Teen guitar star Toby Lee joins Jools Holland tour

‘Child prodigy’, ‘the real deal’, ‘virtuoso’ are just some of the overly-used words and phrases used to describe young musicians, and not all of these musicians are worthy of such praise, but in the case of teenage blues guitarist Toby Lee, statements like these may well be justified.

Oxfordshire-born Toby, 19, a three-time winner of Young Blues Artist of the Year at the UK Blues Awards, released his new album, House on Fire, on 4 October and he will be coming to Cambridge in November as part of Jools Holland’s famous Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

It turns out that Jools is not the only well-known musician in awe of Toby’s considerable talent, with guitar great Joe Bonamassa hailing him as “a future superstar of the blues”.

“It’s been quite a crazy journey,” says Toby, who also sings and writes songs, commenting on just how far he’s come at such a young age.

“I mean music in general for me was something that I always enjoyed but never thought that I’d be able to do it as a career...

“I’m in that really fortunate position that what I get to do as my job is something that is a very enjoyable thing for me.

“But it’s been really, really hectic, particularly this year with the Jools Holland tour and the upcoming [solo] tour and releasing the album.

“I had to sign copies of the album yesterday; I went to High Wycombe for the day to sign 1,041 copies, which was great.

“I’ve got a bit of an achy hand today from it, but it’s been incredible. As I say, I’m just super-fortunate to do what I love doing – so I never see it so much as work, it’s just an amazing part to the adventure.”

Jools’ other special guest on the tour is singer Marc Almond. So how did Toby end up getting the gig?

“I got approached to do a movie documentary about blues music, and especially how it impacted the UK,” replies Toby, who has been living in Cornwall for about four years.

“And they asked if I would come along as kind of the younger guest side of things, which was an incredible opportunity to be given…

“The fun part was that it was held at Jools Holland’s studio, with Jools. So that was my first proper introduction to him.

“We had been talking, due to being in the same place for the recording, and we just got on really well.

“We both love cars and we both love music – all kinds of music – so we had this mutual love for all things similar, which was brilliant.

“Then not too long after that, I got an email asking if I’d join the tour. And initially it was only for 30 shows, and then quite quickly after it changed to 65, which has been super hectic, interspersed in between my own band shows.

“But it’s just been the biggest honour. I’ve loved every second, just really honoured to be a part of such an amazing family, really, because they’ve been together for so long.

“They’ve really welcomed me and I’ve had a lovely time so far.”

When he was 10 years old, a get-well-soon video that Toby made for BB King went viral, leading to an invitation from the blues legend’s family to play at his club in Memphis, while the late Bernie Marsden – a member of Whitesnake, among other things – was an early mentor and champion.

Toby has shared the stage with the likes of Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Slash, Billy Gibbons and Peter Frampton. He also starred in a West End production of School of Rock.

Interestingly, Toby actually started out playing the drums as a child, before switching to the ukulele, so as not to disturb the neighbours.

“I went everywhere with that, but then just wanted to kind of expand,” he recalls, “and so I got my first quarter-size electric guitar when I was about six.

“Then I got a full-size guitar when I was eight years old, and just never put it down.

“I never really played with technology or anything; I wasn’t ever a video gamer, like quite a lot of the people in my generation were, I just loved music and all things music, especially playing guitar.

“I was obsessed with it – it was kind of the only thing that I did. I absolutely loved it and I couldn’t actually go anywhere without them [instruments].

“I’d always have a ukulele in the footwell of mum and dad’s car so I could always have one near – it was like a comfort blanket.

“Then I started doing playing for real when I was 10, and I haven’t stopped ever since. It’s just my absolute life and I love it.”

See Toby perform as part of Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on Sunday, 3 November, along with the other special guest, singer Marc Almond.

Tickets, priced £38 or £52.50, are available at cornex.co.uk. To check on tour dates for Toby’s band, go to toby-lee.com. Toby’s new album, House on Fire, is out now.