Jack Cooper
(1933 – 2010)
By Neil Copland - NAAFC Vice Chairman
My first encounter with Jack Cooper was when my parents took me along to Dundee Accordion & Fiddle Club as a ten-year-old. Jack was always very pleased to welcome new players to the Club and especially younger players, such was his enthusiasm for keeping our music alive. Over the years since then Jack became a very close friend as well as a musical associate who played with me in the band on occasion.
In the early seventies, Dundee A&F Club was very lucky to have a loyal band of players, both young and some more mature, and this pleased Jack as the Club had been his idea along with accordionist Arthur Spink. When Arthur emigrated to Australia, Jack continued to plough his energy into keeping Dundee Club alive and the many friendships that were made as a result of people meeting at the Club are a great testament to his enthusiasm for the Club and then the NAAFC. Jack was very much at the forefront when it was suggested that Dundee Club junior members should start to form bands amongst themselves. He gave all the junior members of the Club a great deal of encouragement to get together and practise hard for club meetings every month. One such band that was formed was the Dundee Accordion & Fiddle Club Junior Band – now known as the Craigowl Dance Band and still regularly broadcasting on BBC's “Take the Floor” programme, albeit with some changes in personnel since those heady days as thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds.
Jack always liked to be organising events and he loved to be at the helm in organising the annual Dundee Club Dinner Dance in The Invercarse Hotel, Dundee – they were legendary for lots of reasons! He was also instrumental in organising the annual Dundee Club trip to places such as Banchory, Cullen, Lochearnhead and Oban every October. Club members would assemble in Dundee city centre to board the coach on the Saturday morning and as the weekend always coincided with the local Dundee holiday weekend we could make a long weekend of it. The weekend was full of great music, good food, and lots of laughs – many a story is often recalled when former club members get together and invariably, Jack was in the mix of them all.
As some of our more mature Box & Fiddle readers will recall, Jack was also instrumental in organising the annual NAAFC AGM and Weekend Gathering for many years. Who can forget those memorable days at Dunblane Hydro, Perth's Station Hotel and Dundee's Invercarse Hotel, when the great and good of Scottish dance bands/music were honoured for their contribution to our heritage? We still of course continue this tradition every year at Huntingtower Hotel in Perth but all the activity is now concentrated on the Sunday rather than over the whole weekend. The annual display of photographs at the AGM and Celebrity Luncheon taken from days past are a great trip down memory lane and always very popular.
As many of you know, the NAAFC also created the Jimmy Shand Scholarship at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) and again this was a suggestion initially made by Jack as a means of paying tribute to the legend that was, and still is, Jimmy Shand.
Outside of his involvement in playing Scottish dance music and the NAAFC, Jack was the Dance Director for the BBC television show “The White Heather Club”. He was also an accomplished Scottish Country Dancer and choreographer. Jack was also a very active member of Dundee Ski Club and held the office of President on a number of occasions over the years he was active in the sport. All of the above activities were Jack's hobbies as he was also a very successful businessman in the family business working alongside his dad, John.
Jack didn't keep good health over the last few years and when I had reason to be regularly visiting my dad in Dundee's Victoria Hospital Jack was often in the same ward, so it meant that I could go and speak to whichever of the two of them wasn't sleeping – it was a case of twenty minutes speaking to one of them and then change to the other end of the ward for twenty minutes with the other who had woken up by then.
Jack Cooper will be sorely missed by the Scottish music and dance fraternity – his efforts on behalf of the NAAFC and Scottish music and dance can never be understated. It is also due to Jack's encouragement that there are many of today's musicians in the Dundee/Tayside area who came through the Dundee A&F Club and are still very active on the dance band scene. Jack's determination to give them a platform from which to launch a musical career will never be forgotten.
By Joan Blue
Jack played drums in my husband, Jimmy Blue’s, band for more than 20 years. Not only was he our drummer – he was a great friend, part of our family. He was an extremely loyal member of the band and in all these years, never let us down. If he was offered another gig, he would always check first that we didn’t have an engagement on that date.
