Fraser McGlynn (11/02/1940 - 28/05/2018)
by Various
B&F August 2018
By John Carmichael
Unfortunately as is the way of this life Scotland has lost one of its most endearing musical sons, Fraser McGlynn.
A devout family man, a master musician and a man possessed with the Tarbert wit, Fraser rose from the wee boy with no formal musical training but with a keen interest, ability and application to the very top level of traditional music and became one of the finest exponents of the unique instrument he played.
I first heard of Fraser when I was in my teens (struggling with the piano accordion myself) from my Uncle Duncan, a Tarbert man now living in Ardrishaig and a big fan of Fraser’s. We first met at Perth in 1964 when we both got into the final of the Championship – how or why he didn’t win goodness knows – his selection King Robert the Bruce, etc was breathtaking. Our paths crossed many times over the years in shows, at Perth, the BBC, Music in hospitals, Lochgilphead and of course The Dalriada Accordion Club.
Despite Fraser not being very well, our last meeting is worth relating. Fraser and Kevin called to collect an accordion and in the course of conversation Kevin said “I enjoyed your last broadcast”, to which Fraser said “I never heard it” in his usual manner. I thought, “I’ll fix that” – and went back to the house to fetch Kevin a CD of it saying, “Don’t be too critical about the mistakes”, to which in typical McGrath fashion Fraser replied “I’ll no’ bother listening to it.” That was Fraser! He will be sadly missed by us all.
By Freeland Barbour
I first met Fraser when I was about ten years old in 1962. He and his fiddler Davie Scott were visiting Bob and Sheila Bridgeford in Perthshire. I happened to come past the house on some errand and was introduced to Fraser. My abiding memory was of black curly hair, a friendly smile, and a warm handshake, and that is how I always think of him and always will.
Some 20 years later, we started working together when I took up the reins producing ‘Take the Floor’ and we became firm friends. My admiration for his ability and his personality grew with every encounter. When he and Kevin and Duncan MacKay arrived to record I never had any worries that I wouldn’t end up with a top-notch programme choc-full of good tunes well played. We had a ‘first’ together in persuading the BBC bureaucrats to allow him to commercially issue some of his sessions showcasing local composers and he always championed his home and his roots. Indisputably, one of the great names in Scottish dance music. Fraser was a proud and worthy son of Argyll and quite simply one of the best.
By Charlie Kirkpatrick
With the sad passing of Fraser McGlynn, one of the brightest stars of our music scene has been extinguished. Fraser was quite simply the finest exponent of the Shand Morino accordion and although he was adept at playing in many different genres, for me his playing of 2/4 and 6/8 marches, and Gaelic waltzes will never be beaten.
I first heard Fraser play at a dance in Kilmore Hall, just outside Oban, in 1964 and ever since then I have been a massive fan of his music. With the advent of the Accordion and Fiddle Club scene I got to know Fraser well’ not only as a fellow musician, but as a good friend and in fact the first guest artist spot I ever did was The Dalriada Club at the behest of Fraser.
Fraser has left a wealth of precious memories in the form of his LPs, CDs, all his broadcasts and more recently books of his own compositions. We will miss his great music and his great banter, but smile whenever we think of him. My thoughts go out to Kevin, Fraser, Ryan and their families.
Fraser and I had a mutual friend in a former police colleague of mine, namely Hugh McGillivray. I asked Hugh for his thoughts on Fraser’s passing and he wrote :-
By Hugh McGillivray
I knew Fraser McGlynn over a good number of years. Apart from his fame gained from his widely accepted brilliance as a master of the button-box he was also a proper gentleman – he was kind, caring, wise and witty. One could not but laugh and enjoy his instant humour.
On one occasion when I visited him at the family residence ‘Tigh a Chuil’ (The Music House), the man who was with me asked Fraser if he could play another instrument, “Yes”, replied Fraser, “I have another box”. Another time I called and he claimed to have noticed a defect on the sole of my shoe. “Don’t worry”, he said, “it’s not nearly so worrying as the number of lemon soles that were damaged when the local fish van crashed”.
In conclusion, I am quite sure, Fraser, that your soul will have found the peaceful repose that you deserve.
By Robbie Shepherd
Fraser was such an affable character, with a devilish sense of humour that was as engaging as he could be straight to the point.
I mind being invited, in my early days of broadcasting, as a guest to The Dalriada Club in Lochgilphead on one of their special nights – and the sparring done between this Dunecht Loon and the stalwart of Gaelic music – East versus West. I was ready and he didna let me down! The twinkle in his eye behind that determined face said it all and meeting the man in his own territory was special – and to become friends even more so.
I think too of an outside broadcast where he stopped me in full flight on my lack of the Gaelic tongue and got a friend from the dancers, a well-known Gaelic singer, to make the introduction to the tunes.
The track from the CD ‘Eighteen of the Best’ brought out by ‘Take the Floor’ in 1998 includes the Fraser McGlynn Trio playing a modern Gaelic waltz. It seems to sum up the man I knew with its relaxed pace, completely at home in his own environment and complimenting the self-taught musicality and that steely determination with the classic chord progressions, diminished chords and seques.
This is how I’ll aye remember Fraser McGlynn and as I write I’m listening to it again – Hebridean Sunset, Leaving Lismor and The Isle of Iona. Her was a great guy.
