Theodore Roosevelt Wysinger Jr. was born in El Dorado, Arkansas on September 15th, 1947. He spent his first 3 years in a very small town in Arkansas called Three Creeks. At about the age of 2 years old, Ted lost his Mother, Willie Mae. Due to the rampant racism that still existed in the deep South in the forties, his Mother was allowed to slowly bleed to death, while lying on a gurney in the Hospital, as Nurses and Doctors walked pass her. She died in childbirth of a ruptured uterus. The baby ( a brother ) also died. This was to have a profound effect on Ted his whole life. This CD is dedicated to her and features her picture on the cover. The song "Oh Mother" is about her.

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In 1950, Ted, his father (Theodore Senior ) and six sisters moved to San Francisco California. They settled in the Fillmore District, where Ted's Father supported his children working as a Master Carpenter.

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Ted's interest in music started early, even if at first it was only wishful thinking. When he was nine years old, he would walk up and down Fillmore Street, after school, for twelve blocks, carrying an empty guitar case while wearing dark shades and his father's hat. " I wanted everyone to know that I was a musician."

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By the early sixties, Ted was playing in earnest, sneaking out of the house to do so . The sneaking out continued for 3 months. Then on day, his Father showed up at a club on Hayes street where Ted was playing. His Dad strolled up to the bar and bought himself a drink. He then walked to the front of the stage and sat down. Their eyes met, and Ted just knew he was in for a lot of trouble. Instead of trouble though, Ted Senior raised his glass and toasted his son. He saw that his son was was happy doing what he loved, and making a steady honest living. Raising his glass was his way of showing his approval.

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Ted has been playing in Blues and Funk bands in the San Francisco for more than four decades. He describes his style as one which holds to the simple, basic, rhythmic, structure of a tune, pulsating and solid at all times. " I keep things simple ", he likes to say.

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Early influences include James Jamerson, Ray Brown, James Brown, Sly Stone, Percy Mayfield and Jimmy McCracklin.

Ted has played with Jimmy McCracklin, Percy Mayfield, Lowell Fulsom, Freddy and the Stone Souls, John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, Pee Wee Craton and Bruce Willis.

He was the House Bass Player for eight years at the Monterey Blues Festival.
He won the Bay Area Blues Society Bass Player of the Year award in 1990.
He worked as a studio musician at Fantasy Records in Berkeley California from 1972 -1975.
He appeared with The Uptights in the movie "The Mack", starring Richard Pryor, filmed on location in Oakland, California.

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Records Played on include:

She's Looking Good by Rodger Collins
Danger Zone by JJ Malone
It's a Shame by JJ Malone
Devil's on the Run by the Uptights
Mirrors Don't Ever Lie by the Uptights

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