2000
Stan Saunders
(1929 - 2011)
As a young man Stan worked in the DCL laboratories in Menstrie beside Andrew Rankine. When Andrew decided to form a band he lacked a local bass player and asked Stan if he was interested in getting a double bass and “learning on the job”. Stan obliged and was to become one of Scotland’s foremost bass players. Although right handed it didn’t feel comfortable to pluck the bass with that hand hence he became a musical “south-paw” playing with his left. In 1960, when Andrew decided to play full time, Stan moved firstly to The Hamish Menzies Band and then to The Jimmy Shand Band with whom he played and travelled extensively. After the Shand Band days Stan continued to play and record with many other Scottish bands as diverse as Jimmy Shand Jnr., Angus Fitchet, Ian Holmes, Colin Finlayson, Iain MacPhail, Alex MacArthur, Robin Brock, Sandy Nixon, and Jim MacLeod. All of these top dance band leaders held him in high regard.
Stan Saunders
(1929 - 2011)
As a young man Stan worked in the DCL laboratories in Menstrie beside Andrew Rankine. When Andrew decided to form a band he lacked a local bass player and asked Stan if he was interested in getting a double bass and “learning on the job”. Stan obliged and was to become one of Scotland’s foremost bass players. Although right handed it didn’t feel comfortable to pluck the bass with that hand hence he became a musical “south-paw” playing with his left. In 1960, when Andrew decided to play full time, Stan moved firstly to The Hamish Menzies Band and then to The Jimmy Shand Band with whom he played and travelled extensively. After the Shand Band days Stan continued to play and record with many other Scottish bands as diverse as Jimmy Shand Jnr., Angus Fitchet, Ian Holmes, Colin Finlayson, Iain MacPhail, Alex MacArthur, Robin Brock, Sandy Nixon, and Jim MacLeod. All of these top dance band leaders held him in high regard.