Box and Fiddle
Year 43 No 01
September 2019
Price £3.00
52 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £33.60 + p&p £15.85 (UK)
In Memory – Billy Craib (31st Aug 1945 – 11th July 2019)
by various
It was a great shock when news reached us that Billy Craib had passed away. 11 days previously, I had had the honour of sitting at his table during the Celebrity Luncheon at which he received a Guest of Honour award. For this reason, the magazine (April 2019) ran an article in which Max Ketchin wrote : He always had time to chat to me, although he hardly knew me. Billy encouraged me along whenever I was fortunate to play with him at A&F Clubs.
When I joined the Jim Johnstone Band in late 1976 it was a great thrill and Billy being an ‘auld hand’ was an immense help to me. Billy coached and advised me and showed me all the tricks and tips to help me in those early days. To me he never seemed to get flustered and was always very level headed and dependable.” Davie Stewart said, “What can I say? Bill is a total enthusiast and always willing to have a go.”
Billy’s funeral was held in Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh on 23rd July and the great number of people attending proved just how popular a man he was. Several people have since written of their memories of Billy to share with you as a tribute to him.
From Marie Fielding
As a member of Jim Johnstone’s band from the age of 17, I had the privilege of spending 13 years in Billy’s company. He was a unique character, taking a huge interest in general knowlwdge, and knew the roads and directions to anywhere, near and far. He took pride in his appearance and was loyal and professional as a band member. He led a simple life and loved company, good food, a laugh and a dram. He was always lucky with raffle prizes at gigs and loved the suppers that were provided at the village hall dances. As well as playing guitar and singing, Billy was a bass player and it is for this that he is best known; I admired his talent from a young age. A true friend.
From Nicky McMichan
I knew Billy for only a fairly short time but here are the two main ways in which I knew him. Billy the double bass player had an unshakable sense of timing. His note reminded me of other greats in the scene from whom he may have drawn inspiration. Billy, the man, was an endless supply of dance band and show business related stories – most of which were hilarious!
From Gordon Pattullo
I have many fond memories of Billy which go back to the 1970s and the famous Ogilvy Arms Hotel ceilidhs in Kirriemuir. Little did I know at that time that our paths would cross many times. As I started to appear at shows in venues such as the Usher Hall and Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh for Radio forth, it was usually the Jim Johnstone Band that were accompanying, with of course Billy playing bass. I admired his talent as a musician and was delighted that he subsequently played on several of my commercial recordings. He was the utmost professional, quietly getting on with the job in hand whether it be in the recording studio, on the concert stage or at the village hall dance. I will always remember his laid-back sense of humour and how he enjoyed having a good laugh. The name Billy Craib will certainly be remembered as one of the greats of the Scottish music scene for many years to come.
From Neil Barron
I first got to know Bill when I joined Jim Johnstone’s band in 1983. When Douglas Cargill retired from my own band in 2005, Bill was the obvious candidate to take over the doubles bass. As well as being one of the most capable musicians I have ever worked with – Bill was never out of his depth musically – he was great company, very erudite on Scottish music and culture, a gentleman and a great friend. It is very sad that he will not be joining us again on our trip to Singapore in November to play at the St Andrew’s Ball; Bill was a fun guy to be around.
From Shauna Flockhart
Billy was, as always, at our annual BBQ the day before his NAAFC presentation. Playing his guitar, he had everyone singing along with him, accompanied by a few drams. Billy was the resident bass player at Haddington A&F Club, very rarely missing a month and contributing to many first class tunes. He loved telling his stories about his various trips and musical experiences. Billy has played at the Singapore St Andrews Ball with Neil Barronfor many years and I have had the privilege of playing with the band the past two years. Billy was very settling to play with, accented by his personality and great sense of humour. I’ve known Billy most of my life, probably from around the time he began playing in Jim Johnstone’s band. It is an absolute delight to have known Billy Craib.
