Gordon Jamieson of Cullivoe
by
B&F December 2005
Gordon Jamieson of Cullivoe. Yell, Shetland died in April of this year after a determined struggle against cancer at the age of 57.
Gordon was very well known in Scottish Dance music circles all over Scotland and beyond. Music was not his only passion. He was an avid collector of all kinds of model vehicles and restoration of classic cars and tractors was a major hobby. He researched bus transport in Shetland and his book ‘Shetland Buses of the Twentieth Century’, which was published in November 2000 is a magnificent historical record of passenger transport in Shetland.
Gordon was probably best known in musical circles as an accordion player in the well known Cullivoe Dance Band. He started playing the accordion at the age of 15, having played the guitar for some time before that. He was self taught and very quickly developed a unique style that will be remembered by many. In the early days he played mainly in Yell with the original Cullivoe Band of the time. In the late sixties, The Cullivoe Band, as most of us remember it, was formed. It was a trio with Gordon on accordion, his first wife Anne on piano and brother Victor on bass guitar. They soon gained a reputation as one of the best bands in Shetland at the time and played at functions all over the isles, and occasionally outside Shetland, for many years. Two highlights of Gordon’s playing career were tours of the Scottish mainland to visit several Accordion and Fiddle Clubs. The first was in March 1978 and the second in April 1979. On these occasions the band was joined by Jim Halcrow on second accordion and Douglas Johnstone on drums.
The band took a break from playing for a few years at the beginning of the 1980s then reformed with a new line-up in 1985 with Gordon on accordion, Ivor Scollay on accordion, Alan Scollay on piano and Victor Jamieson on bass guitar. Sometime later they were joined by Willie Hunter on fiddle.
Unfortunately in 1988 Gordon and Victor were involved in a road accident which left them both seriously injured. After a long period of recovery they rejoined the band with Gordon taking on the role of second box player, a job he did extremely well. Indeed he was regarded by many as one of the best in Scotland.
During the 90s, three new young members joined The Cullivoe Band. They were Bryan Gear on fiddle, Martin Henderson on piano and Gary Tulloch on drums. Gordon took these three young musicians under his wing and he had an amazing way of passing on his knowledge and expertise to them. The present high standard of The Cullivoe Band is in no small way due to Gordon’s influence on those who played with him.
Gordon liked all kinds of music and had a particular love of Norwegian music. His collection of LPs, CDs and tapes was vast.
Anybody who has been to Cullivoe would almost certainly have been invited along to ‘Fourwinds’, Gordon’s house. Standing just opposite the hall it was usually the first stop after a function. Gordon’s hospitality and humour was well known and will be a lasting memory to many.
Our caring thoughts go to his wife Sandra, brother Victor, sister Adeline and their families. .
Gordon was very well known in Scottish Dance music circles all over Scotland and beyond. Music was not his only passion. He was an avid collector of all kinds of model vehicles and restoration of classic cars and tractors was a major hobby. He researched bus transport in Shetland and his book ‘Shetland Buses of the Twentieth Century’, which was published in November 2000 is a magnificent historical record of passenger transport in Shetland.
Gordon was probably best known in musical circles as an accordion player in the well known Cullivoe Dance Band. He started playing the accordion at the age of 15, having played the guitar for some time before that. He was self taught and very quickly developed a unique style that will be remembered by many. In the early days he played mainly in Yell with the original Cullivoe Band of the time. In the late sixties, The Cullivoe Band, as most of us remember it, was formed. It was a trio with Gordon on accordion, his first wife Anne on piano and brother Victor on bass guitar. They soon gained a reputation as one of the best bands in Shetland at the time and played at functions all over the isles, and occasionally outside Shetland, for many years. Two highlights of Gordon’s playing career were tours of the Scottish mainland to visit several Accordion and Fiddle Clubs. The first was in March 1978 and the second in April 1979. On these occasions the band was joined by Jim Halcrow on second accordion and Douglas Johnstone on drums.
The band took a break from playing for a few years at the beginning of the 1980s then reformed with a new line-up in 1985 with Gordon on accordion, Ivor Scollay on accordion, Alan Scollay on piano and Victor Jamieson on bass guitar. Sometime later they were joined by Willie Hunter on fiddle.
Unfortunately in 1988 Gordon and Victor were involved in a road accident which left them both seriously injured. After a long period of recovery they rejoined the band with Gordon taking on the role of second box player, a job he did extremely well. Indeed he was regarded by many as one of the best in Scotland.
During the 90s, three new young members joined The Cullivoe Band. They were Bryan Gear on fiddle, Martin Henderson on piano and Gary Tulloch on drums. Gordon took these three young musicians under his wing and he had an amazing way of passing on his knowledge and expertise to them. The present high standard of The Cullivoe Band is in no small way due to Gordon’s influence on those who played with him.
Gordon liked all kinds of music and had a particular love of Norwegian music. His collection of LPs, CDs and tapes was vast.
Anybody who has been to Cullivoe would almost certainly have been invited along to ‘Fourwinds’, Gordon’s house. Standing just opposite the hall it was usually the first stop after a function. Gordon’s hospitality and humour was well known and will be a lasting memory to many.
Our caring thoughts go to his wife Sandra, brother Victor, sister Adeline and their families. .