Art Wood

British blues, pop and rock singer, who led The Artwoods in the 1960s and subsequently became a graphic artist.
Born: 7th July 1937, West Drayton, Middlesex, England, UK.
Died: 3rd November 2006, Teddington, England, UK.
Wood was the eldest of three brothers, musicians Ted Wood [New Temperance 7, Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band etc] and Ron Wood. He attended Ealing School of Art during the 1950s and became a graphic artist.
He began working with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated and also worked with his own band The Art Wood Combo. The band finally made a dent in the charts after Wood was joined by Jon Lord and Derek Griffiths from Red Bludd's Bluesicians and Keef Hartley from Rory Storm & The Hurricanes. The band reformed as The Artwoods (opens in a new tab) and released the single "Sweet Mary". This line-up also had a residency at Oxford Street's 100 Club.
The band's album "Art Gallery" (Nov 1966) is a seminal release in the blues-fusion movement that was happening at that time. Art Wood was one of the many important catalysts who helped to shape the future of electric blues. Apart from appearing in a Downliners Sect line-up, he also worked on recording projects with his brothers in later years.
Wood was twice married, with one son. He died of prostate cancer, aged 69.