Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A Scottish traditional musician renowned for playing the melodeon, who became a television and recording artist.
On the island
Eight records
The keepsakes
No book or luxury recorded for this episode.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:12Did anybody in the family have any musical talent?
None other than playing the melodeon.
Presenter asks
0:25When did you start to take an interest in music?
Oh, when I was very young. I've heard it said I played before I went to school, but uh
Presenter asks
0:46What was it your ambition to be when you were a youngster?
Well, I never had any ambitions to be anybody. I never really thought I would be an artist on television or recording or anything like that.
Presenter asks
1:14What brought you out of the pit [the mines]?
The general strike.
Presenter asks
1:54How did that [working in a music shop] happen? That was a change from labouring.
Well, the way it happened was that the … I used to visit Dundee at weekends and naturally inclined I used to go and look into the music shop windows. … Used to admire the accordions. That was about all I could do with them, was admire them. I couldn't buy them. … and I happened to be standing there with a friend one day. … And he says to me, It doesn't cost you money to try them. So when we went, … and uh tried the accordion, and mister Forbes, the proprietor, he was kind of taken with the way we were playing, and he invited me any time I was in Dundee to come in and visit the shop.
Presenter asks
2:42When did you start to get jobs playing those magnificent shiny accordions?
Well, I didn't do a lot of playing when I was before, but I was mainly a demonstrator … and a salesman, but we used to have recording concerts in which it didn't cost you a lot to get in, and we hoped that you would be interested in recordings and some day buy them.
“None other than playing the melodeon.”
“Well, I never had any ambitions to be anybody. I never really thought I would be an artist on television or recording or anything like that.”
“The general strike.”
“Oh yeah, but that's just a joke.”