From Billy Anderson
I first met Billy Craib in Edinburgh back in 1980, when myself and the band were guests in a BBC production of Songs of Scotland Special, accompanied by the Jim Johnstone band. Later in November of that year, he accompanied myself and Albany in the Radio Forth production of Accordion 80 in the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh. He was also involved in the BBC television production The Two Bills, again as a member of the Jim Johnstone band, when Margaret Macleod and I were guests on the show, back in the 90s. We met up at A&F Clubs and concerts on a regular basis as musicians do. My last memory of Billy was having a laugh in the lounge of The Salutation hotel in Perth, on the occasion of the annual accordion festival in 2018. We both enjoyed a life of music and mirth!
From Robert Black
Billy Craib – double bassist, bass guitarist, guitarist, singer and story teller. He was the consummate professional musician in any genre. He was knowledgeable and erudite in most subjects. He had an amazing memory, which allowed him to share his many superb anecdotes and observations. His playing gave each melody a kind of freshness that would have delighted any composer. He was one of the Scottish dance band all stars who will be sadly missed in many a rhythm section.
From Jenny Shaw
We, Mike and I, first met Billy in 68/69/70in Norwich when he was playing with Jim Johnstone’s band at the local theatre. The boys stayed with us. They were Jim Johnstone, Jess Garwood, Tommy Lees, Billy Thom, Ron Gonella and Billy. After the show each night the music continued back at the house. The boys did us proud! When we finally came to live in Scotland, we fully realised how privileged we had been. Billy is the last of that line-up to pass away. We have many happy thoughts and memories of him. He was kind, funny and bursting with music.
From Sandra Adams
I first met Billy on the day we both started doing The White Heather Club UK Tour and we became close friends from then on. We later worked on Thingummyjig and Songs of Scotland. As I lived in Edinburgh, I used to travel with the Jim Johnstone band. He became a firm family friend to both Peter and me and when we went on holidays together Billy always brought his guitar to entertain with a tune and a song. He, in fact, was the reason The Royal Oak started live music sessions. His double bass used to live in the cellar there.
by various
It was a great shock when news reached us that Billy Craib had passed away. 11 days previously, I had had the honour of sitting at his table during the Celebrity Luncheon at which he received a Guest of Honour award. For this reason, the magazine (April 2019) ran an article in which Max Ketchin wrote : He always had time to chat to me, although he hardly knew me. Billy encouraged me along whenever I was fortunate to play with him at A&F Clubs.
When I joined the Jim Johnstone Band in late 1976 it was a great thrill and Billy being an ‘auld hand’ was an immense help to me. Billy coached and advised me and showed me all the tricks and tips to help me in those early days. To me he never seemed to get flustered and was always very level headed and dependable.” Davie Stewart said, “What can I say? Bill is a total enthusiast and always willing to have a go.”
Billy’s funeral was held in Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh on 23rd July and the great number of people attending proved just how popular a man he was. Several people have since written of their memories of Billy to share with you as a tribute to him.
From Marie Fielding
As a member of Jim Johnstone’s band from the age of 17, I had the privilege of spending 13 years in Billy’s company. He was a unique character, taking a huge interest in general knowlwdge, and knew the roads and directions to anywhere, near and far. He took pride in his appearance and was loyal and professional as a band member. He led a simple life and loved company, good food, a laugh and a dram. He was always lucky with raffle prizes at gigs and loved the suppers that were provided at the village hall dances. As well as playing guitar and singing, Billy was a bass player and it is for this that he is best known; I admired his talent from a young age. A true friend.
From Nicky McMichan
I knew Billy for only a fairly short time but here are the two main ways in which I knew him. Billy the double bass player had an unshakable sense of timing. His note reminded me of other greats in the scene from whom he may have drawn inspiration. Billy, the man, was an endless supply of dance band and show business related stories – most of which were hilarious!
