various demonstrations for Wersi in the U.K. constantly demonstrating the top of the range Wersi Spectra organs of the time.  It was getting hard for Brett to work on new material for demonstrating the Spectra when he could still only practise on his grandfather's Helios.  Practising and preparing for demonstrations on one type of organ, and playing in public on another style of organ is not good. The nearest place he could get to play a Spectra was at Barnsley, the then northern Wersi dealership, too far for a young man who also had to attend school like any normal child, so Marianne and Alwyn decided to sell the Helios and get Brett his very own Spectra for his twelfth birthday. A special gift, from special people, for a very special young man.

The many demonstrations around this time hold memories of good times, such as demonstrating at Stapley Water Gardens where he made two very good friends, organist Volkre Kruche & ten times world accordion champion Guy Dennis, both were kind, helpful and also enjoyed playing as a trio with Brett.  

Naturally there came a time when like all other young players Brett had to limit the amount of travelling, due to both his school work & musical examination’s as more time was dedicated to his grades. When he turned fifteen Brett was accepted for Clarendon College in Nottingham to study music although he had already learnt most of the course in his previous years with private tutors. It was the ‘Academy of Life’,  the  experience gained by playing with other musicians and bands around  Nottingham that was to  become so very valuable later on in Brett’s career. Orchestrations, arrangements, stage presence and professionalism were to turn musician into performer – into star.

Brett will admit to being a lucky sort of person, and, as luck would have it, at a time just right, Brett met up again with an old friend from his Germany trips, the one and only Ken Davies, who - as luck would have it - was heavily  involved in running Wersi – England. Brett was invited to appear at the long running Barton Hall Festival. Listening to Brett play and seeing him use the Spectra to it’s full potential, Ken decided to use Brett as his main demonstrator and concert artiste. A step in Brett’s career that was to give him the opportunity to appear at what was then all of the major organ festivals in England.

Ken's friendship grew to become a special bond. Brett referred to him as “King Kenny” and even though the ‘King’ eventually stopped running Wersi in England, his role as Brett’s sound engineer and musical adviser continued until Spring of this year (2003) when, sadly, he lost his short battle against cancer. He was to Brett the solid foundation a double bass is to a band, helping to drive, develop and nurture the special talents of Brett Wales. It appears that the early years of hard work and studying are now paying off.<>  Brett’s charisma stems from his ability to feel and display emotion through his music. It affects many in the audience, bonding the artiste with his audience. Others are simply charmed by  his pleasant, open, gentle nature that turns people into friends.

More good luck for Brett turned up in the guise of WERSI UK Ltd.  Roy Scott is now the managing director of WERSI UK..Ltd.   He is an ambitious man who wants, just like Brett, to see Wersi at the top where it belongs. Brett is now doing freelance work for Roy who has given Brett the opportunity to build on his ever growing career and I’m sure Wersi will continue to grow with this sort of combination.

Over the years Brett has gained many true great friends in and around the music business, far too many to mention, but two very special friends have given Brett the opportunity to carry on and try to achieve the goal that Brett has worked so hard for all these years. Richard & Shirley Collis bought Brett, no strings attached, his very own white Wersi Scala with matching speakers, the queen of the brand new ‘Open Art System’ range of organs and keyboards just released by Wersi. This generous gesture was made to Brett by Richard and Shirley purely to say "thank you for the music". Even Brett (not usually caught for words) was reported by King Kenny to have been shaking with excitement for days after the offer was made.

A gesture from two very special people who, we are sure, will have already seen and, indeed, heard the results of their involvement in Brett's career.

Brett’s grandfather passed away on the 14th of March 2001 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Sadly, he never saw his great granddaughter, Bethany, and he never got to hear his grandson playing the new instrument, didn’t get to witness the standing ovation Brett received in Concert at Ludlow. The audience did not know that the Blue Danube, played that night in public for the first time and dedicated by Brett to his grandfather, was in fact dedicated to his grandfather's memory. Brett had been advised by mobile 'phone only a few hours earlier, whilst on his way to that concert, that Alwyn had slipped away. Truly the professional, and a man his grandfather would have been proud of that night – the performance was what we have come to expect from Brett, polished to perfection and showing no sign of the turmoil that must have raged within. Brett likes to think that whilst Alwyn, who didn’t witness his grandson's impact on the organ scene, is now looking down on him and realising that what he saw in his young grandson when he came home from work that day in 1981 is now being recognised twenty years later by audiences everywhere.

