Scottish Music Industry

Ronnie Tennant first began playing cornet when he was nine years old. His father joined a brass band when he was about the same age and, in 1952, his father joined the Army Band. Ronnie was deeply involved with brass bands. He played many of the instruments in the band with a special focus on the...
Alastair Dunn served as Pipe Sergeant of a 12-time world champion pipe band. He joined the band in 1998 and, in 2006, began focusing his deep passion for the instrument in the manufacturing side. He joined the R.G. Hardie & Company to continue the rich history of the company’s dedication to...
Scott MacDonald grew up in a musical family, with his father having been a bagpiper.  When Scott’s hands had developed enough to begin lessons on the bagpipes, at age eight, he took to the instrument, which he has been playing ever since. Scott took over and established a bagpipe band in Los...
Bobby Wellins was surprised to learn that Charlie Watts, the drummer for the Rolling Stones, listed Bobby as an influence on his playing.  After all, the jazzman played tenor saxophone.  However, it was Bobby’s delivery that gained the ear of the young Mr. Watts, who later got to work with his hero...
Robert Wilson formed his first rock and roll band when he was 14. He played the blues for a living while creating a large list of friends, many of whom encouraged him to sell them instruments. The rest, as they say, is history. Rob is very active in UK and US trades of musical instruments. For 19...
Patrick Kelly was the youngest of eight children raised in Western Scotland. His sisters played piano and he had an interest in playing the guitar. His passion led him to pursue a dream of being a rock star. While playing with his bands, he rented PA systems on the side, which led to friends asking...
This audio only interview was conducted for a radio program by Dan Del Fiorentino and donated to the NAMM Oral History program: Jim Galloway was born in Scotland and later relocated to Canada where he played a vital role in expanding the popularity of jazz in Toronto and other large cities. His Wee...