From Gordon Pattullo
I have many fond memories of Billy which go back to the 1970s and the famous Ogilvy Arms Hotel ceilidhs in Kirriemuir. Little did I know at that time that our paths would cross many times. As I started to appear at shows in venues such as the Usher Hall and Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh for Radio forth, it was usually the Jim Johnstone Band that were accompanying, with of course Billy playing bass. I admired his talent as a musician and was delighted that he subsequently played on several of my commercial recordings. He was the utmost professional, quietly getting on with the job in hand whether it be in the recording studio, on the concert stage or at the village hall dance. I will always remember his laid-back sense of humour and how he enjoyed having a good laugh. The name Billy Craib will certainly be remembered as one of the greats of the Scottish music scene for many years to come.
From Neil Barron
I first got to know Bill when I joined Jim Johnstone’s band in 1983. When Douglas Cargill retired from my own band in 2005, Bill was the obvious candidate to take over the doubles bass. As well as being one of the most capable musicians I have ever worked with – Bill was never out of his depth musically – he was great company, very erudite on Scottish music and culture, a gentleman and a great friend. It is very sad that he will not be joining us again on our trip to Singapore in November to play at the St Andrew’s Ball; Bill was a fun guy to be around.
From Shauna Flockhart
Billy was, as always, at our annual BBQ the day before his NAAFC presentation. Playing his guitar, he had everyone singing along with him, accompanied by a few drams. Billy was the resident bass player at Haddington A&F Club, very rarely missing a month and contributing to many first class tunes. He loved telling his stories about his various trips and musical experiences. Billy has played at the Singapore St Andrews Ball with Neil Barronfor many years and I have had the privilege of playing with the band the past two years. Billy was very settling to play with, accented by his personality and great sense of humour. I’ve known Billy most of my life, probably from around the time he began playing in Jim Johnstone’s band. It is an absolute delight to have known Billy Craib.
From Billy Anderson
I first met Billy Craib in Edinburgh back in 1980, when myself and the band were guests in a BBC production of Songs of Scotland Special, accompanied by the Jim Johnstone band. Later in November of that year, he accompanied myself and Albany in the Radio Forth production of Accordion 80 in the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh. He was also involved in the BBC television production The Two Bills, again as a member of the Jim Johnstone band, when Margaret Macleod and I were guests on the show, back in the 90s. We met up at A&F Clubs and concerts on a regular basis as musicians do. My last memory of Billy was having a laugh in the lounge of The Salutation hotel in Perth, on the occasion of the annual accordion festival in 2018. We both enjoyed a life of music and mirth!
From Robert Black
Billy Craib – double bassist, bass guitarist, guitarist, singer and story teller. He was the consummate professional musician in any genre. He was knowledgeable and erudite in most subjects. He had an amazing memory, which allowed him to share his many superb anecdotes and observations. His playing gave each melody a kind of freshness that would have delighted any composer. He was one of the Scottish dance band all stars who will be sadly missed in many a rhythm section.
From Jenny Shaw
We, Mike and I, first met Billy in 68/69/70in Norwich when he was playing with Jim Johnstone’s band at the local theatre. The boys stayed with us. They were Jim Johnstone, Jess Garwood, Tommy Lees, Billy Thom, Ron Gonella and Billy. After the show each night the music continued back at the house. The boys did us proud! When we finally came to live in Scotland, we fully realised how privileged we had been. Billy is the last of that line-up to pass away. We have many happy thoughts and memories of him. He was kind, funny and bursting with music.
From Sandra Adams
I first met Billy on the day we both started doing The White Heather Club UK Tour and we became close friends from then on. We later worked on Thingummyjig and Songs of Scotland. As I lived in Edinburgh, I used to travel with the Jim Johnstone band. He became a firm family friend to both Peter and me and when we went on holidays together Billy always brought his guitar to entertain with a tune and a song. He, in fact, was the reason The Royal Oak started live music sessions. His double bass used to live in the cellar there.