Biography
Born on 15 October 1944 in Birmingham, England, Woolley developed an early passion for music that led him to play the ukulele. His mother purchased a guitar for him in 1958, after which he became one of sixteen members in a nearby skiffle ensemble. Entering the Royal Navy in 1960, he carried his instrument along and performed across numerous countries while also arranging performances and forming ensembles. Woolley’s initial appearance at a folk club occurred in 1969, sparked by his admiration for Bob Dylan and the music associated with the American Depression era. As he began composing original material, a talent for comedy emerged naturally, allowing jokes and spoken routines to enter his performances. By 1973 he functioned primarily as a folk comedian, yet he remained employed as a naval gunnery instructor until departing the service in 1975 to focus entirely on entertainment. He had already featured on the television talent programme New Faces the previous year. Between 1975 and 1985 he hosted the folk programme on Radio Victory in Portsmouth, England. Performances have taken him worldwide, and he continues to receive frequent invitations to festivals. These days Woolley appears less often in folk clubs, preferring instead summer seasons and concert engagements. As an inherently humorous performer, he merits wider recognition alongside others working in the same style.
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