Box and Fiddle
Year 30 No 01
September 2006
Price £2.30
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £25.30 + p&p £8.80 (UK)
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
Over the last few years the subject of copyright and the PRS and MCPS has frequently arisen. This month we have been in touch with PRS and were given permission to print much of the information that can be found on their website. If you have Internet access then it’s well worth a visit, and if not, we’d strongly advise you to hold on to the articles – the info is extremely useful for anyone who plays, records or promotes music.
Many of you will already have bought Volumes 1 & 2 of Rob Howard’s ‘An A to Z of the Accordion’ and are eagerly awaiting Volume 3. Read about Rob, and his plans for his next book on Page 5.
Karin Ingram
An A to Z of the Accordion and Related Instruments
by Heather McLean
Having been an enthusiast for anything to do with accordions for quite a few years, I always wanted to read a book that was all about the accordion and its players, with lots of useful accordion-related articles. Little did I realise I would be the one actually writing and editing the book!
I have been interested in accordions for almost as long as I can remember, but did not start playing until 1968, by which time I was twenty years old and a student teacher in Liverpool. Since then I have played in English ceilidh bands, accordion bands, a folk group, a Bavarian band, and have been an accompanist for Irish and Polish dance teams. I have also played many solo gigs in school and charity concerts, held a residency in an Italian restaurant and played numerous French theme nights. Each Christmas my accordion friend John Jones and I lead ‘wartime’ sing-alongs at the Stockport Air Raid Shelters. My playing experience has been largely in public performance, and I never pursued the NAO competition or BCA examination routes.
My interest began in Primary School in 1959 when Friday afternoons were often spent doing Scottish and English country dancing to 78rpm records of Jimmy shand. My class teacher was Peter McLoughlin, who for a long time also happened to be one of the best-known dance callers in the North of England. That’s where my abiding interest in accordion music and country dance comes from. Peter Mac, as he is generally known, had a profound influence on me and countless others whom he taught. It is often said that “great teachers inspire”, and that phrase could have been coined with Peter Mac in mind.
Many years later I entered the teaching profession, and eventually found myself in charge of a school library. This meant I had access to most of the publishers’ brochures, and I could not help noticing that amongst the thousands of books on a vast range of subjects, there was never anything relating to accordions. I think this must have been the point where, subconsciously, I resolved to one day have a go at writing a book about the accordion and its players.
Family life and the never ending demands of work meant that the prospect of writing a book remained no more than a vague idea, but in early 2003 everything changed when I was unexpectedly taken ill. I found myself off work and with time to fill, which was a new experience for me, and it was then that I decided that perhaps the time had finally come to have a stab at writing a book about the accordion. The problems were then what to includein such a book, how to get started, and doing the research. At first, all this was rather daunting, but having committed myself mentally to the project, I began gathering together anything that might be useful – old magazines, contest programmes, LP, cassette and CD covers, pictures, photographs and Internet website addresses. I also began the process of talking to as many people as I could – in person, by e-mail and on the telephone. God knows what the phone bill was like in the next few months, but it had to be done!
Having been a long-time fan of the Marx Brothers and Dad’s Army, the first problem was quickly resolved as I had The A to Z of…….books for both my favourites. That was it – I would write an A to Z of the Accordion and Related Instruments, a book drawing on my thirty-odd years of involvement with accordions and accordionists plus all the research I could reasonably manage in the months ahead. The book was aimed at anyone with an enthusiasm for listening to or playing the accordion or other free reed instruments.
After a period of intensive research, the book began to take shape, but the topic proved so large in depth and scope that I quickly decided to ‘ring fence’ the material largely with a British and Irish context. This was necessary to keep the research under control, and stop the project getting out of hand. The only players included from overseas were ones who had performed in Great Britain or were particularly well known here. By the time the book went to print in late 2003, a lot of people had become involved in its production. The editors of the accordion magazines were all cooperative in the use of material, and certain individuals were similarly helpful. London-based accordionist Gerald Crossman whose career dates back to the 1930s, was especially helpful by contributing no less than six archive articles. Adrian Dante, Trevani, Tony Compton and Ken Farran (my accordion teacher) generously consented to archive articles they had written being reprinted. Rosemary Wright, Leicester-based accordionist and teacher, contributed Be a Better Player and Playing for Others, excellent and very useful archive articles derived from her own extensive experience. My accordion playing friends Andy Banks, Johnny Coleclough, Charlie Watkins and Peter Whiteley all contributed specially written articles. The end result was a reference book – almost an encyclopedia – that was a wide-ranging body of knowledge, with something for everybody.
