Box and Fiddle
Year 41 No 09
May 2018
Price £3.00
56 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £33.60 + p&p £15.85 (UK)
Bill Hendry – Guest of Honour 2018
by
Bill Hendry was born in Perth on 20th April 1931. He started playing piano at age 11. In 1954he joined the original Glendaruel Band led by Tony Reid on accordion. He did his first BBC broadcast in 1955 from the Coldside Studios in Dundee. In August that year, Bill emigrated to Melbourne, Australia. He played in trios (comprising saxophone, piano and drums) and occasionally in big bands but played little or no Scottish music. In 1956 Bill’s fiancée, Olive, joined him in Melbourne where they were married. They stayed there until 1960 when they returned to Perth (Scotland, not Western Australia!) where they stayed until work took Bill and his family from Perth to Dundee in 1969.
One of the main reasons for returning to Scotland was that Bill was missing Scottish dance music! He then joined Ian Arnott’s Band and played with them until 1967. Olive and Bill’s children were born in Perth, Fiona in 1964 and Russell in 1966. When Ian Arnott emigrated to Australia in 1967, Bill joined bobby Crowe’s band and played with him for the next 6 years or so. During this time, Bobby’s band was invited to play at Balmoral Castle for the Queen, Queen Mother and the Royal family. This was one of the highlights of Bill’s musical career.
In 1973 Bill formed his own 5-piece band playing for Scottish Country dancing and were soon regulars on BBC Scotland’s Scottish dance music programme. At that time, the band members were David Cunningham Snr on lead accordion, Frank Robb on fiddle, Wiam Skinneron bass, Stan Peacock on drums and Bill himself on piano. The band made one commercial recording as a 5-piece band. In 1978, the band played at a ceilidh in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. A young medical student by the name of Sandy Nixon asked if the band would mind if he sat in and played second box with them. The band boys agreed – somewhat reluctantly! Sandy must have done something right as Bill asked him to join the band as regular second box player. The 6-piece band continued until 1983, with George Boath replacing Stan Peacock on drums. ‘At Home with Bill Hendry’ was recorded in Wiam Skinner’s lounge in Dairsie in 1980 and was released as a cassette. The 6-piece band did their last BBC broadcast in October 1983. Sandy Nixon formed his own band in the late 1970s and Bill was the regular pianist. After the Bill Hendry band stopped playing, Bill switched over fully to Sandy’s band, and was a stalwart for the next 26 years!
Bill was asked in 1982 to play on a TV series ‘On the Fiddle’ which was introduced by Ron Gonella. He did the backing for Angus Fitchet, Willie Hunter and Jimmy Shand.
In 1982 John Huband formed The Tayside Sound with John himself and Davie Stewart on accordions, Angus Cameron on fiddle, Bill on piano, Rab Smillie on bass and Jack Cooper on drums. This band played regularly throughout the 1980s, making several recordings and playing BBC Radio Scotland.
Bill was ion great demand at this time as her was also playing with Ron Gonella, accompanying him as a solo artiste and also playing in the Ron Gonella Quartet. In September 1987 there was a Scottish dance music outside broadcast from the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock. The band was that of Sandy Nixon and the guest musicians were The Ron Gonella Quartet. Bill thoroughly enjoyed that recording – he got two fees! He continued to play with Sandy’s band for the next 20 years and more, traveling extensively (UK and abroad), doing BBC recordings and commercial recordings. Places where Bill has played for over the years include Melbourne, Tblisi, Moscow, Jakarta, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Oman, Madeira, Monaco, Seoul and Seattle.
During this time, he was also asked to play with other bands on their recordings, including Ian McCallum, Jimmy Lindsay, Deirdre Adamson, The Cameron Kerr SDB and The Ron Gonella Quartet. (In earlier years Bill made recordings with Bobby Crowe, Willie Simpson, Rob Gordon, The Bill Wilkie Orchestra and David Cunningham).
Having made his radio debut in 1955 with The Glendaruel Band, Bill lists the following with whom he was asked to play on BBC recordings over the next 50+ years: Ian Arnott, Dave Stewart, Bobby Crowe, Alex MacArthur, The Olympians, David Cunningham Trio, Rob Gordon, John Huband & the Tayside Sound, The Cameron Kerr Band, George Bell, The Ron Gonella quartet, Jimmy Ritchie and Friends, George Carmichael, the Clinkerheel Ceilidh Band (John Huband) and not forgetting his own band. He did his last BBC broadcast in February 2009 with Sandy Nixon’s band. Bill’s final engagement with Sandy’s band was the recording of ‘The Silver Spire’ CD in April 2009. After the recording was finished, Bill declared that he was now officially retired. Drummer Gordon Young (who always had the utmost respect for Bill and his musical skills although would never say this to him!) said that Bill was going out “in a blaze of mediocrity!” Indeed not: Bill finished his band career on a high, giving yet another wonderful performance on the piano. He still has a tune with the Carnoustie Traditionals and continues to enjoy listening to all types of music, but particularly Scottish dance music.
