Colin Wilson was born on 23.2.1952 in Derbyshire, son of an engineer and at the age of two uprooted the Derbyshire Dales for the Devon seaside town of Teignmouth. At the age of 13 his life of gentle and acceptable levels of boredom was kicked into touch when he woke up one morning to find a 6 string acoustic guitar at the end of his bed which changed his life completely.

Educated at Mt Radford School  in Exeter Colin mixed with other players and jammed along whenever he could, no lessons were included except that a work colleague of his Dad showed him how to play The Streets of Lorado, largly self taught he was influenced by all the greats emerging onto the music scene in the late sixties Dylan, Donovan, Kinks, Beatles, Joan Baez Julie Felix, his Dad was into opera so Colin was exposed to many different styles and genres plus a love of singing and an appreciation of a good melody.

Whilst busking outside Teignmouth Pier he met up with Phil Beer and formed a duo getting their first paid gig at The Oddfellows Arms Folk Club in Exeter run by Mike and Pete Gaskell, famously known as The Dung Brothers, Colin and Phil didn't have a name and was introduced by Mike as The Oddfolk, a name which stuck for the next five or six years, during this time, they toured the Southern half of the UK and Wales delivering their own brand of contempory and traditional folk music in the very thriving folk club scene as well as Colleges and Universities.

Colin wrote a folk opera about a Cornish Legend called "Jan Tregeagle" and Phil helped with some rip roaring fiddle and mandolin tunes, the Opera was taken on tour and Colin and Phil were pursuded to record Jan Tregeagle at RA Records in Torquay and produced by Tony Waldron, it was a mixture of contempory and tradition music with close harmonies and great instrumentation (mostly Phil) bit like what he is doing now with Show of Hands.

Phil decided to move to Brighton and Colin did a 3 week solo tour in Canada where he started to write his first solo album called "Cloudburst" (see album details) and some guitar work for Karen Whitbread on Radio 2 in the London Studio.On his return he teamed up with Olly Dowlen and Dave Eustace and formed "The Collection" touring the South West clubs and pubs and also reaching the finals in the Melody Maker Music Competition achieving 3rd place.

Colin wrote a second album called " After The Storm" recorded at Tabitha Studios but it was never finished as Olly left the band suddenly and Dave decided to go to the United States.

Colin went to "Woodstock Studios" in Oxford to record his first single " Never Ending Road" which was released in Europe but Punk music was now on the scene and the folk clubs and acoustic music had started it's decline so Colin branched out playing mandolin for The Concert Boys playing Country, he then teamed up with Chris Billings (A Walk In The Park) as a duo, plus lots of solo work plus playing with another Bluegrass outfit  "The Flying Ducks" and "Easy Pickins" until Dave Eustace suddenly came back from the States (minus wife) and Dave and Colin started a new band called "Desperate Measures" the band featured Geoff Collyer Lead Guitar and Vocals, Rawden Johnson Bass Guitar, Dave Eustace on Drums,Paul Cox Violin, Keyboards and Vocals and Colin Wilson Acoustic Guitar and Vocals.

Colin wrote two more albums for the band "No Batteries Included" and "Desperate Again" until the band folded after 10 years on the road and banging their heads against the music establishments brick walls.

Another 10 years of not at lot, in fact nothing at all really, until Dave bumped into Colin in the street and said "fancy coming round next monday for a play and a pint" something always happens when Dave and Colin get together.

Colin's song "Damascus Roads" from his third album "A Walk In The Park" reached the semi finals in the British Song writers Competion in 2009 finding it's way into the top 23% out of 6000 entries (beter luck next time)