Paul Wingo

Paul A. Wingo (January 10, 1946—September 11, 2014) was an American Jazz guitarist. He was a member of The Bill Potts Big Band and Mike Crotty's Big Bands also played with Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Pepper Adams, Charlie Byrd, and Herb Ellis.

He regularly performed for thirty years at Bertha's Restaurant & Bar on S. Broadway, Fells Point, Maryland.

Early life and education

Paul Wingo was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, on January 10, 1946, to Henry L. Wingo and Thelma Adams Wingo.

Wingo started playing guitar at eleven and took guitar lessons from local musicians ("Red" Dwyer and George Fitzgerald). While in Junior High School, he played with his brother in a local band called Fabulous Volts.

After graduating from Cambridge High School in 1964, he attended the University of Maryland from 1964 to 1968.

Career

After completing his education, Wingo began working as a musician, both performing and teaching. Around that time, he had lessons with blues/jazz singer Billy Gibson; and guitarists Frank Mullen, Howard Roberts and Joe Pass.

In 1976, he took courses at the Creative Music Studios in Woodstock, New York. From 1980 to 1992 he studied with Asher George Zlotnik (1915-1997), a music scholar at the University of Maryland.

For six years, Wingo played Army Blues Band, during which time he often played at the White House and the Vice President's residence.

In 1987, Wingo played guitar on The Bill Potts Big Band's album 555 Feet Highalongside Ron Diehl (alto saxophone); Paul Schortgen (baritone saxophone); Paul Langosch (bass); Chuck Redd (drums); Robert Redd (piano); Jim Hayward and Dave Schiff (tenor saxophone); Dave Steinmeyer and Doug Elliott (trombone); and Vaughn Nark and Don Junker (trumpet).

He also worked on Potts' album The Jazz Soul Of Porgy & Bess Conducted with trumpeters Charlie Shavers, Marky Markowitz, and Harry Edison; trombonists Bob Brookmeyer and Gene Quill; and drummer Charlie Persip.

In 1982, Wingo played guitar on the track "Tenessee Crossroads" for The United States Army Chorus. It was composed by Boudleaux Bryant and Ray Stevens and arranged by James Kessler with Samuel Evans on drums and Ronald Andrewlevick on electric bass.

In 2010, Wingo and Steve Abshire released a jazz/blues album Detour Ahead on Patuxent Music (CD-192) with bassist Dave Wundrow and drummer Phil Cunneff.

He also made recordings with Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet, Tim Eyermann, Ronnie Wells, Debbie McFarlan, Buck Hill, Carrie Smith, and Nikki Ryan.

Between 1982 and 2011, Wingo was involved in 16 recording sessions.

Media appearances

• Television special All About Music
• Sunday morning show Tom Cole's G-Strings on WPFW radio, a talk and jazz music community radio station serving the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area

Personal life

On May 18, 1967, Wingo married Andrea S. Begab, who passed away on May 24, 2006. He was then married to Orianna of Fairfax, Virginia. He has a son, Adam.

Death

Wingo died in Olney, Maryland, on September 11, 2014, at age 68.