Mickie Ainsworth (28/06/30 – 25/05/12) - Obituary
by various
B&F July & August 2012
July Issue
Mickie Ainsworth raised the bar for accordion players by bringing his amazing technique and musicality into a genre which could previously have been described as a little dated. His first playing engagements were with a local Auchterarder “modern” band, The Skyliners. He teamed up with Jimmy Blue in the late 1940’s and they played duet pieces which stunned their audiences with slick arrangements and wonderfully confident playing,
Mickie, a self-taught accordionist joined the Ian Powrie band in 1956 when the lure of live television became a real possibility. The band toured Australia, New Zealand and North America at a time when International travel was something completely new. Not many people have played the Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline and New York!
Being exposed to singing acts in the Andy Stewart show meant his talents as a backing musician and arranger were put to full use. Ian Powrie made a smart move when he recruited Mickie.
Soon his love of harmony and chords meant that he invented what is known today as second accordion. This was pioneering stuff and Mickie was one of the people who led the way by taking old fashioned dance music and bringing it right up to date.
His accordion teaching and playing career has spanned nearly 70 years. The Scottish music scene owes so much to this great musician, Mickie Ainsworth.
August Issue
Bill Wilkie
When I first met Mickie in the late 40s or early 50s he was already an accomplished accordionist. His great passion at that time was for modern dance music which of necessity demanded the pursuit and study of modern chords. He had co-founded a modern dance band with some brilliant young musicians who, like himself, were mad about this form of music. The band gave him the opportunity to experiment and develop his chord style which was so useful when he joined The Ian Powrie Band some years later.
Mickie joined my for many of my shows in the Perth Theatre, The City Hall, The Empire Theatre Inverness etc. He played lead accordion in the Orchestra, did a solo spot and played with Al Waters in a sensational Accordion Duo and of course he later performed with his great friend Jimmy Blue in their world famous double act.
Much has been said of Mickie’s humour and stories and of course I introduced fun into my shows whenever possible. Mickie and I did a unique double act where he played the treble keyboard of my accordion which I played the treble keyboard of his accordion. We did ‘Gin I were a Baron’s Heir’ and in the middle we did a wee dance round about at great risk, we nearly went off the sticks many times.
On another occasion I needed a short act, about 6 minutes. Mickie had a scrubbing board at the time (with an old motor car horn attached) which he used as a rhythm instrument. Well, with less than an hour to go before the show we formed a hill-billy trio, Mickie on scrubbing board, myself on a tiny accordion and Dave Morrison on bass. With Mickie tooting the horn at appropriate times the act brought the house down.
It was a custom of the musicians to meet in my shop in the forenoon for a coffee and a crack and this is where Mickie held court with many humorous stories.
We had many adventures. Four of us decided to go to London for Accordion Day. I said “I’ll drive you down,” so, on a foggy November night, I finished teaching about 10.30pm, had a coffee and a sandwich, put on my old big coat, put a hot water bottle (no heaters then) at the back of my legs and headed for London. My car was an old 1934 Morris 10 with a thermometer above the radiator to indicate if the engine was heating up. The adventures on that journey could fill a book, including running out of petrol, but it was Mickie’s indomitable spirit and humour that got us there. I could go on but I think that is sufficient to demonstrate why there was such a massive turnout to say farewell to Mickie, an outstanding musician and a very great, one-off character.
John Carmichael
Not only a great player but an outstanding character, who really enjoyed his music and was very happy to pass it on to others.
Mickie added a new dimension to the traditional music of the day in technique, harmonies and ‘bottle.’
Who could not be impressed when Mick cut loose with ‘fullsome chords’ in the middle of a set of reels or jigs when the Powrie Band was in full flight?
On a personal note Mickie was the first to congratulate me and pour the first dram into the cup when I won the Championship back in 1964 (Ian Powrie and Jimmy Blue were the judges). Something that was often remarked on between us over the years on Festival Day.
A man who was an inspiration to us all in so many ways and who will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
Simon Howie
Mickie was one of the greats of accordion playing in Scotland. The original pioneer of second accordion playing, he was a self-taught perfectionist who loved entertaining people whether it be through his playing or telling stories. His time in the theatres with The Ian Powrie Band exposed him to the top acts of the day and it was this that spawned a great love of music hall comedy and song. He taught many pupils over the years and his knowledge of harmony and modern music made them much more rounded players than they otherwise might have been. Nothing Mickie ever did was for his own benefit, he was happy if the pupil, listener or dancer was having a good time, that’s what mattered most to him. Scotland’s top accordionists will remember him as a stage manager at Bill Wilkie’s Festival. It will never be quite the same without Mickie. He was a stickler for detail, which was reflected in his playing, his family life and even his recreation. Mickie gave me more than I can tell you, I have had contact with him throughout my life as a family friend and inspirational musical mentor and I will miss him dearly. He was very content throughout his life and could always see a purpose in what he was doing. Mickie can be summed up by one of his favourite phrases when describing a friend….”he was an officer and a gentleman.”
