NAAFC Guest of Honour 2024
Jock Fraser
This article on Jock Fraser from Inverness is the second of three on this year's guests of honour which will be published online in these pages and our website over the coming weeks.
There is something very special about spending time with friends, reminiscing and enjoying a cuppa and this becomes even more memorable when it is one of your personal musical inspirations.
Jock Fraser or Ian Fraser as he was christened was born in Inverness on Hogmanay 1942. He started tinkering on the piano at the age of 4 picking up tips from his older brother Donald who was nine years older, and who went to piano lessons. Jock however preferred to learn by ear and although later in life he learnt to read music, he has always relied on his amazing listening skills, picking up tunes with ease.
At the age of 15, Jock was playing piano with many local Highland bands such as the Heatherlea Band, the Melotones and also the Johnny Douglas Combo although they tended to be in jazz and rock and roll genres. It was during this period that he realised that there was a niche for Scottish Music within these bands and so he took up the accordion. His personal Scottish musical influences included Andrew Rankin, Jim Johnstone and local band leader Alan Williams.
Whilst in his 20’s, Jock started his own Scottish Dance Band, performed on stage in the “Show of the North” and became resident band in the Muirton Motel as well as playing at many ceilidhs, weddings, and parties in the Highlands. However, it was during a ten-year tenure in the 1970’s and 1980’s when Jock joined the Cummings Hotel Group under the directorship of John Worth, where he worked several seasons alongside the cream of Scottish Entertainers including Colin Stuart, Norman MacLean, Stewart Anderson, Moyra Fraser, Chick Murray and Alistair MacDonald to name but a few. In fact, after working together at Eden Court, Norman MacLean and Jock toured around the Highlands and Islands together entertaining at many local halls and hotels. It was also around this time that Jock was introduced to Calum Kennedy at Eden Court and this friendship led to several performances in Eden Court, a Scottish tour and a Canadian Tour playing in various venues in Toronto and Vancouver.
Jock has played on numerous broadcasts with his first Take the Floor recorded under his posh name, the Ian Fraser Scottish Dance Band which took place in the early 80’s. He also played piano for Lindsay Weir and her Scottish Dance Band broadcasts on many occasions, including an outdoor programme in Dingwall. Jock accompanied Stewart Anderson and Moyra Fraser on their albums.
His first own album in 1971 was with Inverness drummer, entertainer, and magician Billy Nelson and in 1990, Jock recorded his second album which featured a 5-piece line up consisting of Ena Anderson (Piano), Bill Brian (Fiddle), George Bremner (Drums) and John MacDonald (Second Accordion). This line-up was invited up to the Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival in 1992 and played the Grand Dance. Footage of this can be found on YouTube which the late Derek Hamilton kindly uploaded many years ago and has since been viewed over ten thousand times! More recently, Jock has recorded as part of the Susie Simpson Band (5-piece) and the Susie Simpson Trio showcasing his second box skills.
Jock is not only a talented piano and accordion player he is also fantastic at impressions of his fellow musicians and entertainment friends including Calum Kennedy, Chick Murray, Alistair Gillies and Jim MacLeod. In fact, there are many old stories that circulate around the music scene talking about occasions when “Calum Kennedy” turned up at a gig when he wasn’t billed or expected and practising with the band only for them to find out it was in fact Jock up to mischief!!
There are far too many highlights to mention relating to Jock’s illustrious career and when chatting to Jock he counts every experience as a highlight and finds it difficult to choose occasions. However, he has influenced many a musician and young person on their musical journey such as accompanying a young Phil Cunningham in Eden Court as part of an Inverness Fiddler’s Concert and whilst teaching accordion as part of the Fèis Rois organisation.
He has also taught many other individuals privately including John Somerville, who kindly sent me a few words describing his lessons with Jock -
“That’s lovely Jock is receiving an award. I remember well our lessons at the school in Maryburgh. Such a lovely man, always encouraging and somehow always managed to pick a good tune for me! I remember seeing him playing and thinking what a fantastic player, such a lovely laid-back style, he really made the instrument sing. He always challenged me with a few technical tunes and I used to love the fast fingered reels he gave me, many of which I still play today and include in the ceilidh band set. He was the first to teach me the idea of “swing” and how to get more rhythmic character in to tunes. I’m really glad to hear he is receiving an award; he’s been such a big part of the Ross-shire music scene and I’m sure he’s had a big hand in helping to develop a good few players in the area.” (John Somerville, May 2024)
He has also played organ in his local church on many a Sunday and is still requested for the odd funeral or wedding.
Jock and his band have been Guest Artist at many Accordion and Fiddle Clubs throughout the country over the last 45 years. On a personal note, Jock asked me to join his band when I was just 15, and it would be remiss of me if I did not take this opportunity to thank him for his patience and knowledge which he generously shared with me. It is thanks to the likes of Jock that I have got to travel the length and breadth of Scotland and further afield, playing music that I love and listening to all the old stories about the legends in the Scottish Dance Band world.
A final word from the man himself “You'd think at my age, my days of playing would be settling down, but I am very lucky to say that I am kept very busy, doing local Scottish Country dances, playing for the weekly SCD class known as the 30 club and playing as part of the Inverness Fiddlers Society. Occasionally, I am still asked to be a guest artist spot at various Clubs but I prefer to leave the ladies of the band leading guest spots nowadays!”
With a 66-year musical journey, which is still ongoing I would like to thank Jock for allowing me to tag along, and also thank him on behalf of everyone who has had the privilege of meeting and hearing him play. Congratulations once again on your award which is very well deserved. Keep entertaining people and enjoying your music Jock!