The 300 articles also contained a lot of short biographies, and apart from the obvious cloices such as Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod, George Scott-Wood, Martin Lukins, Francis Wright, Dermot O’Brien, Jack Emblow and harmonica ‘greats’ Larry Adler and Tommy Reilly, there are also the stories of some who might be considered mainly local legends. In most cases, inclusion was based on the player representing a genre and/or an era. I began with the intention of writing about the Scottish dance bands and the accordion bands, but soon abandoned this due to sheer lack of space. Thus it was that the book focuses mainly on solo players, and the biggest problem was who to leave out! I did include biographies of Pietro Frosini, Charles Magnante, and the brothers Guido and Pietro Deiro, mainly due to their very significant long-term influence on players in Great Britain.
An A to Z of the Accordion and Related Instruments was a big success from the moment it appeared in December 2003, and by early 2006 it had sold out (an updated reprint has now become available). The many positive comments I received from people all over the country and overseas motivated me to plan and write a sequel, and an A to Z of the Accordion, Volume 2 was published in november 2005, and to similar acclaim. Researching and writing Volume 2 was another labour of love, with a similar format to the first book.
With the sequel I resolved to aim at producing entirely new material, and with minimal overlap with the previous volume. Gerald Crossman, Jack Emblow, Dave Davani, John Kirkpatrick and Rosemary Wright all contributed interesting archive articles, and Liverpool-born professional accordionist Shirley Evans (now living in Florida, USA) contributed a lengthy autobiographical article that includes details of the time she performed and recorded with The Beatles in their film Magical Mystery Tour. The 200+ articles and biographies compliment the content of the first book, heading off in some new directions. Countless hours again went into the research, but this has all be justified by the reaction of its readers.
I am presently researching and writing an A to Z of the Accordion, Volume 3, and have to date worked on or completed about 50 articles and biographies. As with Volume 2, I am endeavouring to look for new material and to provide a book that will be useful as a record of the lives and achievements of many of those who play the accordion or its relatives such as the melodeon, concertina or harmonica. The next book, Volume 3, will be published most probably in early 2007.
I am, of course, anxious to cover the Scottish scene, past and present, as fully as possible but am aware that there are large numbers of players, individuals and bands whose contributions are worthy of coverage in Volume 3. Apart from those who are accomplished players, there are also those whose contributions are mainly as Club organizers, composers, traders and supporters, and these ought also to be recognised. What would the Scottish music scene be without you? The objective is to provide a permanebt record of the world of the accordion, past and present. Seeking out and talking to everybody involved is a sheer impossibility, so if everyone reading this is able to help in any way I would be very pleased to hear from you. All help will be acknowledged.
PRS & MCPS
by
Copyright
by
CD Reviews – See Hear with Judith Linton
From the Heart – Daniel McPhee – CDPAN017 – Pan Records
Now and Then – Fiddle Music from Scotland – Pete Clark – INVER226
The Barn Rocks – Orwell Ceilidh Band – OCB02CD - Independent
Inferno – Innovation – DOONCD014 - Independent
DVD Reviews
Play Scottish Fiddle – Intermediate – TNTDVD001 – Taigh na Teud
Book Review
The Cardean Collection – Ian Cruickshanks
Letters to the Editor
Dear Karin
May I, through your columns, express my very sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those hundreds of people who have contacted me by phone, by letter, by card, and personally to convey their condolences after my recent and very unfortunate accident. It makes me feel very humble to realise that there are so many folk out there who appreciated out type of music and, I can assure you, we as a band have had a huge amount of enjoyment from playing for you all over the country.
I started my playing career on the first Saturday in March in 1949 so, as you can imagine, I have met tens of thousands of super people and have traveled tens of thousands of miles, and I can assure everyone, if I had my life to live over again I would do exactly the same. I’m just so sad it had to end this way……..
I must also say a huge thankyou to all the musicians who have helped me out over the years and given me great support, especially to Mabel Gray who, as you all know, has been the backbone of the band for the past 15 years – I can’t thank you enough.