Today Brett is constantly in demand and playing to packed out venues all over the country. With bookings going into the year 2004 we are happily assured of good music for the foreseeable future.

Brett's Concert Diary

Brett's Festival appearances

Brett will also be featured at the following festivals this year.

2010

January 22nd

   Key Breaks with Brett & Chris

February 12th

   Musical Magic - Mill Rythe

April 9th

   Wizard Holidays

June 28th

   Members Summer Special

September 24th

   Folkestone Organ/ Keyboard Festival

October 22nd

   Key Breaks With Brett and Chris

November 26th

   Key Breaks with Brett & Chris

Concerts in 2010
January 20thLlay Organ Society
January 26thEast Coast Organ Society
February 4thBridport Electronic Organ Club
February 11thSleaford Organ Club
February 12thWigston Organ Club
February 17thFife Electronic Organ Society
February 20thChelmsford Organ and Keyboard Club
March 2ndTorbay Electronic Organ Club
March 7thWisbech Organ Society
March 11thYork Electronic Organ & Keyboard Society
March 18thBurntwood Music For All Group
March 22ndBanstead Organ and Keyboard Club
March 29thHinckley and District Organ Society
April 13thCardiff Organ & Keyboard Society
April 18thBay Organ and Keyboard Society. (Morecambe)
April 25thSwineshead Village Hall
April 27thAshford Organ Club (Middlesex)
April 29thGainsborough Organ Society
May 11thBlackpool Keyboard Club
May 25thNew Forest Organ Society
May 26thNorth Tyneside Electronic Organ Society
May 27thSt Augustines Church
June 8thLowestoft and District Organ and Keyboard Club
June 9thLincoln Electronic Organ Society
June 10thDriffield Electronic Organ & Keyboard Society
June 11thBristol Hammond and Electronic Organ Society
June 16thBourne Organ Club
June 29thOrpington Organ and Keyboard Club
July 1stAssociation of Organ Enthusiasts (AOE) (more details)

Joint concert with Byron Jones

July 6thSouth Yorkshire Keyboard and Organ Club
July 14thCharnwood Music For All
July 15thHarrogate Electronic Organ & Keyboard Club
July 25thSheppey Organ Club (more details)

Sheerness East WM Club. 2 o'cock start

July 27thHaverhill Electronic Organ and Keyboard Club
July 28thRegis Organ and Keyboard Club
July 30thSouth Molton Organ and Keyboard Club
August 3rdSkegness and District Organ Society
August 5thWeston Organ and Keyboard Club
August 10thEast Devon Organ Club
August 13thMapperley Plains Sports & Social Club
August 24thSwale Electronic Organ Club
August 26thHastings & Bexhill Organ & Keyboard Society
September 3rdColchester Organ Society
September 6thStafford Keyboard and Organ Club
September 8thHerne Bay Organ and Keyboard Club
September 16thWeyhill Electronic Organ Society
September 21stWoodhall Spa and District Organ Society
September 30thCarlisle and West Cumbria Organ and Keyboard Society
October 10thPincents Organ Club
October 12thBuckley and District Organ Society
October 13thSutton and District Organ Society
October 17thClacton & District Organ Society
October 21stWyre Home Organ Society
October 26thThanet Electronic Organ & Keyboard Club
October 28thMilton Keynes Organ Society
November 3rdNorth Herts Organ Society
November 9thWithernsea Organ Society
November 10thEast London and Essex Organ Society
November 16thMelksham Electronic Organ Club
December 6thFurness Organ and Keyboard Society
December 7thPenrith and District Organ Society
December 8thBedford Electronic Organ Society (more details)

Members & Guests Christmas Dinner & Dance

December 9thHornchurch Keyboard Society
December 13thFelixstowe Electronic Organ Club
December 20thNene Valley Organ Club
Concerts in 2011
January 18thBolton and District Electronic Organ Society
February 13thOrgan and Keyboard Music Club, Rutland (more details)

2.30 pm start

March 10thSleaford Organ Club
April 14thWessex Organ World Society
August 16thBournemouth Electronic Organ Society
October 25thGloucestershire Keyboard and Organ Club
November 9thEast London and Essex Organ Society
November 28thDerby Organ and Keyboard Club
December 2ndTrowbridge Electronic Organ Club (more details)

CHRISTMAS SHOW

December 8thStirling Keyboard & Organ Club