Hi thereI’ve been around music for almost 35 years now. I learned to play acoustic guitar when I was 15/16 years old but I always had a driving ambition to be a Bass Player. I eventually saved up enough money for a deposit and bought my first bass. This was a Top Twenty Jazz Bass copy which was bright red had a tortoise shell scratch plate and rosewood fretboard (I’ll never forget it). I used a Shaftsbury amp which was borrowed from a cousin. I learned where all the notes were on the fretboard, practiced scales and listened to records, picking out the bass lines. Lessons weren’t an option in those days. I just couldn’t afford them. Cream were a favourite of mine and I learned a lot about bass playing, indirectly, from Jack Bruce. There were others such as Paul McCartney The Beatles, Andy Fraser of Free, Chris Squire of Yes, and many more. I played in my first band when I was 17 and have been playing in bands ever since. I have played Rock, Pop, Country, Folk, Jazz, Funk, Blues, Progressive Rock and Celtic Fusion. Playing and jamming with the other musicians in these various bands and learning from them is something that I couldn’t put a value on. It’s one of the best ways to learn. To name but a chosen few...........George Blades, Murray Carr, James Dalziel, Jasy Conn, Dougie Smith, Stug, Donald Dawson, Joe McGill, Johnny Young, Rab Bryce, Jim Kerr, Duncan McLachlan, Alan Marshall, Andy Lauder, Lewis Campbell and Gordon Campbell.I also worked as a musical instrument instructor for a few years teaching bass and guitar. I enjoy passing on what I have learned over the years to other eager musicians.A Tune For Ellie is the first few bars of a wee somthing I wrote for my 7 year old grandaghter. Arisaig and Stay Away Jennie are two songs I recorded with a Celtic fusion band named Saunter and Need your love so bad, Love The One Your With and Make It With You are live recordings, warts and all, of a Gig I did with Gordon Campbell.My bass gear consists of a 1978 Fender Jazz, a De Ville fretless, a Warwick Corvette, Peavey amps and I use Rotosound Swing, bass strings. I also use a Fender JG26 SCE acoustic guitar.I have recently joined forces with KD MUSIC in CUMBERNAULD as a bass guitar instructor.Myspace Backgrounds