Mickie Ainsworth raised the bar for accordion players by bringing his amazing technique and musicality into a genre which could previously have been described as a little dated. His first playing engagements were with a local Auchterarder “modern” band, The Skyliners. He teamed up with Jimmy Blue in the late 1940’s and they played duet pieces which stunned their audiences with slick arrangements and wonderfully confident playing,
Mickie, a self-taught accordionist joined the Ian Powrie band in 1956 when the lure of live television became a real possibility. The band toured Australia, New Zealand and North America at a time when International travel was something completely new. Not many people have played the Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline and New York!
Being exposed to singing acts in the Andy Stewart show meant his talents as a backing musician and arranger were put to full use. Ian Powrie made a smart move when he recruited Mickie.
Soon his love of harmony and chords meant that he invented what is known today as second accordion. This was pioneering stuff and Mickie was one of the people who led the way by taking old fashioned dance music and bringing it right up to date.
His accordion teaching and playing career has spanned nearly 70 years. The Scottish music scene owes so much to this great musician, Mickie Ainsworth.
August Issue
Bill Wilkie
When I first met Mickie in the late 40s or early 50s he was already an accomplished accordionist. His great passion at that time was for modern dance music which of necessity demanded the pursuit and study of modern chords. He had co-founded a modern dance band with some brilliant young musicians who, like himself, were mad about this form of music. The band gave him the opportunity to experiment and develop his chord style which was so useful when he joined The Ian Powrie Band some years later.
Mickie joined my for many of my shows in the Perth Theatre, The City Hall, The Empire Theatre Inverness etc. He played lead accordion in the Orchestra, did a solo spot and played with Al Waters in a sensational Accordion Duo and of course he later performed with his great friend Jimmy Blue in their world famous double act.
Much has been said of Mickie’s humour and stories and of course I introduced fun into my shows whenever possible. Mickie and I did a unique double act where he played the treble keyboard of my accordion which I played the treble keyboard of his accordion. We did ‘Gin I were a Baron’s Heir’ and in the middle we did a wee dance round about at great risk, we nearly went off the sticks many times.
On another occasion I needed a short act, about 6 minutes. Mickie had a scrubbing board at the time (with an old motor car horn attached) which he used as a rhythm instrument. Well, with less than an hour to go before the show we formed a hill-billy trio, Mickie on scrubbing board, myself on a tiny accordion and Dave Morrison on bass. With Mickie tooting the horn at appropriate times the act brought the house down.
It was a custom of the musicians to meet in my shop in the forenoon for a coffee and a crack and this is where Mickie held court with many humorous stories.
We had many adventures. Four of us decided to go to London for Accordion Day. I said “I’ll drive you down,” so, on a foggy November night, I finished teaching about 10.30pm, had a coffee and a sandwich, put on my old big coat, put a hot water bottle (no heaters then) at the back of my legs and headed for London. My car was an old 1934 Morris 10 with a thermometer above the radiator to indicate if the engine was heating up. The adventures on that journey could fill a book, including running out of petrol, but it was Mickie’s indomitable spirit and humour that got us there. I could go on but I think that is sufficient to demonstrate why there was such a massive turnout to say farewell to Mickie, an outstanding musician and a very great, one-off character.
John Carmichael
Not only a great player but an outstanding character, who really enjoyed his music and was very happy to pass it on to others.
Mickie added a new dimension to the traditional music of the day in technique, harmonies and ‘bottle.’
Who could not be impressed when Mick cut loose with ‘fullsome chords’ in the middle of a set of reels or jigs when the Powrie Band was in full flight?
On a personal note Mickie was the first to congratulate me and pour the first dram into the cup when I won the Championship back in 1964 (Ian Powrie and Jimmy Blue were the judges). Something that was often remarked on between us over the years on Festival Day.
A man who was an inspiration to us all in so many ways and who will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
Simon Howie
Mickie was one of the greats of accordion playing in Scotland. The original pioneer of second accordion playing, he was a self-taught perfectionist who loved entertaining people whether it be through his playing or telling stories. His time in the theatres with The Ian Powrie Band exposed him to the top acts of the day and it was this that spawned a great love of music hall comedy and song. He taught many pupils over the years and his knowledge of harmony and modern music made them much more rounded players than they otherwise might have been. Nothing Mickie ever did was for his own benefit, he was happy if the pupil, listener or dancer was having a good time, that’s what mattered most to him. Scotland’s top accordionists will remember him as a stage manager at Bill Wilkie’s Festival. It will never be quite the same without Mickie. He was a stickler for detail, which was reflected in his playing, his family life and even his recreation. Mickie gave me more than I can tell you, I have had contact with him throughout my life as a family friend and inspirational musical mentor and I will miss him dearly. He was very content throughout his life and could always see a purpose in what he was doing. Mickie can be summed up by one of his favourite phrases when describing a friend….”he was an officer and a gentleman.”