Thank you one and all,
Bill Black
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
Repeats
2nd Sept 06 – Simon howie SDB (May 2006) Andrew Rankine SDB (Jan 1981)
9th Sept 06 – John Carmichael SDB
16th Sept 06 – Ian Cruickshanks SDB (April 2006)
23rd Sept 2006 - Marian Anderson SDB (June 2006)
30th Sept 06 – Graeme Mitchell SDB (OB from the Lonach Hall with Jim Malcolm and The Lonach Pipe Band)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 13th Sept 06 – Graeme Whitehead & Friends
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 17th Sept 06 – Robert Whitehead SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 3rd Sept 06 – Alastair Wood SDB
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 7th Sept 06 – Judith Linton Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 17th Sept 06 – Ian Hutson SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) –
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 18th Sept 06 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Belford (Community Centre) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 17th Sept 06 – Tom Orr SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 12th Sept 06 – Lomond CB
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 14th Sept 06 – Michael Philip SDB
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 5th Sept 06 – Alan Gardiner SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 19th Sept 06 – Ian Cruickshanks SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 21st Sept 06 – Lomond CB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 13th Sept 06 – Mhairi Coutts Trio
Dalriada (Argyll Hotel, Lochgilphead)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 6th Sept 06 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 20th Sept 06 – David Bowen Trio
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 12th Sept 06 – Judith Linton SDB
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Masonic Lodge, Newtown St) 18th Sept 06 – Tom Orr SDB
East Kilbride (Masonic Hall, Kittoch St) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 19th Sept 06 – Marian Anderson SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 25th Sept 06 – Graham Laurie Orchestra
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 24th Sept 06 – Nicky McMichan Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 13th Sept 06 – Niall Kirkpatrick SDB
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 21st Sept 06 – Jim MacKay SDB
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 6th Sept 06 – Tom Alexander
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 26th Sept 06 – Dick Black Band
Gretna (Social & Athletic Club) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 18th Sept 06 – Colin Dewar SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 5th Sept 06 – Colin Dewar Trio
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 24th Sept 06 – 30th Anniversary Concert 27th Sept 06 – Lyne Valley Band
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) –
Ladybank (Railway Tavern) - 21st Sept 06 – Burns Brothers CB
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 25th Sept 06 – Steven Carcary
Langholm (Crown Hotel) – 13th Sept 06 – Craigowl SDB
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 7th Sept 06 – Liz MacKenzie SDB
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 19th Sept 06 – John Douglas SDB
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 26th Sept 06 – John Renton SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 6th Sept 06 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) - 28th Sept 06 - tbc
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) - 17th Sept 06 – Open Day
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 25th Sept 06 – Gordon Pattullo
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 5th Sept 06 – Andy Kain Trio
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) – 27th Sept 06 – Open Night
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 28th Sept 06 – Gordon Shand SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 19th Sept 06 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Phoenix (Argyll Arms hotel, Ardrishaig)
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) -
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Selkirk (Cricket Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Bowling Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 12th Sept 06 – John Stuart SDB
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 4th Sept 06 – Jim MacKay SDB
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 7th Sept 06 – Wayne Robertson
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 21st Sept 06 – Ian Holmes Trio
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 19th Sept 06 – Nicol McLaren SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Annan
3. Blairgowrie
4. Button Key
5. Campsie
6. Dunoon & Cowal
7. Forfar
8. Glendale
9. Glenrothes
10. Ladybank
11. Lewis & Harris
12. Lockerbie
13. Montrose
14. Orkney
15. Thornhill
16. Thurso
17. Tynedale
18. West Barmes
19. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2005
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brittania B&F Club ( joined 07-08
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
40. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
41. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
42. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Maine Valley A&F Club (
54. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
55. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
56. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
57. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
58. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
66. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
67. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
68. Selkirk A&F Club (
69. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
70. Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
71. Sutherland A&F Club (
72. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
73. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
74. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
75. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
76. West Barnes ( - present)
77. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
78. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
79. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
82. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
83. Buchan A&F Club
84 Callander A&F Club (
85 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87 Club Accord
88 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Derwentside A&F Club
93. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
94. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
95. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
96. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
97. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
98. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
99. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
100. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
101. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
102. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
103. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
104. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
105. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
106. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
107. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
108. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
109. Mull A&F Club
110. Newcastleton Accordion Club
111. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
114. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
115. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
116. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
117. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
118. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
119. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
120. Tranent A&F Club
121. Vancouver
122. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
123. Wellbank A&F Club
124. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
Advertising rates
Back Page (colour) - £300
Full Page (colour) - £220
Full Page (b&w) - £140
Half Page (colour) - £110
Half Page (b&w) - £70
Quarter Page (colour) - £55
Quarter Page (b&w) - £35
Eighth Page - £18
Small Boxed £12
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
Over the last few years the subject of copyright and the PRS and MCPS has frequently arisen. This month we have been in touch with PRS and were given permission to print much of the information that can be found on their website. If you have Internet access then it’s well worth a visit, and if not, we’d strongly advise you to hold on to the articles – the info is extremely useful for anyone who plays, records or promotes music.