Jack led a pretty full life. Although he spent a year ill in bed when he was young, he listened to radio and records and became hooked on Scottish dance music. He joined a pipe band, learned to play drums. He started going to Scottish Country Dances and soon started up his own Scottish dance team – The Gie Gordons. As they became well known, they auditioned for a new programme which was being produced on BBC Television – “The White Heather Club”. So successful were they that Jack became probably the first choreographer for the programme and The Gie Gordons made their television debut. As well as dancing, Jack took up skiing and became a member of the Dundee Ski Club and was one of the enthusiasts who built the first hut at Glenshee. Eventually he became President of the Dundee club and held that post for a number of years.
The Perth A&F Club began in September 1970. Jack, with his usual boundless energy, started the Dundee Club in January 1971. He encouraged the young musicians to play together and one success was The Dundee Accordion and Fiddle Club Junior Band (who later changed their name to The Craigowl SDB) with Kevin Clark and Bruce Quirie on accordions, Margaret Quirie on fiddle, Gil Simpson on piano and David Scott on drums. It is truly amazing that this band is still broadcasting with some of the original members.
Another idea Jack had was to book a hotel for a weekend, and a busload of Dundee Club members headed off – sometimes to The Fall of Lora Hotel at Oban – and spent a great weekend playing and socialising. When the National Association began, it used to take place in the afternoon, but Jack suggested that we make it a weekend and thus began these wonderful occasions at The Salutation Hotel and Station Hotel in Perth and at Dunblane Hydro. He worked so hard to make these weekends enjoyable. I used to help him get the place cards organised. He knew who could sit with whom and who didn’t get on, etc. It was Jack, also, who started collecting band photographs and mounted these wonderful displays that we gazed at every year.
But when I think of Jack, I recall the fun we all had together. Each year, Bobby and Agnes Crowe and Jimmy and I went to Bunessan for ten days. Jack came with us on three occasions. I shall never forget one day when we were going over to Staffa. I was looking for the binoculars and asked Jack, who was already in the car – “Jack, have you got the binocs?” to which he replied, quick as a flash, “No, its just the way I’m sitting.” Another memorable occasion was when we were on a ‘tour’ of Caithness. The redoubtable Jimmy Simpson, who owned the island of Stroma, offered to take us over there for the day. We all boarded his landing craft and we were barely out of John o’ Groats harbour when Jack enquired, “When does the duty free open?” Quick as a flash Jimmy Simpson said, “Now!” and produced a bottle of whisky from under his seat. And Jack was always polite! He would never leave after spending a day or having a meal at Forgandenny, without saying, “Thanks for your hospital.” Mind you, he usually greeted me with, “When are you getting the mask off?” Yes, a cheeky devil but a true friend who will be very much missed.
Box and Fiddle
April 2010
My first encounter with Jack Cooper was when my parents took me along to Dundee Accordion & Fiddle Club as a ten-year-old. Jack was always very pleased to welcome new players to the Club and especially younger players, such was his enthusiasm for keeping our music alive. Over the years since then Jack became a very close friend as well as a musical associate who played with me in the band on occasion.
In the early seventies, Dundee A&F Club was very lucky to have a loyal band of players, both young and some more mature, and this pleased Jack as the Club had been his idea along with accordionist Arthur Spink. When Arthur emigrated to Australia, Jack continued to plough his energy into keeping Dundee Club alive and the many friendships that were made as a result of people meeting at the Club are a great testament to his enthusiasm for the Club and then the NAAFC. Jack was very much at the forefront when it was suggested that Dundee Club junior members should start to form bands amongst themselves. He gave all the junior members of the Club a great deal of encouragement to get together and practise hard for club meetings every month. One such band that was formed was the Dundee Accordion & Fiddle Club Junior Band – now known as the Craigowl Dance Band and still regularly broadcasting on BBC's “Take the Floor” programme, albeit with some changes in personnel since those heady days as thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds.
