Blue Weaver


Derek John "Blue" Weaver is a Welsh keyboardist, session musician, songwriter and record producer.

Biography

A founder member of Amen Corner and its successor Fair Weather, Weaver replaced Rick Wakeman in Strawbs when he left to join Yes. Weaver was with the Strawbs during their most successful and critically acclaimed period where he played some notable mellotron and other keyboard sequences on their albums Grave New World and Bursting at the Seams. He left Strawbs in 1973, and toured with Mott the Hoople in the US tour. Queen were their support act. He also appeared with the Streetwalkers and session work followed, including work with the Pet Shop Boys. He also played behind the Bee Gees at the suggestion of his former Amen Corner colleague drummer Dennis Bryon, who had joined their backing band a year earlier during their successful 1975-79 period, taking in such highlights as "Jive Talkin'", "You Should Be Dancing" and the band's famous contributions on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The three-piece backing band of Weaver, Bryon and the perennial Bee Gees sideman, Alan Kendall, played on the Bee Gees' albums, Main Course, Children of the World, Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live and Spirits Having Flown. Weaver was credited as a co-composer on " Don't Throw It All Away", made a hit by the group's younger brother Andy Gibb. Weaver also co-composed the songs for Jimmy Ruffin's 1980 album Sunrise with Robin Gibb as lyricist, including the hit single, "Hold On ".
Weaver composed the soundtrack for the film, Times Square, again collaborating with Robin Gibb on Gibb's duet with Marcy Levy, "Help Me". As of 2009, Weaver was a director and supporter of The Music Producers Guild.