scotty donaldson
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Scotty's Bio (the short version 'cause I wasn't
given enough lead time.)
b. Toronto 1956 into a family of professional classical
musicians
First guitar: a hand-made Spanish classical that had hung in the
living room as a wall ornament for so many years that it cracked
down the middle.
A cousin of one of my younger brother's school-chums taught me
my first three chords. I mastered the G and D right away. It
took years to master the C.
Quit school at the earliest opportunity and moved to Victoria. A
friend gave me a Honer Vest-pocket harmonica and that was my
sole instrument for years.
A friend and I hitchhiked to Port Alberni and got jobs at the
sawmill; but we had to go to Welfare to get food and boots. My
buddy took his whole cheque and bought a Fender acoustic for
$130 (I had to feed him for the next month). Some time later he
sold me that guitar for $40. That was over 31 years ago and I
still have it. I started playing regularly at that time.
I moved back to Victoria and got turned onto Robert Johnson's
delta blues. A little later, as if it was meant to be, the great
Jim Burns moved into our house and he was a big influence on me.
I've been playing "Delta Blues" ever since. It's my favourite
music.
I've spent most of my life in tree planting or logging camps
where I've played for or with many great people. Of course, this
required learning bluegrass, country and western, even rock.
I've worn wagon wheel ruts into the fret board of my old Fender
doing this, from romance to retribution.
This is what I was when I moved to Denman Island not knowing
what a truly incredible music community it is. And it's been a
big change for me. When I first linked up with Randy and Richard
I was still playing my worn-out old Fender. Now we have a whole
band, 2 CDs with another on the way. And, with the help of some
really good friends, I'm electric! I still can't hardly believe
it.
If I were to make a list of all the people that I would like to
thank, it would be too big. For now I just want to thank our
greatest fan, Francis Duchesne for all his help since he was
even a little boy.
Finally, to quote the great Willie Dixon: "It don't make sense
if it don't make peace."