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Handyman wins record contract
Bo Wilson03.07.08
A handyman is poised for pop stardom after winning a BBC songwriting competition.
Logan Wilson, 29, was one of 3,000 people who entered the Radio 2 contest, and was among 12 selected to perform live in a showcase compered by DJ Janis Long.
His song was selected as the winner and one of his tracks was put on the station's playlist.
It was then spotted by music executive Miles Copeland, brother of The Police's Stewart.
His track, Sky, will be released as a single on 14 July.
Today Mr Wilson, from Bethnal Green, told how he had been writing and performing music since he was a teenager but had struggled to get a break in the industry. To support himself he had a range of jobs, from bicycle repair man, delivery driver and labourer to roofer, plasterboarder and carpenter.
He currently has a job as a window shutter fitter.
Mr Wilson said: "It is so exciting to think this could be the start of my career. I've been in music for so long, it would be great to start getting some mainstream success at last. I never expected to hear back when I entered the competition, I couldn't believe it when I got the phone call."
Mr Wilson, whose style has been compared to that of Jack Johnson, had recorded an album, Geography, just before the competition, so he felt ready to send in his material. He said: "While I was making demos I would perform it all myself - I play guitar, bass, piano, mandolin, banjo and violin. But this time I recorded it with a friend of mine so it had a better sound."
Mr Wilson has signed a long-term publishing deal with Copeland, who has had the likes of The Police and REM on his books.
Copeland said: "Logan is an awesome songwriter. Let's hope the sun keeps shining because this track is the perfect summer backdrop."
Reader views (2)
A well earned break for Logan Wilson. Let us hope that this is the start of something really big.
With best wishes.
- David Michael Inglis, Auchterarder, Perthshire,Scotland
That is fantastic news. Logan Wilson is one of the most talented musicians I've seen recently since living in Hastings. So good to see that he has been rewarded. Good luck to him and the next step into the big time.
- Janet Lacey, Hastings United Kingdom