Jack always liked to be organising events and he loved to be at the helm in organising the annual Dundee Club Dinner Dance in The Invercarse Hotel, Dundee – they were legendary for lots of reasons! He was also instrumental in organising the annual Dundee Club trip to places such as Banchory, Cullen, Lochearnhead and Oban every October. Club members would assemble in Dundee city centre to board the coach on the Saturday morning and as the weekend always coincided with the local Dundee holiday weekend we could make a long weekend of it. The weekend was full of great music, good food, and lots of laughs – many a story is often recalled when former club members get together and invariably, Jack was in the mix of them all.
As some of our more mature Box & Fiddle readers will recall, Jack was also instrumental in organising the annual NAAFC AGM and Weekend Gathering for many years. Who can forget those memorable days at Dunblane Hydro, Perth's Station Hotel and Dundee's Invercarse Hotel, when the great and good of Scottish dance bands/music were honoured for their contribution to our heritage? We still of course continue this tradition every year at Huntingtower Hotel in Perth but all the activity is now concentrated on the Sunday rather than over the whole weekend. The annual display of photographs at the AGM and Celebrity Luncheon taken from days past are a great trip down memory lane and always very popular.
As many of you know, the NAAFC also created the Jimmy Shand Scholarship at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) and again this was a suggestion initially made by Jack as a means of paying tribute to the legend that was, and still is, Jimmy Shand.
Outside of his involvement in playing Scottish dance music and the NAAFC, Jack was the Dance Director for the BBC television show “The White Heather Club”. He was also an accomplished Scottish Country Dancer and choreographer. Jack was also a very active member of Dundee Ski Club and held the office of President on a number of occasions over the years he was active in the sport. All of the above activities were Jack's hobbies as he was also a very successful businessman in the family business working alongside his dad, John.
Jack didn't keep good health over the last few years and when I had reason to be regularly visiting my dad in Dundee's Victoria Hospital Jack was often in the same ward, so it meant that I could go and speak to whichever of the two of them wasn't sleeping – it was a case of twenty minutes speaking to one of them and then change to the other end of the ward for twenty minutes with the other who had woken up by then.
Jack Cooper will be sorely missed by the Scottish music and dance fraternity – his efforts on behalf of the NAAFC and Scottish music and dance can never be understated. It is also due to Jack's encouragement that there are many of today's musicians in the Dundee/Tayside area who came through the Dundee A&F Club and are still very active on the dance band scene. Jack's determination to give them a platform from which to launch a musical career will never be forgotten.
By Joan Blue
Jack played drums in my husband, Jimmy Blue’s, band for more than 20 years. Not only was he our drummer – he was a great friend, part of our family. He was an extremely loyal member of the band and in all these years, never let us down. If he was offered another gig, he would always check first that we didn’t have an engagement on that date.
Jack led a pretty full life. Although he spent a year ill in bed when he was young, he listened to radio and records and became hooked on Scottish dance music. He joined a pipe band, learned to play drums. He started going to Scottish Country Dances and soon started up his own Scottish dance team – The Gie Gordons. As they became well known, they auditioned for a new programme which was being produced on BBC Television – “The White Heather Club”. So successful were they that Jack became probably the first choreographer for the programme and The Gie Gordons made their television debut. As well as dancing, Jack took up skiing and became a member of the Dundee Ski Club and was one of the enthusiasts who built the first hut at Glenshee. Eventually he became President of the Dundee club and held that post for a number of years.
The Perth A&F Club began in September 1970. Jack, with his usual boundless energy, started the Dundee Club in January 1971. He encouraged the young musicians to play together and one success was The Dundee Accordion and Fiddle Club Junior Band (who later changed their name to The Craigowl SDB) with Kevin Clark and Bruce Quirie on accordions, Margaret Quirie on fiddle, Gil Simpson on piano and David Scott on drums. It is truly amazing that this band is still broadcasting with some of the original members.
Another idea Jack had was to book a hotel for a weekend, and a busload of Dundee Club members headed off – sometimes to The Fall of Lora Hotel at Oban – and spent a great weekend playing and socialising. When the National Association began, it used to take place in the afternoon, but Jack suggested that we make it a weekend and thus began these wonderful occasions at The Salutation Hotel and Station Hotel in Perth and at Dunblane Hydro. He worked so hard to make these weekends enjoyable. I used to help him get the place cards organised. He knew who could sit with whom and who didn’t get on, etc. It was Jack, also, who started collecting band photographs and mounted these wonderful displays that we gazed at every year.
