Graham Geddes
by Jimmy Clinkscale
Aberdeen bandleader Graham Geddes seems to have been around
the Scottish danceband scene for so long that it is difficult to appreciate
that he is still only 24. In this profile Jimmy Clinlscale, of the Clinkscale
Music Centre, Aberdeen, takes an in-depth look at the man and his music.
Graham Geddes rates his father Wattie and his mother Ina as having the biggest influence on his career, and Ina certainly must get the credit for pointing him the way of the accordion.
Graham recalls amusedly, “I was nine at the time, and my sister Rosemary had tried the piano, but was reluctant to cross Dyce every time she had a lesson. So my mother told me ‘If you want to learn an instrument, it must be something that can be thrown under the bed, as I don’t want to clutter up the room’.”
As a reward for having his tonsils out, Aberdeen musical enthusiast Tony Barron bought the youngster a 50p cardboard accordion, and a new young Scottish star was born.
Lessons from Mrs Willis Garrard and Pete Farnan led to Graham becoming a bandleader by the age of 14.
Says broadcaster Robbie Shepherd, who has helped Graham along the way “He came through the ranks as they say, and now has to his credit a most impressive list of awards to prove his ability, not only as a solo artiste, but with trios, bands, aye, and even hos own compositions, winning most of the premier awards in the Scottish traditional accordion music circles.
“As a bandleader, he’s the ‘boss’ – choosing musicians and adapting their talents to suit his own style of playing.”
None of the tall, slim, fair-haired young bandleader’s family had any real musical talents, but Graham quickly changed that. He won his first trophy in 1973, was North of Scotland Champion in 1976, won at Aberdeen Festival the same year, and triumphed at the North-East Festival at Keith two years in succession. He also won the piping section and trio section at Musselburgh.
Now ten years a bandleader, his talents have taken him to Cairo, where he played at a St Andrew’s Night at the British Embassy; a tour of France; and countless gigs at top venues from the Shetlands to south of the border.
Only recently he was playing in Canada where he was offered a full-time job by bobby Brown.
“Although I am heavily committed for 1986, I am still seriously considering Bobby’s offer. I am young, free and single with no real ties, so I may well take up that offer next year. But an engagement in Vancouver is very much on the cars next year anyway.”
Although Graham emphasises that he leads what is still very much a Scottish dance band, at many engagements, and particularly in Aberdeen, his line-up is very much a ‘showband’.
The current line-up is his right-hand man, Fife-born David Little (piano), Shetlander Tommy Sutherland (drums/clarinet), John Anderson (vocals), Pamela Murray (double bass) and Doug Mills (jazz violin) all from Aberdeen with Hebbie Gray frequently guesting on fiddle. “I am very fortunate to have Hebbie Gray to assist me,” points out Graham.
With Graham now singing (he took a Diploma from Trinity College in an external examination) and also playing electric keyboards, the band has a great degree of flexibility.
“I don’t have a second box as I wish to achieve an individualistic sound, which I think I have succeeded in. My main worry, like all bandleaders, is keeping the band together. Although I began by playing a Hohner Atlantic IV, I now have two Victorias which I think are ideal for all types of playing”.
A prolific writer with more that 30 compositions, he has now produced his fifth album – “At Home with Graham Geddes” – and is hoping to publish a book of songs.
He has been bandleader and arranger for four of Ross Records ‘Auld Meal Mill’ albums, acted in the same capacity on a John Mearns solo album, and cut a single with Robbie Shepherd ‘Up the Dons’ to mark Aberdeen FC’s recent soccer triumphs at home and abroad.
He has featured extensively on radio; appeared in two Grampian TV series; and has done many ‘Accordion Bonanzas’ all over Scotland.
A recent spot on ‘Take the Floor’ from Keith produced a flood of congratulatory letters – including one from Dublin piper and pipes manufacturer Leon Rewsone, who was extensive in his praise of the band’s calibre.
One of the band’s most unusual and deeply satisfying TV appearances was a live network Hogmanay show for the deaf – filmed in Aberdeen. And the band have also played for the deaf at Aberdeen Beach Ballroom.
