I began performing in 1967 at aged 16 as vocalist in a Motown
cover band, without doubt making a self-conscious show of myself,
but what the hell, this was instant status playing to one's friends
in the youth club!
With great leaps I bounded into what became known as 'underground'
music, and this finished off on my hormones what puberty had started.
Out went the Four Tops in favour of Spooky Tooth, Cream, Captain
Beefheart and the enduring love of my life - Jethro Tull. Now,
this was what I wanted to play. At about 17 I took up the flute
after the style of Iain Anderson, or at least I thought so, and
your family don't always tell you the truth!
The Irishness from my mother's side didn't really awaken until
I was in my early 20s when I discovered traditional music. The
album 'Renaissance of the Celtic Harp' by Breton harper Alan Stiwell
was a big milestone for me, and soon after walking through that
door I found The Chieftains and I was away. This had to remain
something of a closet love as I was living in Brighton at the
time, playing flute and singing with a band called Bridger. Our
material was self-penned and, we thought, quite original, mostly
playing to student types, each song and tune tended to go on for
30 minutes.
We did enjoy quite a following though, doing a lot of support
act gigs around the university circuit nationally to bands like
Manfred Mann's Earthband, Mick Abrahams' Band, Skid Row and UFO.
Our bass player was ex-Family and our drummer had made several
appearances on The Old Grey Whistle Test as a session musician,
so we considered ourselves seasoned, if not successful.
In 1978 I moved to the Westcountry, and here I've played with
local musicians and made several contributions to other people's
recording projects over the years.
In 1998 I turned a hobby into a livelihood by marketing the flutes,
whistles and bagpipes I was making for my own use. As most of
my business is done via the Internet and distributors, I really
enjoy working the Festivals during the summer months. Although
my passion remains listening to and playing Irish music, nowadays
I am influenced by many of the world's folk cultures. My instruments
are finding their own way into world music, and that's a very
satisfying feeling.
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