But when I think of Jack, I recall the fun we all had together. Each year, Bobby and Agnes Crowe and Jimmy and I went to Bunessan for ten days. Jack came with us on three occasions. I shall never forget one day when we were going over to Staffa. I was looking for the binoculars and asked Jack, who was already in the car – “Jack, have you got the binocs?” to which he replied, quick as a flash, “No, its just the way I’m sitting.” Another memorable occasion was when we were on a ‘tour’ of Caithness. The redoubtable Jimmy Simpson, who owned the island of Stroma, offered to take us over there for the day. We all boarded his landing craft and we were barely out of John o’ Groats harbour when Jack enquired, “When does the duty free open?” Quick as a flash Jimmy Simpson said, “Now!” and produced a bottle of whisky from under his seat. And Jack was always polite! He would never leave after spending a day or having a meal at Forgandenny, without saying, “Thanks for your hospital.” Mind you, he usually greeted me with, “When are you getting the mask off?” Yes, a cheeky devil but a true friend who will be very much missed.
Box and Fiddle
April 2010
Jack Cooper
by Tom Clark
B&F February 1990
The “Annual Gathering” of the N.A.A.F.C. usually held in June in the Station Hotel, Perth has become one of the highlights of the Scottish musical year, eagerly awaited by players and listeners from all over the country. When we attend at this Gathering, few of us give any serious thought to the work involved and the preparation required to ensure the success of this weekend.
The man responsible to the National Executive of the N.A.A.F.C. for the organisation and smooth running of events is, of course, Jack Cooper of Dundee.
Jack has a wealth of experience to call on to help him in his task. His association with the Scottish music and dance scene goes back a long way. From drumming in the Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band in the 50’s, to broadcasting with dance bands, T.V. appearances on the White Heather Club, recording sessions with various bands and involvement with the N.A.A.F.C.
In the midst of this fairly hectic programme, Jack managed to find time, along with Arthur Spink, to start up the Dundee Accordion and Fiddle Club and has been Chairman ever since.
When I spoke to his about a feature article in the “Box and Fiddle”, his first reaction was that he wasn’t likely to find time in the immediate future. So, I was very pleased when, a couple of days later, he appeared on my doorstep, armed with a file packed with all sorts of scraps of information, newspaper clippings, whole editions, photographs and details of his activities over the years.
THE EARLY DAYS
It all seems to have started with drumming in the B.B. Pipe Band at St. Andrew’s Church, Dundee, and later with the McLeod Pipe Band. It wasn’t long before Jack had adapted his style and technique to suit the growing interest in Scottish Dance Bands at the time and he soon found himself freelancing with many bands.
His first experience of a studio was as a drummer with the Betty Anderson Quartet, broadcasting on B.B.C.’s Scottish Dance Music programme from Coldside Studios in Dundee. This was to prove to be the first of many such sessions, both for broadcasting and recording with different outfits spanning his career up to the present day.
THE LOVE OF DANCING
Jack says it was watching dancers doing their stuff, whilst he was drumming, that probably gave him the desire to get involved. “I used to watch the dancers, and I decided that I would like to start a team of my own.” The repetition of the established and well known dances led Jack to think about writing and composing new dances, an activity that was to prove of great value to him in later years when he found himself Dance Director in the White Heather Club T.V. programmes. The “Gie Gordons Dancers” were formed, and led by Jack, danced their way throughout the country and over to the Continent.
One unforgettable experience about this time was when Jack and his team were privileged to take part in the Royal Command Variety Show in the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow, in July 1958, dancing to the Jimmy Shand SDB. ”It was a marvellous experience” says Jack “and one I shall always remember”.
Jack tells me that he will always remember with gratitude the help and assistance given to him by Jimmy Shand in dancing with the band. “Jimmy was always prepared to help in any way he could, and it was through him that I was given the opportunity to appear in the Command Performance”. From an old clipping Jack lent me, I note that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh seemed to take a special interest in the dancers, Her Majesty being a dancer.
