About Chris

Chris has been playing the piano accordion since he was 13 years old and his first paid engagement was playing in a duo when he was 17 years old. Since then Chris has entertained audiences throughout Scotland including the Western Isles and Skye as a semi-professional musician. Chris was the accordionist with the popular entertainers ‘The Bracken Lads’ and toured far and wide with the group for a number of years. He has also played with a number of bands, duos and as a solo accordionist entertaining hotel guests and holidaymakers in numerous venues. Chris’ music is also very popular with some of our more senior audiences and he regularly entertains them for lunches, dinners, dances and celebrations of all kinds.

Recording

Throughout his career Chris recorded a number of albums of his own and with The Bracken Lads. One solo album in particular ‘The Melodies of Scotland’ was very successful and earned him a prestigious Scottish Gold Disc from The Scottish Music Industry Association for albums sold. The album is still available for sale today.

Teaching

Chris has a ‘number of strings to his bow’ and he has also been an accordion tutor for more years than he would like to admit to…… …..teaching students from beginners of all ages to the more advanced accordionist looking to improve their style and technique. Chris is also currently accordion tutor for the Gaelic Association – Feis Inbhir Narainn. Please see my teaching page for more information.

Production and Distribution

Another of Chris’ strings is that he was a music producer and distributor of traditional Scottish, Irish and Country Music and Film for 30 years selling to music and gift shops the length and breadth of Scotland and exporting to the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Through the business Chris was very grateful to receive an accolade from The Scottish Music Industry Association acknowledging his work in promoting traditional Scottish music.

Social Involvement

Although now no longer involved with wholesale music production and distribution Chris still very much enjoys being involved in music through teaching the accordion and performing for entertainment, dances and celebrations of all kinds. Chris is also an active member of the Forres Accordion and Fiddle Club and continues to support and promote the club as much as he can and performs regularly with the Forres Accordion and Fiddle Players’ Group. Another of Chris’ passions is joining the players in the Elgin Strathspey and Reel Society’s Annual Fiddlers Rally.