Bert Weedon

Mr. Weedon was an early rock-and-roll guitar star in Britain in the late 1950s, with a series of instrumental hits that included “Guitar Boogie Shuffle,’’ “Apache,’’ and “Nashville Boogie.’’ But when his instructional book was first published in 1957, he became something of a spiritual godfather to a generation of would-be guitar heroes.
Its title - “Play in a Day’’ - offered the hope of instant musical gratification. The lessons began at the most basic level, with an illustration of how to hold a guitar. Weedon taught novices how to get through many rock-and-roll songs with three basic chords and included pointers on how to play a few basic tunes.
His guide, which was updated through the 1980s, sold millions of copies, leading Britain’s Independent newspaper to call Mr. Weedon “the man who taught the world to play the guitar.’’
Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Keith Richards, the Who’s Pete Townshend, and three of the Beatles - George Harrison, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney - studied Mr. Weedon’s book.
“I like to think that I’ve helped in some way to make the guitar the most popular instrument in the world,’’ he said in 1997.
Herbert Maurice Weedon was born in London on May 10, 1920. His father was a subway driver and amateur singer.
Mr. Weedon was 12 when he bought a secondhand guitar. He wanted to learn to play jazz, but his first teacher - an elderly music-shop owner - refused to teach him anything but classical music.
“He picked up his guitar and played Chopin’s Prelude No. 7,’’ Mr. Weedon told London’s Daily Mail newspaper in 1995. “I had never heard anything so beautiful in my life. I sat transfixed and he said: ‘That’s what I’m going to teach you.’ And I said: ‘Yes, please.’ ’’‘
By 14, Mr. Weedon was performing in dance bands. He was a featured soloist before World War II.
He volunteered with rescue units during the London bombing blitz and, after the war, replaced Django Reinhardt in a group led by Grappelli, a prominent jazz violinist. unsecured loans

As a member of a BBC band in the 1950s, Mr. Weedon was known for his ability to sight-read any style of music. He was the host of children’s television shows and performed with many acclaimed singers, including Sinatra.
“He asked me if I’d like to go and play guitar in America,’’ Mr. Weedon recalled in 1995. “He was the greatest pop singer in the world and I was immensely flattered. I thanked him very much, but I told him no. I said I’d rather be a bigger fish in a smaller pond.’’ bad credit loans
Mr. Weedon recorded well into the 1980s, and one of his albums from the 1970s, “22 Golden Guitar Greats,’’ reached No. 1 on the British charts, knocking Led Zeppelin out of the top slot.
His first marriage, to Doris Weedon, ended in divorce. He leaves his wife of 53 years, Maggie Weedon; and two sons.