Jack says that one of his treasurer memories is of the time he was involved in the Thames Television presentation of “This is Your Life” by Eammon Andrews when the subject was Jimmy Shand. “It was such an experience to see Jimmy being honoured in this very special way”.
THE WHITE HEATHER CLUB
Those of us who were around in those days of the late 50’s and the 60’s can probably recall a whole list of memories of the “White Heather Club” shows. For Jack, it was the highlight of his career. “It’s hard remembering all the details because there were just so many Shows, but it really was a great chapter in my life”. In the first few years of the show, Jack used his own team, the “Gie Gordons Dancers”. Later on, when rehearsals and filming became very time consuming, Jack was forced to give up the Show and return to work in the family business in Buchanan Street, Dundee, which he now runs.
Some time later however, in 1960/61, a phone call from Iain McFadyen, the programme Producer, offering Jack the position of Dance Director, lured his back. “I just couldn’t resist the challenge” says Jack “working with some of the finest dancers in the country, it was one of the best experiences of my life. The wonderful atmosphere of the show, the association with Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod, Ian Powrie and Andy Stewart and a host of others, was something I wouldn’t have missed for the world”.
It was now that Jack’s earlier experience in writing and composing dance routines came to his aid as he needed to come up with attractive sets for the camera. “With so many Shows, it wasn’t long before we ran out of routines” says Jack “so it meant a lot of hard work keeping ahead”.
NOSTAGLIA
In March 1983, Dougie Donnelly hosted a wonderful night of nostalgia for many who had been involved in the “White Heather Club” days.
All the stars were there. Jack was in the audience that night, at the recording. “It was marvellous to meet up with old friends I hadn’t seen for years. The old clips from some of the shows were just great to see again”. Scottish viewers loved it, and there were a few who were hopeful that the programme might have been the ‘kick start’ to the revival of such a show on T.V. (I suspect there were a few moist eyes as well).
THE ACCORDION CLUB SCENE
Around about the start of the 70’s, Scottish music saw the development of the phenomenon which was to bring about a complete transformation for listeners and musicians – Accordion and Fiddle Clubs.
As the number of Clubs increased, a co-ordinating body was formed to try and regulate their activities as far as possible. Jack was very much involved at the beginning and was a founder member of the N.A.A.F.C. along with other members of the Executive Committee.
At the same time, the formation of the Dundee Club took place, instigated by Jack together with Arthur Spink. “The opening night was in the Queen’s Hotel, Dundee, on Monday 1st February 1971. Guest artiste was Will Starr and inevitably it was a great night. We had 250 members joined up and we normally had about 120 attending each meeting. There was always a big turnout of players from all over Angus, Fife and many other areas”.
As a direct result of the Club scene, Scottish Dance Bands have become much more numerous again, with many fine young players taking the opportunity afforded by being able to play before large audiences. Many of these have gone on to become established in bands throughout the country.
Jack has been involved with many other bands, notably with John Huband and the Tayside Sound, a fine blend of experienced players, all from the Tayside area. With this group and many others, Jack has appeared regularly at Clubs all over Scotland.
“The Scottish music and dancing world has been very kind to me” says Jack “I have made so many friends over the years and have done many things which otherwise would have passed me by. There’s a great spirit of friendship amongst all those involved and let’s hope that this continues to grow over the years ahead. The band’s I’ve been involved with include –
Broadcasting
Betty Anderson Quartet
The Cameron Kerr S.D.B.
John Huband and the Tayside Sound
Guesting :-
Blue Bonnets S.D.B., Bill Black S.D.B., The Gie Gordons S.D.B., The Olympians, the Jack Forsyth S.D.B., Bobby Crowe, John Ellis, Jim Johnstone, Jimmy Shand, Dennis Morrison, the Craigowl SDB and the Simon Howie S.D.B.”
Jack has appeared on the Grampian T.V. series “Andy’s Party” with Andy Stewart and Jimmy Blue and his band (as drummer). Further appearances followed on S.T.V.’s “Thingummyjig” again as drummer with the Jimmy Blue Band.