Gillian Stevenson, May 2024
There is something very special about spending time with friends, reminiscing and enjoying a cuppa and this becomes even more memorable when it is one of your personal musical inspirations.
Jock Fraser or Ian Fraser as he was christened was born in Inverness on Hogmanay 1942. He started tinkering on the piano at the age of 4 picking up tips from his older brother Donald who was nine years older, and who went to piano lessons. Jock however preferred to learn by ear and although later in life he learnt to read music, he has always relied on his amazing listening skills, picking up tunes with ease.
At the age of 15, Jock was playing piano with many local Highland bands such as the Heatherlea Band, the Melotones and also the Johnny Douglas Combo although they tended to be in jazz and rock and roll genres. It was during this period that he realised that there was a niche for Scottish Music within these bands and so he took up the accordion. His personal Scottish musical influences included Andrew Rankin, Jim Johnstone and local band leader Alan Williams.
Whilst in his 20’s, Jock started his own Scottish Dance Band, performed on stage in the “Show of the North” and became resident band in the Muirton Motel as well as playing at many ceilidhs, weddings, and parties in the Highlands. However, it was during a ten-year tenure in the 1970’s and 1980’s when Jock joined the Cummings Hotel Group under the directorship of John Worth, where he worked several seasons alongside the cream of Scottish Entertainers including Colin Stuart, Norman MacLean, Stewart Anderson, Moyra Fraser, Chick Murray and Alistair MacDonald to name but a few. In fact, after working together at Eden Court, Norman MacLean and Jock toured around the Highlands and Islands together entertaining at many local halls and hotels. It was also around this time that Jock was introduced to Calum Kennedy at Eden Court and this friendship led to several performances in Eden Court, a Scottish tour and a Canadian Tour playing in various venues in Toronto and Vancouver.
Jock has played on numerous broadcasts with his first Take the Floor recorded under his posh name, the Ian Fraser Scottish Dance Band which took place in the early 80’s. He also played piano for Lindsay Weir and her Scottish Dance Band broadcasts on many occasions, including an outdoor programme in Dingwall. Jock accompanied Stewart Anderson and Moyra Fraser on their albums.
His first own album in 1971 was with Inverness drummer, entertainer, and magician Billy Nelson and in 1990, Jock recorded his second album which featured a 5-piece line up consisting of Ena Anderson (Piano), Bill Brian (Fiddle), George Bremner (Drums) and John MacDonald (Second Accordion). This line-up was invited up to the Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival in 1992 and played the Grand Dance. Footage of this can be found on YouTube which the late Derek Hamilton kindly uploaded many years ago and has since been viewed over ten thousand times! More recently, Jock has recorded as part of the Susie Simpson Band (5-piece) and the Susie Simpson Trio showcasing his second box skills.
Jock is not only a talented piano and accordion player he is also fantastic at impressions of his fellow musicians and entertainment friends including Calum Kennedy, Chick Murray, Alistair Gillies and Jim MacLeod. In fact, there are many old stories that circulate around the music scene talking about occasions when “Calum Kennedy” turned up at a gig when he wasn’t billed or expected and practising with the band only for them to find out it was in fact Jock up to mischief!!
There are far too many highlights to mention relating to Jock’s illustrious career and when chatting to Jock he counts every experience as a highlight and finds it difficult to choose occasions. However, he has influenced many a musician and young person on their musical journey such as accompanying a young Phil Cunningham in Eden Court as part of an Inverness Fiddler’s Concert and whilst teaching accordion as part of the Fèis Rois organisation.
He has also taught many other individuals privately including John Somerville, who kindly sent me a few words describing his lessons with Jock -
“That’s lovely Jock is receiving an award. I remember well our lessons at the school in Maryburgh. Such a lovely man, always encouraging and somehow always managed to pick a good tune for me! I remember seeing him playing and thinking what a fantastic player, such a lovely laid-back style, he really made the instrument sing. He always challenged me with a few technical tunes and I used to love the fast fingered reels he gave me, many of which I still play today and include in the ceilidh band set. He was the first to teach me the idea of “swing” and how to get more rhythmic character in to tunes. I’m really glad to hear he is receiving an award; he’s been such a big part of the Ross-shire music scene and I’m sure he’s had a big hand in helping to develop a good few players in the area.” (John Somerville, May 2024)
He has also played organ in his local church on many a Sunday and is still requested for the odd funeral or wedding.
Jock and his band have been Guest Artist at many Accordion and Fiddle Clubs throughout the country over the last 45 years. On a personal note, Jock asked me to join his band when I was just 15, and it would be remiss of me if I did not take this opportunity to thank him for his patience and knowledge which he generously shared with me. It is thanks to the likes of Jock that I have got to travel the length and breadth of Scotland and further afield, playing music that I love and listening to all the old stories about the legends in the Scottish Dance Band world.
A final word from the man himself “You'd think at my age, my days of playing would be settling down, but I am very lucky to say that I am kept very busy, doing local Scottish Country dances, playing for the weekly SCD class known as the 30 club and playing as part of the Inverness Fiddlers Society. Occasionally, I am still asked to be a guest artist spot at various Clubs but I prefer to leave the ladies of the band leading guest spots nowadays!”
With a 66-year musical journey, which is still ongoing I would like to thank Jock for allowing me to tag along, and also thank him on behalf of everyone who has had the privilege of meeting and hearing him play. Congratulations once again on your award which is very well deserved. Keep entertaining people and enjoying your music Jock!
Gillian Stevenson, May 2024