Unfortunately as is the way of this life Scotland has lost one of its most endearing musical sons, Fraser McGlynn.
A devout family man, a master musician and a man possessed with the Tarbert wit, Fraser rose from the wee boy with no formal musical training but with a keen interest, ability and application to the very top level of traditional music and became one of the finest exponents of the unique instrument he played.
I first heard of Fraser when I was in my teens (struggling with the piano accordion myself) from my Uncle Duncan, a Tarbert man now living in Ardrishaig and a big fan of Fraser’s. We first met at Perth in 1964 when we both got into the final of the Championship – how or why he didn’t win goodness knows – his selection King Robert the Bruce, etc was breathtaking. Our paths crossed many times over the years in shows, at Perth, the BBC, Music in hospitals, Lochgilphead and of course The Dalriada Accordion Club.
Despite Fraser not being very well, our last meeting is worth relating. Fraser and Kevin called to collect an accordion and in the course of conversation Kevin said “I enjoyed your last broadcast”, to which Fraser said “I never heard it” in his usual manner. I thought, “I’ll fix that” – and went back to the house to fetch Kevin a CD of it saying, “Don’t be too critical about the mistakes”, to which in typical McGrath fashion Fraser replied “I’ll no’ bother listening to it.” That was Fraser! He will be sadly missed by us all.
By Freeland Barbour
I first met Fraser when I was about ten years old in 1962. He and his fiddler Davie Scott were visiting Bob and Sheila Bridgeford in Perthshire. I happened to come past the house on some errand and was introduced to Fraser. My abiding memory was of black curly hair, a friendly smile, and a warm handshake, and that is how I always think of him and always will.
Some 20 years later, we started working together when I took up the reins producing ‘Take the Floor’ and we became firm friends. My admiration for his ability and his personality grew with every encounter. When he and Kevin and Duncan MacKay arrived to record I never had any worries that I wouldn’t end up with a top-notch programme choc-full of good tunes well played. We had a ‘first’ together in persuading the BBC bureaucrats to allow him to commercially issue some of his sessions showcasing local composers and he always championed his home and his roots. Indisputably, one of the great names in Scottish dance music. Fraser was a proud and worthy son of Argyll and quite simply one of the best.
By Charlie Kirkpatrick
With the sad passing of Fraser McGlynn, one of the brightest stars of our music scene has been extinguished. Fraser was quite simply the finest exponent of the Shand Morino accordion and although he was adept at playing in many different genres, for me his playing of 2/4 and 6/8 marches, and Gaelic waltzes will never be beaten.
I first heard Fraser play at a dance in Kilmore Hall, just outside Oban, in 1964 and ever since then I have been a massive fan of his music. With the advent of the Accordion and Fiddle Club scene I got to know Fraser well’ not only as a fellow musician, but as a good friend and in fact the first guest artist spot I ever did was The Dalriada Club at the behest of Fraser.
Fraser has left a wealth of precious memories in the form of his LPs, CDs, all his broadcasts and more recently books of his own compositions. We will miss his great music and his great banter, but smile whenever we think of him. My thoughts go out to Kevin, Fraser, Ryan and their families.
Fraser and I had a mutual friend in a former police colleague of mine, namely Hugh McGillivray. I asked Hugh for his thoughts on Fraser’s passing and he wrote :-
By Hugh McGillivray
I knew Fraser McGlynn over a good number of years. Apart from his fame gained from his widely accepted brilliance as a master of the button-box he was also a proper gentleman – he was kind, caring, wise and witty. One could not but laugh and enjoy his instant humour.
On one occasion when I visited him at the family residence ‘Tigh a Chuil’ (The Music House), the man who was with me asked Fraser if he could play another instrument, “Yes”, replied Fraser, “I have another box”. Another time I called and he claimed to have noticed a defect on the sole of my shoe. “Don’t worry”, he said, “it’s not nearly so worrying as the number of lemon soles that were damaged when the local fish van crashed”.
In conclusion, I am quite sure, Fraser, that your soul will have found the peaceful repose that you deserve.
By Robbie Shepherd
Fraser was such an affable character, with a devilish sense of humour that was as engaging as he could be straight to the point.
I mind being invited, in my early days of broadcasting, as a guest to The Dalriada Club in Lochgilphead on one of their special nights – and the sparring done between this Dunecht Loon and the stalwart of Gaelic music – East versus West. I was ready and he didna let me down! The twinkle in his eye behind that determined face said it all and meeting the man in his own territory was special – and to become friends even more so.
I think too of an outside broadcast where he stopped me in full flight on my lack of the Gaelic tongue and got a friend from the dancers, a well-known Gaelic singer, to make the introduction to the tunes.
The track from the CD ‘Eighteen of the Best’ brought out by ‘Take the Floor’ in 1998 includes the Fraser McGlynn Trio playing a modern Gaelic waltz. It seems to sum up the man I knew with its relaxed pace, completely at home in his own environment and complimenting the self-taught musicality and that steely determination with the classic chord progressions, diminished chords and seques.
This is how I’ll aye remember Fraser McGlynn and as I write I’m listening to it again – Hebridean Sunset, Leaving Lismor and The Isle of Iona. Her was a great guy.