Box and Fiddle
Year 20 No 07
April 1997
The Canadian Scene
With plans under way for their tour of Scotland, it is perhaps timely to provide some background on the members of ‘Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent’ band. Firstly, the two Scots – Bobby Brown and Fred Collins…….
Bobby Brown was born in Dennyloanhead, the son of Jean Day, a well known soprano of her time. His father was a ‘passing fair’ fiddler while other members of his family were involved with pipes and drums. Bobby studied piano in his formative years and at age 16 emigrated to Canada. It was then that he took up the accordion and after a few years joined the great ‘Stan Hamilton’ band, an association that lasted 18 years. In 1974 Bobby branched out to form his own band ‘The Scottish Accent’ and shortly thereafter was appointed Associate Musican Director of a new national television series starring popular folksinger and musician, John Allen Cameron. It was for that show that he formed the now famous ‘Cape Breton Symphony Fiddle’. Since 1974 Bobby and his two groups have performed at concerts and dances throughout the Celtic world and have many recordings to their credit. Although this visit to Scotland will nor include the C.B.S., Bobby is again looking forward to meeting with his old friends in music.
Fred Collins was born in Dundee and began his drumming career with the Boys’ Brigade. It was here that four young lads formed a group to play at charity functions ; Lamond Forbes (accordion), Lyall Duncan (fiddle), Jack Lindsay (fiddle), Bobby Moffat (piano) and Fred on drums. This group became known as ‘The Gie Gordons’. Fred continued to play with both pipe bands and dance bands until his emigration at the age of 20. While with a pipe band in Canada he met and began playing with Ed Brydie, a button key accordionist from St. Andrews, who sadly passed away quite suddenly in 1993. Fred returned to Dundee in 1962 and had the good fortune to find a job playing with John Ellis. Canada, however, once again beckoned and upon his return he joined ‘Stan Hamilton and the Flying Scotsmen’ for a memorable 12 years. Following an absence from playing due to business commitments, Fred then joined his long time associate Bobby to play with ‘The Scottish Accent’ and ‘The Cape Breton Symphone Fiddle’.
Kathleen Fraser-Collins, the pianist, was born in Glengarry County, one of the ………
Laird Brown, second accordion, is the son of bobby Brown and so it comes as no surprise that Laird’s early years were rich in Celtic culture. At age 6 he started both Highland and Country dance lessons and at age 9 began his formal piano lessons. In 1980 he augmented his studies through the music programme available to him as part of his high school education. Always enthusiastic, Laird immediately fell in love with the French horn, trumpet and drums and also became heavily involved with choirs and theatre. In the late 80’s his Scottish bloodline could no longer be denied and he found himself hopelessly attracted to the accordion and ‘The Scottish Accent’. He very quickly became proficient and shortly thereafter took his place as a second accordionist with ‘The Scottish Accent’ band.
Rob Wolanski, the bassist, received his Bachelor of Music from from York University and is also a graduate………..
Kleis Swan, violinist, is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance, …………….
The following is a list of venues to date that ‘Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent’ will play at :-
Wednesday, 30th July 1997 – OB from Arbroath
Friday, 1st August – Plockton Village Hall
Sunday, 3rd August – Arbroath Old Time Dance
Tuesday, 5th August – Tynedale Ex Services Club, Hexham
Friday, 8th August – Dufftown Memorian Hall, Scottish Country Dance
Monday, 11th August – Troon Concert Hall, Scottish Country Dance
Wednesday, 13th August – Forres A&F Club, Victoria Hall, Concert
Other dates are available and any person interested in having them as guest artistes should contact Ron Ramsay (the Editor) as soon as possible.
With plans under way for their tour of Scotland, it is perhaps timely to provide some background on the members of ‘Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent’ band. Firstly, the two Scots – Bobby Brown and Fred Collins…….
Bobby Brown was born in Dennyloanhead, the son of Jean Day, a well known soprano of her time. His father was a ‘passing fair’ fiddler while other members of his family were involved with pipes and drums. Bobby studied piano in his formative years and at age 16 emigrated to Canada. It was then that he took up the accordion and after a few years joined the great ‘Stan Hamilton’ band, an association that lasted 18 years. In 1974 Bobby branched out to form his own band ‘The Scottish Accent’ and shortly thereafter was appointed Associate Musican Director of a new national television series starring popular folksinger and musician, John Allen Cameron. It was for that show that he formed the now famous ‘Cape Breton Symphony Fiddle’. Since 1974 Bobby and his two groups have performed at concerts and dances throughout the Celtic world and have many recordings to their credit. Although this visit to Scotland will nor include the C.B.S., Bobby is again looking forward to meeting with his old friends in music.
Fred Collins was born in Dundee and began his drumming career with the Boys’ Brigade. It was here that four young lads formed a group to play at charity functions ; Lamond Forbes (accordion), Lyall Duncan (fiddle), Jack Lindsay (fiddle), Bobby Moffat (piano) and Fred on drums. This group became known as ‘The Gie Gordons’. Fred continued to play with both pipe bands and dance bands until his emigration at the age of 20. While with a pipe band in Canada he met and began playing with Ed Brydie, a button key accordionist from St. Andrews, who sadly passed away quite suddenly in 1993. Fred returned to Dundee in 1962 and had the good fortune to find a job playing with John Ellis. Canada, however, once again beckoned and upon his return he joined ‘Stan Hamilton and the Flying Scotsmen’ for a memorable 12 years. Following an absence from playing due to business commitments, Fred then joined his long time associate Bobby to play with ‘The Scottish Accent’ and ‘The Cape Breton Symphone Fiddle’.
Kathleen Fraser-Collins, the pianist, was born in Glengarry County, one of the ………
Laird Brown, second accordion, is the son of bobby Brown and so it comes as no surprise that Laird’s early years were rich in Celtic culture. At age 6 he started both Highland and Country dance lessons and at age 9 began his formal piano lessons. In 1980 he augmented his studies through the music programme available to him as part of his high school education. Always enthusiastic, Laird immediately fell in love with the French horn, trumpet and drums and also became heavily involved with choirs and theatre. In the late 80’s his Scottish bloodline could no longer be denied and he found himself hopelessly attracted to the accordion and ‘The Scottish Accent’. He very quickly became proficient and shortly thereafter took his place as a second accordionist with ‘The Scottish Accent’ band.
Rob Wolanski, the bassist, received his Bachelor of Music from from York University and is also a graduate………..
Kleis Swan, violinist, is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance, …………….
The following is a list of venues to date that ‘Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent’ will play at :-
Wednesday, 30th July 1997 – OB from Arbroath
Friday, 1st August – Plockton Village Hall
Sunday, 3rd August – Arbroath Old Time Dance
Tuesday, 5th August – Tynedale Ex Services Club, Hexham
Friday, 8th August – Dufftown Memorian Hall, Scottish Country Dance
Monday, 11th August – Troon Concert Hall, Scottish Country Dance
Wednesday, 13th August – Forres A&F Club, Victoria Hall, Concert
Other dates are available and any person interested in having them as guest artistes should contact Ron Ramsay (the Editor) as soon as possible.