Ronnie

Bass guitar. Ronnie is also vocalist and plays six string accoustic/electric guitar, piano, harmonica and a range of whistles.

Ronnie grew up surrounded by musical instruments, and with the advantage of an elder brother , Dennis, who was not only a brilliant musician but an extraordinary teacher.

A student of the RSAMD in Glasgow Dennis was mainly a classical guitar teacher, but also taught many youngsters including Ronnie , keyboards, electric guitar, bass guitar, and also performed in very successful 1970s bands.


Ronnie has played in many bands featuring many styles. His first exploits in performing were in the traditional folk styles of "The Corries" to contemporary "Simon and Garfunkel" style folk music in the 1970s moving on to play with some of Central Scotlands favourite dance bands in the late 70s, the most succesful of these being Volume 3 and Chorded Velvet.

Later Ronnie was honoured to be invited to join and played with the excellent Dixieland Jazz Band Red Beans and Hot Rice featuring ex members of the Clyde Valley Stompers

After a period playing Gospel Folk/Rock performing in amongst other places most of Scotlands prisons, and marrying a Highland Dancing teacher, Ronnie developed an interest in Celtic Folk/Rock music attending many folk and Celtic festivals with The Ballochleam Highland Dancers.

Ronnies first foray into ceilidh music was with Chippit Chanty formed in the late 1980s which evolved into Light Entertainment the first band of its kind performing both Ceilidh and Pop Classics. [Kaleyoke we called it] Light Entertainments' second drummer was to be Craig Scott, and Ronnie and Craig have gigged together ever since, in bands, at festivals, and playing with an assortment of other musicians and pipers for the Ballochleam highland dancers in Scotland, France, Belgium, Germany, Majorca and Taiwan.

2005 saw the formation of a similar band ShoeString, in which Ronnie played Bass and Lead guitar with Craig on Drums.

ShoeString fronted by Ronnie have been an extremely successful Ceilidh /Covers band, playing at all the top wedding venues and castles in Scotland and two years running 2008/2009 were the Hogmanay band at arguably Scotlands top hotel venue Cameron House Hotel Loch Lomond.

With a continued interest in the genre of Celtic Folk/Rock Ronnie and Craig have moved on yet again to team up with excellent musicians Fraser on keyboards, Phil on fiddle, and Jimmy on lead guitar.

 Jimmy and Ronnie played together for many years in a late 70s early 80s band performing mostly compositions of their own, and the highlight of this collaboration must have been several gigs together in Switzerland in the mid 80s.

Ronnie has recently restored a 1960s Antoria Jazz Bass to near its former glory and can't wait to gig this with "Best before Midnight." Other guitars are a Lag electro accoustic "Autumn", from the four seasons collection, a Tanglewood Bass and a left handed Les Paul, partially converted for right handed playing. Ronnies' Les Paul belonged to his late brother Dennis and so is a prized possession and beautiful instrument.