Many of you will already have bought Volumes 1 & 2 of Rob Howard’s ‘An A to Z of the Accordion’ and are eagerly awaiting Volume 3. Read about Rob, and his plans for his next book on Page 5.
Karin Ingram
An A to Z of the Accordion and Related Instruments
by Heather McLean
Having been an enthusiast for anything to do with accordions for quite a few years, I always wanted to read a book that was all about the accordion and its players, with lots of useful accordion-related articles. Little did I realise I would be the one actually writing and editing the book!
I have been interested in accordions for almost as long as I can remember, but did not start playing until 1968, by which time I was twenty years old and a student teacher in Liverpool. Since then I have played in English ceilidh bands, accordion bands, a folk group, a Bavarian band, and have been an accompanist for Irish and Polish dance teams. I have also played many solo gigs in school and charity concerts, held a residency in an Italian restaurant and played numerous French theme nights. Each Christmas my accordion friend John Jones and I lead ‘wartime’ sing-alongs at the Stockport Air Raid Shelters. My playing experience has been largely in public performance, and I never pursued the NAO competition or BCA examination routes.
My interest began in Primary School in 1959 when Friday afternoons were often spent doing Scottish and English country dancing to 78rpm records of Jimmy shand. My class teacher was Peter McLoughlin, who for a long time also happened to be one of the best-known dance callers in the North of England. That’s where my abiding interest in accordion music and country dance comes from. Peter Mac, as he is generally known, had a profound influence on me and countless others whom he taught. It is often said that “great teachers inspire”, and that phrase could have been coined with Peter Mac in mind.
Many years later I entered the teaching profession, and eventually found myself in charge of a school library. This meant I had access to most of the publishers’ brochures, and I could not help noticing that amongst the thousands of books on a vast range of subjects, there was never anything relating to accordions. I think this must have been the point where, subconsciously, I resolved to one day have a go at writing a book about the accordion and its players.
Family life and the never ending demands of work meant that the prospect of writing a book remained no more than a vague idea, but in early 2003 everything changed when I was unexpectedly taken ill. I found myself off work and with time to fill, which was a new experience for me, and it was then that I decided that perhaps the time had finally come to have a stab at writing a book about the accordion. The problems were then what to includein such a book, how to get started, and doing the research. At first, all this was rather daunting, but having committed myself mentally to the project, I began gathering together anything that might be useful – old magazines, contest programmes, LP, cassette and CD covers, pictures, photographs and Internet website addresses. I also began the process of talking to as many people as I could – in person, by e-mail and on the telephone. God knows what the phone bill was like in the next few months, but it had to be done!
Having been a long-time fan of the Marx Brothers and Dad’s Army, the first problem was quickly resolved as I had The A to Z of…….books for both my favourites. That was it – I would write an A to Z of the Accordion and Related Instruments, a book drawing on my thirty-odd years of involvement with accordions and accordionists plus all the research I could reasonably manage in the months ahead. The book was aimed at anyone with an enthusiasm for listening to or playing the accordion or other free reed instruments.
After a period of intensive research, the book began to take shape, but the topic proved so large in depth and scope that I quickly decided to ‘ring fence’ the material largely with a British and Irish context. This was necessary to keep the research under control, and stop the project getting out of hand. The only players included from overseas were ones who had performed in Great Britain or were particularly well known here. By the time the book went to print in late 2003, a lot of people had become involved in its production. The editors of the accordion magazines were all cooperative in the use of material, and certain individuals were similarly helpful. London-based accordionist Gerald Crossman whose career dates back to the 1930s, was especially helpful by contributing no less than six archive articles. Adrian Dante, Trevani, Tony Compton and Ken Farran (my accordion teacher) generously consented to archive articles they had written being reprinted. Rosemary Wright, Leicester-based accordionist and teacher, contributed Be a Better Player and Playing for Others, excellent and very useful archive articles derived from her own extensive experience. My accordion playing friends Andy Banks, Johnny Coleclough, Charlie Watkins and Peter Whiteley all contributed specially written articles. The end result was a reference book – almost an encyclopedia – that was a wide-ranging body of knowledge, with something for everybody.
