Bill Black (6)

Scottish accordion player (1935 - 2016). ​Born on a farm at Muthill, near Crieff in 1935, it was at 7 years of age that Bill showed an interest in a melodeon brought along by a visiting neighbour. His first public appearance was at the age of 13 in Strathyre Village Hall and his first paid engagement 3 years later – but this time as a fiddler. Bill didn’t feel the way he played the fiddle lent itself to “leading” a band so when he formed a band in 1962 he led with a 3-row Shand Morino. The band found themselves in the surprising position of failing their BBC audition but the producer changed and the new incumbent gave them the green light. Bill’s was one of the busiest bands on the scene for many years, travelling the length and breadth of the country and always fostering new talent in their line-up. Noted as a “workaholic” Bill owned an animal health business with branches in Aberfeldy, Oban and Inverness. Sons, Robert and Duncan, were both All Scotland Accordion Champions and daughter Kathleen is a fine pianist and singer.