Scottish Music Industry

Alastair Dunn served as Pipe Sergeant of a 12-time world champion pipe band. He joined the band in 1998 and, in 2006, began focusing his deep passion for the instrument in the manufacturing side. He joined the R.G. Hardie & Company to continue the rich history of the company’s dedication to making the most reliable and consistent bagpipes possible. During his 2019 NAMM Oral History interview, he spoke of the history of both Peter Henderson, which was established in 1868, and R.G. Hardie & Company, which was established in 1950.

This audio only interview was conducted for a radio program by Dan Del Fiorentino and donated to the NAMM Oral History program: Jim Galloway was born in Scotland and later relocated to Canada where he played a vital role in expanding the popularity of jazz in Toronto and other large cities. His Wee Big Band, formed in 1977, showcased Jim's abilities on both the saxophone and clarinet. From 1987-2007, Jim was the Artistic Director for the Toronto Jazz Festival, which often included his lifelong friends each year such as Eddie Miller, Jack Lesberg, and Milt Hinton.

Patrick Kelly was the youngest of eight children raised in Western Scotland. His sisters played piano and he had an interest in playing the guitar. His passion led him to pursue a dream of being a rock star. While playing with his bands, he rented PA systems on the side, which led to friends asking him to sell equipment. His start in sales led to the beginning of what was Sound Control, a 26-store chain that was the largest in the market.  

Scott MacDonald grew up in a musical family, with his father having been a bagpiper.  When Scott’s hands had developed enough to begin lessons on the bagpipes, at age eight, he took to the instrument, which he has been playing ever since.

Eric Rigler’s lifelong connection to the bagpipes began when he was just 18 months old, sitting on his mother’s lap at a parade. Mesmerized by the sound of the pipe and drum band passing by, his fascination only deepened as he explored his father’s eclectic record collection, which included a few treasured bagpipe albums. By the time Eric was seven, there was no question what he wanted for Christmas—a set of bagpipes. What began as a childhood curiosity blossomed into an extraordinary career spanning more than three decades, marked by iconic performances in film, television, and p

Ronnie Tennant first began playing cornet when he was nine years old. His father joined a brass band when he was about the same age and, in 1952, his father joined the Army Band. Ronnie was deeply involved with brass bands. He played many of the instruments in the band with a special focus on the trombone and later the tuba. Ronnie worked in an auto plant as an engineer and often used his skills to repair instruments on the side. After working part time for a special show, Ronnie realized he had a passion for the retail and repairing of brass instruments. So in 1980, he opened his

Bobby Wellins was surprised to learn that Charlie Watts, the drummer for the Rolling Stones, listed Bobby as an influence on his playing.  After all, the jazzman played tenor saxophone.  However, it was Bobby’s delivery that gained the ear of the young Mr.

Robert Wilson formed his first rock and roll band when he was 14. He played the blues for a living while creating a large list of friends, many of whom encouraged him to sell them instruments. The rest, as they say, is history. Rob is very active in UK and US trades of musical instruments. For 19 years, he served to establish and build the British Music Association and their trade show, the British Music Fair. His NAMM Oral History interview was completed on July 24, 2005. 

Paul Wishart, a Scottish-born musician and innovator, was steeped in jazz from a young age, thanks to his father's passion for the genre and his mastery of multiple instruments. By his teenage years, Paul's musical repertoire expanded. He delved into the saxophone and eventually picked up the guitar, forming his own band by the age of 17. Transitioning from local music stores to the global stage, Paul's career soared in the 1980s when he joined the ranks of Simple Minds on tour. His creativity knew no bounds, as he pioneered the use of synthesizers, including the groundbreaking Fa