“I’ve been privileged to make recording with some groups including Arthur Spink, Will Starr, John Ellis, John Huband and the Tayside Sound, John Huband’s Muirhead Orchestra, Stuart Anderson, Deirdre Adamson, Jimmy Blue and his Band and Ian Powrie and Friends”.
Phew! What a list. I don’t think there are many players on the scene who have been so involved in such a variety of ways as Jack has. How he managed to maintain such a pace, I just don’t know.
Jack is still very much involved in the playing side, as well as his other activities at Association and Club level, and always seems to retain his enthusiasm.
So, the next time you take part at the Station Hotel, spare a little thought for the guy who makes it all possible and pours himself into the task, year after year. Mind you, he enjoys every minute of it. Keep up the good work Jack!
The man responsible to the National Executive of the N.A.A.F.C. for the organisation and smooth running of events is, of course, Jack Cooper of Dundee.
Jack has a wealth of experience to call on to help him in his task. His association with the Scottish music and dance scene goes back a long way. From drumming in the Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band in the 50’s, to broadcasting with dance bands, T.V. appearances on the White Heather Club, recording sessions with various bands and involvement with the N.A.A.F.C.
In the midst of this fairly hectic programme, Jack managed to find time, along with Arthur Spink, to start up the Dundee Accordion and Fiddle Club and has been Chairman ever since.
When I spoke to his about a feature article in the “Box and Fiddle”, his first reaction was that he wasn’t likely to find time in the immediate future. So, I was very pleased when, a couple of days later, he appeared on my doorstep, armed with a file packed with all sorts of scraps of information, newspaper clippings, whole editions, photographs and details of his activities over the years.
THE EARLY DAYS
It all seems to have started with drumming in the B.B. Pipe Band at St. Andrew’s Church, Dundee, and later with the McLeod Pipe Band. It wasn’t long before Jack had adapted his style and technique to suit the growing interest in Scottish Dance Bands at the time and he soon found himself freelancing with many bands.
His first experience of a studio was as a drummer with the Betty Anderson Quartet, broadcasting on B.B.C.’s Scottish Dance Music programme from Coldside Studios in Dundee. This was to prove to be the first of many such sessions, both for broadcasting and recording with different outfits spanning his career up to the present day.
THE LOVE OF DANCING
Jack says it was watching dancers doing their stuff, whilst he was drumming, that probably gave him the desire to get involved. “I used to watch the dancers, and I decided that I would like to start a team of my own.” The repetition of the established and well known dances led Jack to think about writing and composing new dances, an activity that was to prove of great value to him in later years when he found himself Dance Director in the White Heather Club T.V. programmes. The “Gie Gordons Dancers” were formed, and led by Jack, danced their way throughout the country and over to the Continent.
One unforgettable experience about this time was when Jack and his team were privileged to take part in the Royal Command Variety Show in the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow, in July 1958, dancing to the Jimmy Shand SDB. ”It was a marvellous experience” says Jack “and one I shall always remember”.
Jack tells me that he will always remember with gratitude the help and assistance given to him by Jimmy Shand in dancing with the band. “Jimmy was always prepared to help in any way he could, and it was through him that I was given the opportunity to appear in the Command Performance”. From an old clipping Jack lent me, I note that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh seemed to take a special interest in the dancers, Her Majesty being a dancer.
Jack says that one of his treasurer memories is of the time he was involved in the Thames Television presentation of “This is Your Life” by Eammon Andrews when the subject was Jimmy Shand. “It was such an experience to see Jimmy being honoured in this very special way”.
THE WHITE HEATHER CLUB
Those of us who were around in those days of the late 50’s and the 60’s can probably recall a whole list of memories of the “White Heather Club” shows. For Jack, it was the highlight of his career. “It’s hard remembering all the details because there were just so many Shows, but it really was a great chapter in my life”. In the first few years of the show, Jack used his own team, the “Gie Gordons Dancers”. Later on, when rehearsals and filming became very time consuming, Jack was forced to give up the Show and return to work in the family business in Buchanan Street, Dundee, which he now runs.
