Talk:Peerie Willie Johnson

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

I rather fear there are Copyright issues regarding use of the photograph from the Shetland News article. Their article clearly states at the bottom "All content copyright...."
Robbie 20:38, 28 May 2007 (MDT)

Agreed - but I do hope that Shetlopedia would get permission for a "reprint" if we would ask Pete & Hans telling them, that we will give a proper credit. Islandhopper 02:22, 29 May 2007 (MDT)

I suggest this article should be the new Main Page feature for June... And how about Dr Tom Anderson for the Music feature,, because the two of them are interlinked in a way...
Robbie 09:02, 29 May 2007 (MDT)

I wrote this article for that very reason Rob. It should be a fitting tribute. He's not just a musical legend in Shetland, he's a hero of all sorts JAStewart 09:05, 29 May 2007 (MDT)

Sorry folks - opposed. Whether by chance or intention the article is up to two thirds identical with the orbituary published by The Independent; complete sentences and paragraphs 1:1 without quoting it or showing a suitable reference. I'm afraid it might create a similar copyright conflict as Robbie mentioned before. Islandhopper 09:53, 29 May 2007 (MDT)

Yeah its all from the independant JAStewart 10:15, 29 May 2007 (MDT)

Well, James, then take it as information but rewrite it, please. I'm afraid we can't reprint copyrighted stuff under GNU-licence to such an amount without risking a lot of trouble. Islandhopper 10:33, 29 May 2007 (MDT)

We need a decission on this page.

OK, James made a little cock-up by copying, but nevertheless the page and subject are very important.
We either need to rewrite this in our own style, or delete it.
Any ideas, or help????
Robbie 17:52, 21 February 2009 (MST)

There is a factual error concerning the Islesburgh Band in this article. It is stated that the band existed in 1936. This is nonsense. The Islesburgh Band was formed in 1949 following the opening of Islesburgh House as a community centre in 1946. I recently wrote the article below for the Shetland Arts website with the help of Alice Nicolson (nee Sutherland) one of the founder members.

Islesburgh Dance Band: Islesburgh Community Centre, taking its name from Islesburgh House, where it was based, came into being in 1946. As part of the activities in the centre the Islesburgh Concert Party was formed. The Islesburgh Band was formed in 1949 from members of the R.A.F.A. and Islesburgh concert parties. Tom Anderson was its leader for the first half of its existence.

The Islesburgh Dance Band’s first regular line-up in 1949 was Tom Anderson (fiddle), Winnie Leslie, later Leask (accordion), Alice Sutherland, later Nicolson (accordion), Willie Johnson (guitar) and John Kerr (drums).

After a year or so Winnie left to get married and was soon replaced by a very young Violet Scott (later Tulloch). Drew Robertson became drummer in succession to John Kerr. Frank Sinclair joined the band playing piano or accordion as required. “Peerie” Willie played double bass rather than guitar whenever possible. This tended to be mostly at Lerwick functions since transporting the bass to rural venues was difficult.

From 1954 to 1957 the band made annual visits to Delgaty Castle in Aberdeenshire to play at Clan Hay gatherings, latterly in smart band uniforms. During the first of these visits the band broadcast on the BBC Scottish Home Service programme “Scottish Dance Music” from the Beechgrove studios in Aberdeen. Further broadcasts followed in 1959 and 1960. Also several 78rpm records were recorded and published by William Johnson (a.k.a. Wireless Willie or Radio Bill) proprietor of the Lerwick shop “Radio Corner”.

Tom Anderson left in 1957 and a few years later Violet and Alice left to get married. By the time of its final performances, in about 1964, the band was Frank Sinclair (accordion), Willie Johnson (double bass) and Drew Robertson (drums). Sometimes they were joined by Alex Campbell (piano and starting pistol!).

All bands need a pool of reserve players, to be called on when needed. Among those who played occasionally for the Islesburgh Band were Larry Peterson (fiddle), Peter Leith (accordion), Bobby Tulloch (accordion), Geordie Manson (guitar), Stewart Smith (guitar), Tom Georgeson (piano), Marjory Smith (piano), Billy Kay (piano) and Jim Irvine (drums).

Thanks for the info Douglas. Afraid there are a lot of things need sorting on the music pages.
James is the only one of us who knows anything about music, but he's too young to know about real music ;-)
Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Robbie 07:49, 17 April 2010 (MDT)

Ha! Some of the music I listen to proceeds even you, Rob! JAStewart 09:27, 17 April 2010 (MDT)