The 300 articles also contained a lot of short biographies, and apart from the obvious cloices such as Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod, George Scott-Wood, Martin Lukins, Francis Wright, Dermot O’Brien, Jack Emblow and harmonica ‘greats’ Larry Adler and Tommy Reilly, there are also the stories of some who might be considered mainly local legends. In most cases, inclusion was based on the player representing a genre and/or an era. I began with the intention of writing about the Scottish dance bands and the accordion bands, but soon abandoned this due to sheer lack of space. Thus it was that the book focuses mainly on solo players, and the biggest problem was who to leave out! I did include biographies of Pietro Frosini, Charles Magnante, and the brothers Guido and Pietro Deiro, mainly due to their very significant long-term influence on players in Great Britain.
An A to Z of the Accordion and Related Instruments was a big success from the moment it appeared in December 2003, and by early 2006 it had sold out (an updated reprint has now become available). The many positive comments I received from people all over the country and overseas motivated me to plan and write a sequel, and an A to Z of the Accordion, Volume 2 was published in november 2005, and to similar acclaim. Researching and writing Volume 2 was another labour of love, with a similar format to the first book.
With the sequel I resolved to aim at producing entirely new material, and with minimal overlap with the previous volume. Gerald Crossman, Jack Emblow, Dave Davani, John Kirkpatrick and Rosemary Wright all contributed interesting archive articles, and Liverpool-born professional accordionist Shirley Evans (now living in Florida, USA) contributed a lengthy autobiographical article that includes details of the time she performed and recorded with The Beatles in their film Magical Mystery Tour. The 200+ articles and biographies compliment the content of the first book, heading off in some new directions. Countless hours again went into the research, but this has all be justified by the reaction of its readers.
I am presently researching and writing an A to Z of the Accordion, Volume 3, and have to date worked on or completed about 50 articles and biographies. As with Volume 2, I am endeavouring to look for new material and to provide a book that will be useful as a record of the lives and achievements of many of those who play the accordion or its relatives such as the melodeon, concertina or harmonica. The next book, Volume 3, will be published most probably in early 2007.
I am, of course, anxious to cover the Scottish scene, past and present, as fully as possible but am aware that there are large numbers of players, individuals and bands whose contributions are worthy of coverage in Volume 3. Apart from those who are accomplished players, there are also those whose contributions are mainly as Club organizers, composers, traders and supporters, and these ought also to be recognised. What would the Scottish music scene be without you? The objective is to provide a permanebt record of the world of the accordion, past and present. Seeking out and talking to everybody involved is a sheer impossibility, so if everyone reading this is able to help in any way I would be very pleased to hear from you. All help will be acknowledged.
PRS & MCPS
by
Copyright
by
CD Reviews – See Hear with Judith Linton
From the Heart – Daniel McPhee – CDPAN017 – Pan Records
Now and Then – Fiddle Music from Scotland – Pete Clark – INVER226
The Barn Rocks – Orwell Ceilidh Band – OCB02CD - Independent
Inferno – Innovation – DOONCD014 - Independent
DVD Reviews
Play Scottish Fiddle – Intermediate – TNTDVD001 – Taigh na Teud
Book Review
The Cardean Collection – Ian Cruickshanks
Letters to the Editor
Dear Karin
May I, through your columns, express my very sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those hundreds of people who have contacted me by phone, by letter, by card, and personally to convey their condolences after my recent and very unfortunate accident. It makes me feel very humble to realise that there are so many folk out there who appreciated out type of music and, I can assure you, we as a band have had a huge amount of enjoyment from playing for you all over the country.
I started my playing career on the first Saturday in March in 1949 so, as you can imagine, I have met tens of thousands of super people and have traveled tens of thousands of miles, and I can assure everyone, if I had my life to live over again I would do exactly the same. I’m just so sad it had to end this way……..
I must also say a huge thankyou to all the musicians who have helped me out over the years and given me great support, especially to Mabel Gray who, as you all know, has been the backbone of the band for the past 15 years – I can’t thank you enough.
