Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Why did you choose the keyboard?
  
  A: It was a natural choice to make. There was a piano in the house which I had already starting playing before I took lessons. I was already singing in three choirs and was backed by the church organ in which I became interested. I then moved on from singing to playing and was awarded an organ scholarship at Seaford College in Sussex. Alongside organ lessons I also continued the piano to Grade 8, giving recitals of classical piano pieces and, eventually, using the piano as a backing instrument for band music.

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• Q: Did you ever play any other instruments?
  
  A: Yes, I picked up the acoustic guitar fairly regulary and taught myself some chord and lead work. During my school years I have also played drums, bass guitar, flute, violin and trumpet. I can generally get a tune from any instrument once I have discovered its scale. I am a bit of a busker in the sense that I will fill in on any instrument during a jam session.
  

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• Q: How did you become a part of Smokie?
  
  A: I knew Terry since 1980 and saw him regularly during the break that Smokie took between 1981 and 1985. At one time I sold Smokie all the musical equipment that they used and I also used to ask them to help me out with some vocal harmonies in pub gigs where I worked with backing tracks and five vocalists. Terry rang me on Friday 4th March 1988 and asked if I "would like to do a few gigs with Smokie". I agreed and have been a member of Smokie since that time.

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• Q: Have you had soundtracks used in TV programmes?
  
  A: Yes, quite a few. On average there is one film a week made here in Drumnadrochit. Visiting film crews check out to see which composers are available locally and then arrange to use either written music or commissioned music for their programmes. Both the Discovery Channel and History Channel have used my soundtracks, as well as Yorkshire Television and Granada.

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• Q: Is it true that you used to write and perform comedy?
  
  A: Yes, all through my school years and eventually at Exeter University, where I studied Economics, not music. I wrote shows which were performed by a small group of us called The Exeter Revue Society at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Eventually I kept off the stage and played piano for the shows, while still writing comedy for others to act.

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• Q: Do you come from a musical family?
  
  A: Yes, they all have musical ability. My dad sings, my mum and sister play the piano and my brother plays a bit of keyboard, drums and guitar. And it seems that the musical ability is passing down the line because my daughter, Stephanie, is now taking a singing degree at Perth College and my son, Luke, is learning guitar and keyboards. My wife, Roz, is also very musical and used to be a singer.

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• Q: Do you still get pleasure from receiving awards?
  
  A: Yes, it's a great feeling to have my music recognised. It can still be very surprising to receive awards like, for example, my first place in last year's Unisong Competition. It's particularly pleasing to know that the judges placed me at the top of the pile amongst so many talented writers from all over the world. And all the platinum and gold discs have special meaning because Smokie are still able to sell good numbers of albums in such a changing music world. Every award is a great complement.

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