Ike Isaacs

Who was Ike Isaacs?

Ike Isaacs was a jazz guitarist born in Rangoon, Burma, best known for his work with Stephane Grappelli.

Isaacs was an autodidact, and started playing professionally while he was a chemistry student at university. In 1946 he moved to England, where he freelanced for many years; he played in the BBC Show Band, as well as with George Chisholm and Barney Kessel. In the 1960s and 1970s he played with Stephane Grappelli extensively, including with Diz Disley's Hot Club of London. Isaacs played with Digby Fairweather, Len Skeat, and Denny Wright in the group Velvet in the 1970s as well.

Isaacs moved to Australia in the 1980s, where he taught at the Sydney Guitar School.