Johnny Knight
From David Phillips book ‘Jimmy Shand’
Page 62
After the band went full time, Johnny Knight continued to play piano with them for a while, but did not care to give up the printing trade, eventually having to drop out as more and more time off work became necessary.
Johnny had actually wanted to be a fiddler like his granddad and uncles, but was ‘sent to the piano.’ Brother Jim, four years younger, did get to take up the fiddle. While still at school the kilted brothers played at parties, concerts, dances.
Jim Knight the fiddler was actually to play in a Shand Band long before Johnny did! At the age of fifteen his playing at an Evening Class Passout Concert in Stobswell School attracted the attention of a Mrs Shand……….who was no relation of Jimmy, but who invited the laddie to play at her cinema in Shepherd’s Loan.
Johnny started playing with Jimmy in Maitland Street Hall for the East Craigie Scottish Country Dance Club when pianist Peggy Edwards left.
“The first broadcast from Glasgow on New Year’s Day 1945 in Scottish Half Hour…….That’s what made the band ; after that we knew we had a good band. I remember it well. There was an extra three minutes to play, and we gave them Scottish Reform……’The finest playing of Scottish Country Dance Music I’ve heard for a long while’ said the producer ; “You’ll be hearing more from us!” And within a month we were broadcasting from Aberdeen, then Edinburgh……”
Johnny it was who suggested to the producer they have dancers in the studio ; and the suggestion was adopted with great success
After the band went full time, Johnny Knight continued to play piano with them for a while, but did not care to give up the printing trade, eventually having to drop out as more and more time off work became necessary.
Johnny had actually wanted to be a fiddler like his granddad and uncles, but was ‘sent to the piano.’ Brother Jim, four years younger, did get to take up the fiddle. While still at school the kilted brothers played at parties, concerts, dances.
Jim Knight the fiddler was actually to play in a Shand Band long before Johnny did! At the age of fifteen his playing at an Evening Class Passout Concert in Stobswell School attracted the attention of a Mrs Shand……….who was no relation of Jimmy, but who invited the laddie to play at her cinema in Shepherd’s Loan.
Johnny started playing with Jimmy in Maitland Street Hall for the East Craigie Scottish Country Dance Club when pianist Peggy Edwards left.
“The first broadcast from Glasgow on New Year’s Day 1945 in Scottish Half Hour…….That’s what made the band ; after that we knew we had a good band. I remember it well. There was an extra three minutes to play, and we gave them Scottish Reform……’The finest playing of Scottish Country Dance Music I’ve heard for a long while’ said the producer ; “You’ll be hearing more from us!” And within a month we were broadcasting from Aberdeen, then Edinburgh……”
Johnny it was who suggested to the producer they have dancers in the studio ; and the suggestion was adopted with great success