John Huband (1942-2000)
Obituary
By Graham Huband
The Scottish Band world was shocked and saddened to hear of the untimely death of virtuoso accordionist John Huband on 22nd February, 2000, at the age of only 58. John possessed an unrivalled musical genius and during a fifty year career as an accordionist, both solo and a bandleader, he entertained thousands of people in venues throughout Scotland and Europe. His amazing talent ensured that he was never out of company whilst playing with some of the finest musicians in the world, notably performing with the late, legendary violinist Stephane Grapelli at the Mathers Hall in Dundee. John’s amazing ability as a musician, which was most in evidence through his variations of stunningly difficult jazz compositions, arose from a unique combination of skills which presented themselves as a natural gift. He had a computer like brain for music, possessed perfect pitch and was ambidextrous, a potent combination which allowed him to express almost anything he wished through music. His sight reading, accuracy, technical ability and phrasing meant that most tunes could be dispatched, and were rarely bettered, in a single rendition.
His abilities however, did not bar him from listening to and appreciating the music of others, and he would try to emulate other accordionists who had taken the instrument in a new direction. A recent example was when John heard a composition by an Irish accordionist on Radio Dublin and was stunned by its brilliance. It spurred him to write his own piece, a technically advanced work called Celtica, which he intended to be performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. It was the last tune that he ever played in public when he entertained a large crowd at a special service to mark the Millennium in his local Muirhead church, just two days prior to his death.
John’s life-long love of music began at the age of seven when his late father, Victor, a keen follower of Scottish Dance Music, bought an accordion and presented it to him at their home in Perth Road, Dundee. John initially rejected the notion of playing the instrument but his raw talent soon began to shine and the bond was sealed with the accordion when he won his first competition in Broughty Ferry , just two weeks after nestling it on his knee for the first time. His development as a traditional Scottish player was rapid and in 1955 he won the Junior Scottish Championship at the Perth Festival, a feat he repeated the following year. Although he did not enjoy playing in competitions, John returned to Perth in 1971 and captured the Senior title at the first attempt. He debuted with David Findlay’s Olympians Dance Band alongside Dougie Maxwell, Doug Cargill, Jimmy Yeaman and Angus McDonald and made his first live broadcast from the BBC’s Coldside Studio in Dundee on his 15th birthday. His emergence as a musical force in Scotland was beginning to be noticed the length and breadth of the country. However, upon leaving Harris Academy in Dundee with no formal qualifications the same year, John shunned a professional music career and took a job as an office boy in the city’s infamous jute trade. Within a year he became a mill mechanic and a year later left to join a garden equipment firm run by the family of drummer Jackie Cooper, who was the dance director of the enormously popular White Heather Club television show.
Always a drifter, John then joined the Dundee Easter Co-operative Society as a carpet salesman, where he met his future wife, Pat, whom he married in 1968.
He also had two spells during the 1960’s and early 1970’s as an accordion tuner and repairer at J.T. Forbes, a long established company in Nethergate, Dundee where the would famous Jimmy Shand of Auchtermuchty and Kirriemuir box-player Davie Stewart, who was John’s No 2 in the Tayside Sound, also worked. During the early 1970’s John set up his own accordion repair and tuning business, C.M.H. Accordions with electronic specialist Dave Manby and 3- row player Bobby Campbell as partners, in an old workshop at his home in Muirhead. Ironically, the business went into liquidation in February 1982, on the occasion of his 40th birthday! Unperturbed, John devoted his time to tutoring, playing with his senior band the Tayside Sound and bringing together the fledgling Junior Muirhead Accordion Band. The talented members of the Tayside Sound line-up comprised John on lead accordion, Davie Stewart (2nd box), Rab Smillie (bass), Bill Hendry (piano) and fiddler Angus Cameron, who was later replaced by Frank Robb. The group became well known throughout Scotland and were in constant demand to play at ceilidhs, dances and weddings. The Tayside Sound recorded two albums during their career, with the Tayside blend being especially well received by a knowledgeable Scottish public. John’s focus then changed to the Muirhead Accordion Band which was entirely formed from accordionists that he tutored through his Muirhead School of Music. The Band, under John’s direction, made four separate recordings, made a successful tour of Europe in 1990, and made several trips to Ireland in the late 1990’s as the players embraced the influence of traditional Irish music and culture. During this period John was also involved in many other musical projects and regularly played with folk singer Jimmy Reid, with whom he produced the well received ‘Freewheeling Now’ album. He also joined Mull accordionist Calum McLean on ‘East Meets West’ and songwriter genius Mick Marra of Newtyle on his latest recording where he played on a track entitled Macushla. However, John never forgot his Dundee roots and throughout his career played with dozens of local artistes such as the late Jazz guitarist Jim Cruickshank whom he credited with heavily influencing his jazz career, baritone Jim Mackenzie, Joe McKay and jazz singer Yvonne Robb of Menzieshill, Dundee.