Graham explained that hearing people help their deaf counterparts by miming the dance, and the vibrations from the floor assist in assessing the beat. “We really got a great deal of satisfaction out of doing these performances” says Graham.
Although he rates the TV appearances as the highspot of his career to date, he is very enthusiastic about the regular Saturday nights at Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom which attracts more than 600 folk. The band also play at civic receptions there.
As a traffic supervisor with Servisair at Aberdeen Airport – not far from his Dyce home – he is used to starting work at 5am and then often not getting to his bed until 2am the next morning after driving home through the night in the band’s Toyota van from far-flung engagements.
He has a soft spot for Shetland and will be returning in January to feature in Jimmy Burgess’s squad for Up-Helly-Aa – having been personal musician to Jimmy for his Guiser Jarl role.
For relaxation, he turns to private flying (he had already completed three hours solo flying) and songwriting. Although he enjoys an occasional lager, neither he nor his band ever drink alcohol while working.
“The regular order is always five cokes,” laughs Graham. “I firmly believe that drink and work don’t mix, and people respect you for adopting that attitude. Mind you we all eat like horses.”
Graham’s own favourite player is Irish accordionist Dermot O’Brien, who now lives in the USA, and will be appearing at the ‘Auld Meal Mill’ again next year.
Among the people he would like to pay tribute for their help to him over the years were the late Bill Spence, who gave him many books for his music collection, and the late Ronnie Cooper.
“Ronnie was a man and a musician I much admired. He wasn’t a man prone to giving presents, but I remember leaving Shetland on the St. Clair, and Ronnie pressing a box into my hand. It contained a Norseman’s tie-pin which I much treasure. It was a very touching moment.”
Although his hobby is flying, Graham Geddes has his feet very firmly on the ground. He has no immediate plans for marriage – “my musical career is the thing that counts just now” – and it may well be that he will be lured to the great professional music opportunities in Canada.
Meanwhile, his playing talents, bandleader-arranger attributes, and disciplined professionalism makes this personable North-East young lad a potent force on the Scottish band scene. Just keep the tunes coming Graham!
Graham Geddes rates his father Wattie and his mother Ina as having the biggest influence on his career, and Ina certainly must get the credit for pointing him the way of the accordion.
Graham recalls amusedly, “I was nine at the time, and my sister Rosemary had tried the piano, but was reluctant to cross Dyce every time she had a lesson. So my mother told me ‘If you want to learn an instrument, it must be something that can be thrown under the bed, as I don’t want to clutter up the room’.”
As a reward for having his tonsils out, Aberdeen musical enthusiast Tony Barron bought the youngster a 50p cardboard accordion, and a new young Scottish star was born.
Lessons from Mrs Willis Garrard and Pete Farnan led to Graham becoming a bandleader by the age of 14.
Says broadcaster Robbie Shepherd, who has helped Graham along the way “He came through the ranks as they say, and now has to his credit a most impressive list of awards to prove his ability, not only as a solo artiste, but with trios, bands, aye, and even hos own compositions, winning most of the premier awards in the Scottish traditional accordion music circles.
“As a bandleader, he’s the ‘boss’ – choosing musicians and adapting their talents to suit his own style of playing.”
None of the tall, slim, fair-haired young bandleader’s family had any real musical talents, but Graham quickly changed that. He won his first trophy in 1973, was North of Scotland Champion in 1976, won at Aberdeen Festival the same year, and triumphed at the North-East Festival at Keith two years in succession. He also won the piping section and trio section at Musselburgh.
Now ten years a bandleader, his talents have taken him to Cairo, where he played at a St Andrew’s Night at the British Embassy; a tour of France; and countless gigs at top venues from the Shetlands to south of the border.
Only recently he was playing in Canada where he was offered a full-time job by bobby Brown.
“Although I am heavily committed for 1986, I am still seriously considering Bobby’s offer. I am young, free and single with no real ties, so I may well take up that offer next year. But an engagement in Vancouver is very much on the cars next year anyway.”
