2010
Fraser McGlynn
Fraser, from Tarbert now Lochgilphead, started his musical life on his dad’s old melodeon. At 15 his brother bought him a new 3-row with 48 bass and a local player, Donald MacKay, explained some of the intricacies e.g. that it was possible to use a combination of the three rows and thus form scales. On leaving school he became a painter and decorator, then later a postman, but both jobs restricted his playing so the solution, in 1972, was to go self employed at his trade. He formed his own band at eighteen with himself on lead accordion, Duncan MacLean second box, Davie Scott on fiddle, Jim Flaherty on piano, Norman Smith bass and Jackie MacLeod drums. Having failed an audition in 1959, it was 1968 before they passed a second, with their first broadcast going out that year. Along the way Fraser had become one of Scotland’s leading exponents of the 3-row British Chromatic accordion, winning Perth Festival in 1962 and 1966. From the early 80s, he worked mainly with a trio and guested at most Accordion & Fiddle Clubs.
Fraser McGlynn
Fraser, from Tarbert now Lochgilphead, started his musical life on his dad’s old melodeon. At 15 his brother bought him a new 3-row with 48 bass and a local player, Donald MacKay, explained some of the intricacies e.g. that it was possible to use a combination of the three rows and thus form scales. On leaving school he became a painter and decorator, then later a postman, but both jobs restricted his playing so the solution, in 1972, was to go self employed at his trade. He formed his own band at eighteen with himself on lead accordion, Duncan MacLean second box, Davie Scott on fiddle, Jim Flaherty on piano, Norman Smith bass and Jackie MacLeod drums. Having failed an audition in 1959, it was 1968 before they passed a second, with their first broadcast going out that year. Along the way Fraser had become one of Scotland’s leading exponents of the 3-row British Chromatic accordion, winning Perth Festival in 1962 and 1966. From the early 80s, he worked mainly with a trio and guested at most Accordion & Fiddle Clubs.