Wayne Blake

Wayne Blake was born and raised in Wolverhampton to a mother from Saint Ann's, Jamaica, and a Jamaican father.

His earliest musical experiences included listening to his dad play country western music on Sunday mornings by artists like John Rhys and Chuck Wagon. His musical journey began at age four or five when his older brother, Michael, started teaching him chords like D and G on the guitar in the backyard.

The New Testament Church of God in Wolverhampton was hugely influential, where he was captivated by musicians like Martin Longmore, Charles Longmore, and Steve Braithwaite. Lacking instruments, the young boys, including Blake, would create percussion by banging on the back of the wooden benches and using their feet on the floor. Blake’s formal guitar lessons were with Martin Longmore every Thursday. His parents invested in his musical education despite money being very tight. He learned to play guitar in church on Monday nights after his father gave him his first new guitar.

The transition to keyboards occurred when his parents bought a piano after they moved houses. Despite having no prior lessons, Blake naturally began playing the piano, shocking his parents. He started piano lessons, working toward his grades, but struggled with the classical focus of the music exam boards, as it couldn’t be easily applied to the church music he learned by ear. He made a conscious effort to bring the two concepts together, incorporating scales, chords, and intervals into his gospel playing.

Around age 13, Blake started a band called The New Generation. They wrote and rehearsed their own original songs. He became a keyboardist when, during a rehearsal, he stepped off the guitar to play the brass lines for a track called “Light of the World Paradise,” a London-based gospel record. He was also influenced by jazz artists like Oscar Peterson and George Duke, finding similarities between jazz and gospel music. He competed in the National Youth Talent competition, eventually winning at the national level for piano playing.

In his 20s, Blake joined the group New Life, which he considers a career highlight due to the fellowship, music, and creativity. He played with Louis, Darren, and Paul Reid Rossi. He had to save up to buy his first keyboard and amp around age 21, and he would borrow his dad’s car to drive to rehearsals. He greatly admired New Life singer Jennifer Phillips for her ability to communicate and passion , and guitarist Paul Reid Rossi for his musical intelligence and genuine nature.

Around age 25, Blake decided to pursue music full-time. Knowing that not everyone could be a professional touring musician, he went to university to get a music degree and then a PGCE. He became a full-time music teacher and an educator, bringing his musical culture and life experiences into the classroom.