Although Graham emphasises that he leads what is still very much a Scottish dance band, at many engagements, and particularly in Aberdeen, his line-up is very much a ‘showband’.
The current line-up is his right-hand man, Fife-born David Little (piano), Shetlander Tommy Sutherland (drums/clarinet), John Anderson (vocals), Pamela Murray (double bass) and Doug Mills (jazz violin) all from Aberdeen with Hebbie Gray frequently guesting on fiddle. “I am very fortunate to have Hebbie Gray to assist me,” points out Graham.
With Graham now singing (he took a Diploma from Trinity College in an external examination) and also playing electric keyboards, the band has a great degree of flexibility.
“I don’t have a second box as I wish to achieve an individualistic sound, which I think I have succeeded in. My main worry, like all bandleaders, is keeping the band together. Although I began by playing a Hohner Atlantic IV, I now have two Victorias which I think are ideal for all types of playing”.
A prolific writer with more that 30 compositions, he has now produced his fifth album – “At Home with Graham Geddes” – and is hoping to publish a book of songs.
He has been bandleader and arranger for four of Ross Records ‘Auld Meal Mill’ albums, acted in the same capacity on a John Mearns solo album, and cut a single with Robbie Shepherd ‘Up the Dons’ to mark Aberdeen FC’s recent soccer triumphs at home and abroad.
He has featured extensively on radio; appeared in two Grampian TV series; and has done many ‘Accordion Bonanzas’ all over Scotland.
A recent spot on ‘Take the Floor’ from Keith produced a flood of congratulatory letters – including one from Dublin piper and pipes manufacturer Leon Rewsone, who was extensive in his praise of the band’s calibre.
One of the band’s most unusual and deeply satisfying TV appearances was a live network Hogmanay show for the deaf – filmed in Aberdeen. And the band have also played for the deaf at Aberdeen Beach Ballroom.
Graham explained that hearing people help their deaf counterparts by miming the dance, and the vibrations from the floor assist in assessing the beat. “We really got a great deal of satisfaction out of doing these performances” says Graham.
Although he rates the TV appearances as the highspot of his career to date, he is very enthusiastic about the regular Saturday nights at Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom which attracts more than 600 folk. The band also play at civic receptions there.
As a traffic supervisor with Servisair at Aberdeen Airport – not far from his Dyce home – he is used to starting work at 5am and then often not getting to his bed until 2am the next morning after driving home through the night in the band’s Toyota van from far-flung engagements.
He has a soft spot for Shetland and will be returning in January to feature in Jimmy Burgess’s squad for Up-Helly-Aa – having been personal musician to Jimmy for his Guiser Jarl role.
For relaxation, he turns to private flying (he had already completed three hours solo flying) and songwriting. Although he enjoys an occasional lager, neither he nor his band ever drink alcohol while working.
“The regular order is always five cokes,” laughs Graham. “I firmly believe that drink and work don’t mix, and people respect you for adopting that attitude. Mind you we all eat like horses.”
Graham’s own favourite player is Irish accordionist Dermot O’Brien, who now lives in the USA, and will be appearing at the ‘Auld Meal Mill’ again next year.
Among the people he would like to pay tribute for their help to him over the years were the late Bill Spence, who gave him many books for his music collection, and the late Ronnie Cooper.
“Ronnie was a man and a musician I much admired. He wasn’t a man prone to giving presents, but I remember leaving Shetland on the St. Clair, and Ronnie pressing a box into my hand. It contained a Norseman’s tie-pin which I much treasure. It was a very touching moment.”
Although his hobby is flying, Graham Geddes has his feet very firmly on the ground. He has no immediate plans for marriage – “my musical career is the thing that counts just now” – and it may well be that he will be lured to the great professional music opportunities in Canada.
Meanwhile, his playing talents, bandleader-arranger attributes, and disciplined professionalism makes this personable North-East young lad a potent force on the Scottish band scene. Just keep the tunes coming Graham!