Some time later however, in 1960/61, a phone call from Iain McFadyen, the programme Producer, offering Jack the position of Dance Director, lured his back. “I just couldn’t resist the challenge” says Jack “working with some of the finest dancers in the country, it was one of the best experiences of my life. The wonderful atmosphere of the show, the association with Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod, Ian Powrie and Andy Stewart and a host of others, was something I wouldn’t have missed for the world”.
It was now that Jack’s earlier experience in writing and composing dance routines came to his aid as he needed to come up with attractive sets for the camera. “With so many Shows, it wasn’t long before we ran out of routines” says Jack “so it meant a lot of hard work keeping ahead”.
NOSTAGLIA
In March 1983, Dougie Donnelly hosted a wonderful night of nostalgia for many who had been involved in the “White Heather Club” days.
All the stars were there. Jack was in the audience that night, at the recording. “It was marvellous to meet up with old friends I hadn’t seen for years. The old clips from some of the shows were just great to see again”. Scottish viewers loved it, and there were a few who were hopeful that the programme might have been the ‘kick start’ to the revival of such a show on T.V. (I suspect there were a few moist eyes as well).
THE ACCORDION CLUB SCENE
Around about the start of the 70’s, Scottish music saw the development of the phenomenon which was to bring about a complete transformation for listeners and musicians – Accordion and Fiddle Clubs.
As the number of Clubs increased, a co-ordinating body was formed to try and regulate their activities as far as possible. Jack was very much involved at the beginning and was a founder member of the N.A.A.F.C. along with other members of the Executive Committee.
At the same time, the formation of the Dundee Club took place, instigated by Jack together with Arthur Spink. “The opening night was in the Queen’s Hotel, Dundee, on Monday 1st February 1971. Guest artiste was Will Starr and inevitably it was a great night. We had 250 members joined up and we normally had about 120 attending each meeting. There was always a big turnout of players from all over Angus, Fife and many other areas”.
As a direct result of the Club scene, Scottish Dance Bands have become much more numerous again, with many fine young players taking the opportunity afforded by being able to play before large audiences. Many of these have gone on to become established in bands throughout the country.
Jack has been involved with many other bands, notably with John Huband and the Tayside Sound, a fine blend of experienced players, all from the Tayside area. With this group and many others, Jack has appeared regularly at Clubs all over Scotland.
“The Scottish music and dancing world has been very kind to me” says Jack “I have made so many friends over the years and have done many things which otherwise would have passed me by. There’s a great spirit of friendship amongst all those involved and let’s hope that this continues to grow over the years ahead. The band’s I’ve been involved with include –
Broadcasting
Betty Anderson Quartet
The Cameron Kerr S.D.B.
John Huband and the Tayside Sound
Guesting :-
Blue Bonnets S.D.B., Bill Black S.D.B., The Gie Gordons S.D.B., The Olympians, the Jack Forsyth S.D.B., Bobby Crowe, John Ellis, Jim Johnstone, Jimmy Shand, Dennis Morrison, the Craigowl SDB and the Simon Howie S.D.B.”
Jack has appeared on the Grampian T.V. series “Andy’s Party” with Andy Stewart and Jimmy Blue and his band (as drummer). Further appearances followed on S.T.V.’s “Thingummyjig” again as drummer with the Jimmy Blue Band.
“I’ve been privileged to make recording with some groups including Arthur Spink, Will Starr, John Ellis, John Huband and the Tayside Sound, John Huband’s Muirhead Orchestra, Stuart Anderson, Deirdre Adamson, Jimmy Blue and his Band and Ian Powrie and Friends”.
Phew! What a list. I don’t think there are many players on the scene who have been so involved in such a variety of ways as Jack has. How he managed to maintain such a pace, I just don’t know.
Jack is still very much involved in the playing side, as well as his other activities at Association and Club level, and always seems to retain his enthusiasm.
So, the next time you take part at the Station Hotel, spare a little thought for the guy who makes it all possible and pours himself into the task, year after year. Mind you, he enjoys every minute of it. Keep up the good work Jack!
