My Music Biography

Welcome to the second page of my blog and I hope you have found my first page of interest.

I started playing the piano when I was 5 yrs old, mainly because my parents thought I just might have a skill having seen a piano for the first time and started to play little tunes on it at their friends house.They had an old upright piano.

So off I went to piano lessons learning the Trinity Style Exams.I only stayed with this teacher for a short time and we found a teacher that taught the ABRSM Exam style.

I must say the old methods of teaching were a litle tough,let's put it this way you would never get away with it now.If you made a mistake you would find the back of your hand slapped with a ruler I did on a number of occassions. Unfortunately for many pupils this style probably put them off learning this instrument for life.Such a pity.

I stuck it out, and was put through examination after examination, all the time it was getting tougher and harder with each grade.That was in the 1970 and 1980's.
Music exams are far much easier like most work from school or college. Sadly exams nowadays don't really test the pupil the same as they used to. I'll give you an example a Grade 8 exam now is most likely equal to a Grade 5 exam from the 80's.


Studying Drama

In 1985 I had to make a decision on where I wanted my life to go like most teens. From an early age I had always been interested in medicine.From the age of 6 I was fascinated in the human body and all my primary school projects were based on this.I still have them today. However,it was now time to make a decision - Medicine or Drama/Music. I chose Drama and within 3 weeks I had moved to Edinburgh to study at The Edinburgh Acting School.I was there from 1985 - 1987. I met many great friends some of whom have gone on to accomplish great things with their lives and one in particular won a BAFTA.

In 1986 I won a dancing competition in front of hundreds of people at Cinderella's in Edinburgh.What a night that was and what a night and experience it was to have dinner with Anita Dobson from Eastenders!

Drama training gave me an insight into who I was and how to gain confidence. It allowed me to have fun whilst learning.I could used my musical ability and also progress and learn a new subject with pupils who wanted to get the best for themselves too.Don't get me wrong some performance nights I would feel a bit worried but thats part of the BUZZ. Any Actor, performer will tell you that. If you don't get nervous or have that buzz then your performance won't be as good.


Bands

Having completed Drama I then moved back to my home town of Paisley just outside Glasgow. I then signed up with a music agency and they put me in touch with a band called Orange Juice. Odd name but I thought ok, you may remember the song, "Rip it Up and Start again".

After Orange Juice there was a Glasgow band that were looking for a keyboard player. The band was called RAAN.We had a huge following in Glasgow and everywhere The Wets were we were right behind them or in front of them. It was great competition. We were in the studios every week and every week we would bump into Wet Wet Wet,Deacon Blue. We were all in competition with each other.The Wets beat us as they were flying off to do their song and were were staying in Scotland to shoot ours.- Their song- "Sweet Little Mystery" Straight to number 1.

Any chance to get on TV was my main goal as it is with most performers. So on 3 occassions I hooked up with Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan on the TV show "The Hitman and Her" It was the icon of an 80's dance TV show going to every nightclub around the UK.

Recording Studios

My first time on my own I was nervous,very nervous. I was in awe of everything and I had composed a song called Friends.I played the keyboard layed the tracks down,sang, sang more, backing singer sang layed more tracks down and it was completed.Oddly enough when you listen to what you produce 3-6 months later you say, "I could have changed that or done better"!

BAYWATCHGIRL

In the height of the 90's Baywatch was the most watched TV programme on channels across the globe.The cast were obviously chosen for the beauty,although the story lines could have been better, nobody cared. Women were envious and men were dreaming and David H the Hoff with G.Bonnan were raking in lots of money from the TV show.
I had a tune in mind and called the Big Breakfast and they said OK get us a copy and we will see what we can do if interested. I felt the tune I had written was not the right one,thus giving me less than 2 weeks to write,compose and record. I did it.I managed to compose Baywatch Girl.I sent a copy DAT tape and was called within 24 hours.CH 4 Big Breakfast were on the phone saying how quick could I get onto the show? Robbie Williams and Dani Behr were going to be hosting it the week they wanted me on.

I was picked up and taken to the BB House.Introduced to staff and, make up, and other guests such as Jo Guest and Robbie and many others. Was I nervous, YES! There were hundreds of screaming girls at the fence watching the show because Robbie Williams was there. I did my slot and hung around when a call came through from Warner TV saying they wanted an interview with me ASAP - that day.

I met up with the film crew 3 hours after the BB interview and was interviewed for a TV programme called extra. Radio stations and news papers follwed shortly with interviews and Baywatch Girl getting airplay.

G. Bonnan one of the producers of Baywatch was indeed interested and for 2 weeks negotiations were going on with regards to release slots, time frames, coutries to release,percentages,copyrights and who would be singing.Michael Bolton's name was at the forefront and the song would obviously be changed- I had no problem with that. The Hoff had a serious problem with regards to power sharing and value of commodity to the song.it was not just the song Baywatch Girl it was the marketing that went with it.The song was worth millions once in full production with merchandise following. My lawyers were negotiating deals as in the USA it is very different to the UK.Their percentage programme works totally different for artists.

I'm not going to mention the amount suffice to say it was more than a lucaritive deal and enough for me to be very content and would enable me to continue with more enhanced projects. Unfortunatley, I was called to the Head UK offices and was told all advertising and interviews had to stop as Baywatch- The Hoff has said NO.


SPYMASTER

I decided not to let the Baywatch problem interfere with following my dream.I had always enjoyed the EON 007 production films of James Bond and of course Sir Sean Connery.

So a new composition without words was now in my head and I called it Spymaster. i looked around for a decent recording studio and chose FBI in London.(First British Independent). Christian and Marcos Engineered and Mixed Spymaster.CD Mastering and duplication by Robin Springall at Repeat Performance London

I also had to thanks Sir Richard Branson for the fantastic conversation we had on the phone and for his encouragement to pursue this further.
Obviously I now needed airplay and did the rounds.EON Productions were contacted, Sir Sean Connery was contacted as it was dedicated to him. The next Bond Film was "The World is not Enough".

Unfortunatley I was unaware of the previous problems that EON and Sir Sean had between them and suffice to say Spymaster was dropped from their production. However,not dropped completely and the tune had some good airplay and I obviously own the rights so it can still be released at any time.

Heart 106.2 - Jonno and the morning crew became great friends and gave me great airtime as well as Kiss 100FM again with Danni Behr.



Future Projects

There are several projects coming up in the next 2 years.One of which I'm hoping to write and compose a musical.There are several compositions written that need re-tuned and into the recording studio. This is an expensive process and takes time.

Obviously I continue to teach my pupils. So I hope the information you have read has given you a little more insight into my experience within the industry. This is the short version, I'm considering writing my own biography which of course will contain the full picture.

So watch this space and I hope that you too can follow your dreams.It is never too late to try.

Final Thoughts

I highly recommend that you contact Fuzion and of course The British Action Academy.
If your looking to engage in music,drama,filming,stunts then both those recommendations will take you much closer to your dream or your childrens dreams.

I know the owners of both very well, I know their passion, their love for their art and how they love to teach. You can't get any better than Fuzion and The British Action Academy.


Outside the Music World

It takes patience to succeed in anything that one wishes to accomplish. Whilst enjoying the prospect of teaching I also have a background that is like a drama in itself.

My experience is in Sales,Business Development,Account Management.It all started when I joined my fathers company in Scotland.

I also have experience as a Police Officer(SP) and on MOD Sites within the UK. Once in the capacity of securing and dealing with the security of Polaris Missiles and Eurojet.I held SC and DV security clearences.