Thank you one and all,
Bill Black
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
Repeats
2nd Sept 06 – Simon howie SDB (May 2006) Andrew Rankine SDB (Jan 1981)
9th Sept 06 – John Carmichael SDB
16th Sept 06 – Ian Cruickshanks SDB (April 2006)
23rd Sept 2006 - Marian Anderson SDB (June 2006)
30th Sept 06 – Graeme Mitchell SDB (OB from the Lonach Hall with Jim Malcolm and The Lonach Pipe Band)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 13th Sept 06 – Graeme Whitehead & Friends
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 17th Sept 06 – Robert Whitehead SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 3rd Sept 06 – Alastair Wood SDB
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 7th Sept 06 – Judith Linton Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 17th Sept 06 – Ian Hutson SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) –
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 18th Sept 06 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Belford (Community Centre) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 17th Sept 06 – Tom Orr SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 12th Sept 06 – Lomond CB
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 14th Sept 06 – Michael Philip SDB
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 5th Sept 06 – Alan Gardiner SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 19th Sept 06 – Ian Cruickshanks SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 21st Sept 06 – Lomond CB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 13th Sept 06 – Mhairi Coutts Trio
Dalriada (Argyll Hotel, Lochgilphead)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 6th Sept 06 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 20th Sept 06 – David Bowen Trio
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 12th Sept 06 – Judith Linton SDB
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Masonic Lodge, Newtown St) 18th Sept 06 – Tom Orr SDB
East Kilbride (Masonic Hall, Kittoch St) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 19th Sept 06 – Marian Anderson SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 25th Sept 06 – Graham Laurie Orchestra
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 24th Sept 06 – Nicky McMichan Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 13th Sept 06 – Niall Kirkpatrick SDB
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 21st Sept 06 – Jim MacKay SDB
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 6th Sept 06 – Tom Alexander
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 26th Sept 06 – Dick Black Band
Gretna (Social & Athletic Club) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 18th Sept 06 – Colin Dewar SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 5th Sept 06 – Colin Dewar Trio
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 24th Sept 06 – 30th Anniversary Concert 27th Sept 06 – Lyne Valley Band
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) –
Ladybank (Railway Tavern) - 21st Sept 06 – Burns Brothers CB
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 25th Sept 06 – Steven Carcary
Langholm (Crown Hotel) – 13th Sept 06 – Craigowl SDB
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 7th Sept 06 – Liz MacKenzie SDB
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 19th Sept 06 – John Douglas SDB
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 26th Sept 06 – John Renton SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 6th Sept 06 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) - 28th Sept 06 - tbc
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) - 17th Sept 06 – Open Day
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 25th Sept 06 – Gordon Pattullo
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 5th Sept 06 – Andy Kain Trio
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) – 27th Sept 06 – Open Night
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 28th Sept 06 – Gordon Shand SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 19th Sept 06 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Phoenix (Argyll Arms hotel, Ardrishaig)
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) -
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Selkirk (Cricket Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Bowling Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 12th Sept 06 – John Stuart SDB
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 4th Sept 06 – Jim MacKay SDB
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 7th Sept 06 – Wayne Robertson
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 21st Sept 06 – Ian Holmes Trio
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 19th Sept 06 – Nicol McLaren SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Annan
3. Blairgowrie
4. Button Key
5. Campsie
6. Dunoon & Cowal
7. Forfar
8. Glendale
9. Glenrothes
10. Ladybank
11. Lewis & Harris
12. Lockerbie
13. Montrose
14. Orkney
15. Thornhill
16. Thurso
17. Tynedale
18. West Barmes
19. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2005
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brittania B&F Club ( joined 07-08
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
40. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
41. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
42. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Maine Valley A&F Club (
54. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
55. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
56. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
57. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
58. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
66. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
67. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
68. Selkirk A&F Club (
69. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
70. Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
71. Sutherland A&F Club (
72. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
73. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
74. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
75. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
76. West Barnes ( - present)
77. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
78. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
79. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
82. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
83. Buchan A&F Club
84 Callander A&F Club (
85 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87 Club Accord
88 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Derwentside A&F Club
93. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
94. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
95. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
96. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
97. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
98. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
99. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
100. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
101. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
102. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
103. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
104. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
105. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
106. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
107. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
108. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
109. Mull A&F Club
110. Newcastleton Accordion Club
111. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
114. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
115. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
116. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
117. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
118. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
119. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
120. Tranent A&F Club
121. Vancouver
122. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
123. Wellbank A&F Club
124. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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