Pete Chilver

Who is Pete Chilver?

Peter William Chilver was a British guitarist and hotelier.

As a jazz musician, Chilver is credited with having established the electric guitar in Britain.

Chilver learned to play the piano as a schoolboy before taking up the guitar. He left school at 16 to work as a draughtsman, but formed a band to play weekends at Skindles Hotel near Maidenhead Bridge. He became known as a performer during the Second World War, at first in Maidenhead and Slough, but then also in London with increasingly prominent bands, including those of Johnny Claes, Teddy Foster, and Jimmy Mesene. During this time he also played with visiting American musicians serving in the military,including John Lewis, Kenny Clarke and Art Pepper.

In 1946, Chilver joined Ray Ellington, then Tito Burns, and during 1947 worked with Jack Jackson, George Shearing, and Stéphane Grappelli. By then, he was one of the most prominent British bebop musicians. He played with Ted Heath and Ambrose and, as a guest with the Skyrockets, accompanied Benny Goodman. In 1949, he was with Ronnie Scott and Johnny Dankworth in Alan Dean's Beboppers.