Latterly, John invited one of his longest serving pupils, Gail Cumming of Monifeith, on stage to play with him as he admired her technical accuracy which allowed him the freedom to let his fingers roam across the keyboard. His thirst for music continued unabaited until his death and many of his greatest compositions such as Ma Cherie, The Box and Fiddle Rag, Jakaneri (a tune named after his two daughters), The 5 x 2 Step, as well as a host of traditional tunes were fortunately all captured in print. Other songs such as Edzell Blues, Celtica and Patricia’s Song which he wrote after his wife took ill in 1991 and later broadcast on Robbie Shepherd’s BBC Radio Scotland show from Perth City Hall, never made it into a music book but also provide a lasting tribute to his songwriting talents. John’s music was his legacy and that was apparent by the hundreds of musicians and friends who gathered for his funeral service at Balgray Parish Church in Dundee on Friday, February 25th. The service was designed to celebrate the life, indomitable spirit, humour and music of John. There were musical interludes from Jimmy Reid, who sang the Wild Geese, jazz musicians Kevin Murray and Calum McKenzie, who performed Summertime and by Jake Donnelly, Jim Leighton, Jim McKenzie and friends who gave a rendition of ‘You’ve Got to Live a Little’. The most fitting tribute to John came at the wake after the funeral when Jimmy Reid performed and dedicated a new song, simply entitled ‘Ordinary Genius’ to his memory. John’s wife Pat, his daughters Karen and Jacqueline and son Graham would like to that on their thanks to all his friends and fellow musicians for the wealth of support they have received since his death.
This article was lovingly written by Graham as a tribute to his dad.
Box and Fiddle
April 2000
His abilities however, did not bar him from listening to and appreciating the music of others, and he would try to emulate other accordionists who had taken the instrument in a new direction. A recent example was when John heard a composition by an Irish accordionist on Radio Dublin and was stunned by its brilliance. It spurred him to write his own piece, a technically advanced work called Celtica, which he intended to be performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. It was the last tune that he ever played in public when he entertained a large crowd at a special service to mark the Millennium in his local Muirhead church, just two days prior to his death.
John’s life-long love of music began at the age of seven when his late father, Victor, a keen follower of Scottish Dance Music, bought an accordion and presented it to him at their home in Perth Road, Dundee. John initially rejected the notion of playing the instrument but his raw talent soon began to shine and the bond was sealed with the accordion when he won his first competition in Broughty Ferry , just two weeks after nestling it on his knee for the first time. His development as a traditional Scottish player was rapid and in 1955 he won the Junior Scottish Championship at the Perth Festival, a feat he repeated the following year. Although he did not enjoy playing in competitions, John returned to Perth in 1971 and captured the Senior title at the first attempt. He debuted with David Findlay’s Olympians Dance Band alongside Dougie Maxwell, Doug Cargill, Jimmy Yeaman and Angus McDonald and made his first live broadcast from the BBC’s Coldside Studio in Dundee on his 15th birthday. His emergence as a musical force in Scotland was beginning to be noticed the length and breadth of the country. However, upon leaving Harris Academy in Dundee with no formal qualifications the same year, John shunned a professional music career and took a job as an office boy in the city’s infamous jute trade. Within a year he became a mill mechanic and a year later left to join a garden equipment firm run by the family of drummer Jackie Cooper, who was the dance director of the enormously popular White Heather Club television show.
