Born William C. Disley on 27 May 1931 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, he spent his formative years in Wales and northern England. There he first took up the banjo before switching to guitar at fourteen after encountering the music of Django Reinhardt. One of his initial professional jazz experiences came during a stint with the Yorkshire Jazz Band. Throughout the 1950s he resided in London, balancing work as a newspaper cartoonist with performances alongside an assortment of ensembles. Although most of his bookings during the 1950s and 1960s occurred with traditional groups, he also explored skiffle and folk idioms. Motivated to revive the acoustic guitar amid the electric instrument’s dominance on the pop scene, he steadily earned recognition as a leading mainstream player.
Early in the 1970s he began a productive partnership with Stéphane Grappelli after convincing Cambridge Folk Festival organizers to engage the violinist. Completing the lineup with guitarist Denny Wright, who had previously collaborated with Grappelli in 1944, the trio achieved notable success and helped secure Grappelli’s return to prominence. Disley later brought bassist Len Skeat into the fold and remained a key accompanist through many of the violinist’s most celebrated comeback performances. Their association lasted roughly a decade, during which Disley also participated in recording sessions with Teresa Brewer and others while touring Australia, Europe, and the USA. His sharp business acumen, refined musical judgment, and steadfast commitment to Reinhardt’s style played a meaningful role in revitalizing Grappelli’s career. Afterward he assembled his own ensemble, which performed primarily in London throughout the 1980s. He remains active, infusing every performance with wit, invention, and an insistent, unwavering swing.