From Stuart Anderson, Leader, Carnoustie Traditionals
Mr Bill Hendry was introduced to the Carnoustie Traditionals by one of our fiddle players some 5 years ago as a replacement for our former keyboard player who moved down south. To have such a well-known and accomplished pianist join us was indeed a boon and his expertise soon became apparent and much valued. Despite having had two heart attacks during this time he continues to attend our practice nights and concert list and is a valued help to me in choosing selections and arrangements. Long may he continue to contribute his considerable talents to the Scottish music scene.
by
Bill Hendry was born in Perth on 20th April 1931. He started playing piano at age 11. In 1954he joined the original Glendaruel Band led by Tony Reid on accordion. He did his first BBC broadcast in 1955 from the Coldside Studios in Dundee. In August that year, Bill emigrated to Melbourne, Australia. He played in trios (comprising saxophone, piano and drums) and occasionally in big bands but played little or no Scottish music. In 1956 Bill’s fiancée, Olive, joined him in Melbourne where they were married. They stayed there until 1960 when they returned to Perth (Scotland, not Western Australia!) where they stayed until work took Bill and his family from Perth to Dundee in 1969.
One of the main reasons for returning to Scotland was that Bill was missing Scottish dance music! He then joined Ian Arnott’s Band and played with them until 1967. Olive and Bill’s children were born in Perth, Fiona in 1964 and Russell in 1966. When Ian Arnott emigrated to Australia in 1967, Bill joined bobby Crowe’s band and played with him for the next 6 years or so. During this time, Bobby’s band was invited to play at Balmoral Castle for the Queen, Queen Mother and the Royal family. This was one of the highlights of Bill’s musical career.
In 1973 Bill formed his own 5-piece band playing for Scottish Country dancing and were soon regulars on BBC Scotland’s Scottish dance music programme. At that time, the band members were David Cunningham Snr on lead accordion, Frank Robb on fiddle, Wiam Skinneron bass, Stan Peacock on drums and Bill himself on piano. The band made one commercial recording as a 5-piece band. In 1978, the band played at a ceilidh in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. A young medical student by the name of Sandy Nixon asked if the band would mind if he sat in and played second box with them. The band boys agreed – somewhat reluctantly! Sandy must have done something right as Bill asked him to join the band as regular second box player. The 6-piece band continued until 1983, with George Boath replacing Stan Peacock on drums. ‘At Home with Bill Hendry’ was recorded in Wiam Skinner’s lounge in Dairsie in 1980 and was released as a cassette. The 6-piece band did their last BBC broadcast in October 1983. Sandy Nixon formed his own band in the late 1970s and Bill was the regular pianist. After the Bill Hendry band stopped playing, Bill switched over fully to Sandy’s band, and was a stalwart for the next 26 years!
Bill was asked in 1982 to play on a TV series ‘On the Fiddle’ which was introduced by Ron Gonella. He did the backing for Angus Fitchet, Willie Hunter and Jimmy Shand.
In 1982 John Huband formed The Tayside Sound with John himself and Davie Stewart on accordions, Angus Cameron on fiddle, Bill on piano, Rab Smillie on bass and Jack Cooper on drums. This band played regularly throughout the 1980s, making several recordings and playing BBC Radio Scotland.
Bill was ion great demand at this time as her was also playing with Ron Gonella, accompanying him as a solo artiste and also playing in the Ron Gonella Quartet. In September 1987 there was a Scottish dance music outside broadcast from the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock. The band was that of Sandy Nixon and the guest musicians were The Ron Gonella Quartet. Bill thoroughly enjoyed that recording – he got two fees! He continued to play with Sandy’s band for the next 20 years and more, traveling extensively (UK and abroad), doing BBC recordings and commercial recordings. Places where Bill has played for over the years include Melbourne, Tblisi, Moscow, Jakarta, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Oman, Madeira, Monaco, Seoul and Seattle.
During this time, he was also asked to play with other bands on their recordings, including Ian McCallum, Jimmy Lindsay, Deirdre Adamson, The Cameron Kerr SDB and The Ron Gonella Quartet. (In earlier years Bill made recordings with Bobby Crowe, Willie Simpson, Rob Gordon, The Bill Wilkie Orchestra and David Cunningham).
Having made his radio debut in 1955 with The Glendaruel Band, Bill lists the following with whom he was asked to play on BBC recordings over the next 50+ years: Ian Arnott, Dave Stewart, Bobby Crowe, Alex MacArthur, The Olympians, David Cunningham Trio, Rob Gordon, John Huband & the Tayside Sound, The Cameron Kerr Band, George Bell, The Ron Gonella quartet, Jimmy Ritchie and Friends, George Carmichael, the Clinkerheel Ceilidh Band (John Huband) and not forgetting his own band. He did his last BBC broadcast in February 2009 with Sandy Nixon’s band. Bill’s final engagement with Sandy’s band was the recording of ‘The Silver Spire’ CD in April 2009. After the recording was finished, Bill declared that he was now officially retired. Drummer Gordon Young (who always had the utmost respect for Bill and his musical skills although would never say this to him!) said that Bill was going out “in a blaze of mediocrity!” Indeed not: Bill finished his band career on a high, giving yet another wonderful performance on the piano. He still has a tune with the Carnoustie Traditionals and continues to enjoy listening to all types of music, but particularly Scottish dance music.
From Stuart Anderson, Leader, Carnoustie Traditionals
Mr Bill Hendry was introduced to the Carnoustie Traditionals by one of our fiddle players some 5 years ago as a replacement for our former keyboard player who moved down south. To have such a well-known and accomplished pianist join us was indeed a boon and his expertise soon became apparent and much valued. Despite having had two heart attacks during this time he continues to attend our practice nights and concert list and is a valued help to me in choosing selections and arrangements. Long may he continue to contribute his considerable talents to the Scottish music scene.