Always a drifter, John then joined the Dundee Easter Co-operative Society as a carpet salesman, where he met his future wife, Pat, whom he married in 1968.
He also had two spells during the 1960’s and early 1970’s as an accordion tuner and repairer at J.T. Forbes, a long established company in Nethergate, Dundee where the would famous Jimmy Shand of Auchtermuchty and Kirriemuir box-player Davie Stewart, who was John’s No 2 in the Tayside Sound, also worked. During the early 1970’s John set up his own accordion repair and tuning business, C.M.H. Accordions with electronic specialist Dave Manby and 3- row player Bobby Campbell as partners, in an old workshop at his home in Muirhead. Ironically, the business went into liquidation in February 1982, on the occasion of his 40th birthday! Unperturbed, John devoted his time to tutoring, playing with his senior band the Tayside Sound and bringing together the fledgling Junior Muirhead Accordion Band. The talented members of the Tayside Sound line-up comprised John on lead accordion, Davie Stewart (2nd box), Rab Smillie (bass), Bill Hendry (piano) and fiddler Angus Cameron, who was later replaced by Frank Robb. The group became well known throughout Scotland and were in constant demand to play at ceilidhs, dances and weddings. The Tayside Sound recorded two albums during their career, with the Tayside blend being especially well received by a knowledgeable Scottish public. John’s focus then changed to the Muirhead Accordion Band which was entirely formed from accordionists that he tutored through his Muirhead School of Music. The Band, under John’s direction, made four separate recordings, made a successful tour of Europe in 1990, and made several trips to Ireland in the late 1990’s as the players embraced the influence of traditional Irish music and culture. During this period John was also involved in many other musical projects and regularly played with folk singer Jimmy Reid, with whom he produced the well received ‘Freewheeling Now’ album. He also joined Mull accordionist Calum McLean on ‘East Meets West’ and songwriter genius Mick Marra of Newtyle on his latest recording where he played on a track entitled Macushla. However, John never forgot his Dundee roots and throughout his career played with dozens of local artistes such as the late Jazz guitarist Jim Cruickshank whom he credited with heavily influencing his jazz career, baritone Jim Mackenzie, Joe McKay and jazz singer Yvonne Robb of Menzieshill, Dundee.
Latterly, John invited one of his longest serving pupils, Gail Cumming of Monifeith, on stage to play with him as he admired her technical accuracy which allowed him the freedom to let his fingers roam across the keyboard. His thirst for music continued unabaited until his death and many of his greatest compositions such as Ma Cherie, The Box and Fiddle Rag, Jakaneri (a tune named after his two daughters), The 5 x 2 Step, as well as a host of traditional tunes were fortunately all captured in print. Other songs such as Edzell Blues, Celtica and Patricia’s Song which he wrote after his wife took ill in 1991 and later broadcast on Robbie Shepherd’s BBC Radio Scotland show from Perth City Hall, never made it into a music book but also provide a lasting tribute to his songwriting talents. John’s music was his legacy and that was apparent by the hundreds of musicians and friends who gathered for his funeral service at Balgray Parish Church in Dundee on Friday, February 25th. The service was designed to celebrate the life, indomitable spirit, humour and music of John. There were musical interludes from Jimmy Reid, who sang the Wild Geese, jazz musicians Kevin Murray and Calum McKenzie, who performed Summertime and by Jake Donnelly, Jim Leighton, Jim McKenzie and friends who gave a rendition of ‘You’ve Got to Live a Little’. The most fitting tribute to John came at the wake after the funeral when Jimmy Reid performed and dedicated a new song, simply entitled ‘Ordinary Genius’ to his memory. John’s wife Pat, his daughters Karen and Jacqueline and son Graham would like to that on their thanks to all his friends and fellow musicians for the wealth of support they have received since his death.
This article was lovingly written by Graham as a tribute to his dad.
Box and Fiddle
April 2000