BILLY
RAYMOND
BILLY’S BLOG 2
14 October 2009 Contd.
I used to see Mr McKellar at many venues that were within striking distance of Paisley right up until the time I became a full-time professional entertainer (although I was really a “paid” performer from when I appeared on BBC Radio as a Boy Soprano on “Children’s Hour”).
I never got the chance to work with Kenneth in the UK, for I went to London when I was 19 and, by the time I was 20, I was starring on BBC TV and recording for His Master’s Voice records, so the “twain” never met, but I remained a staunch fan of Kenneth, always telling people that Ken was Scotland’s greatest tenor and that I wish I had a voice like that!
When I changed over to theatre management, my venue in North Queensland, the beautiful Burdekin Theatre, booked Ken for one of his dates on his Australia-wide concert tour and I at last had the opportunity to chat to my “idol”.
Cut to some years later, Kenneth was doing yet another tour of Australia (which turned out to be his last) and, due to his previous success, was booked back into the Burdekin Theatre. I was thrilled to bits that I was going to have yet another chance to hear the glorious voice of Ken and have another wee chat!!
But things got even better!!! A couple of weeks before Ken was scheduled to appear at the Burdekin the Australian promoter rang me to say that the supporting artist to Kenneth couldn’t do six of the Queensland concerts and would and could I do the concerts as compere and do a couple of songs? I almost “freaked out” at the chance to have one of my life-time wishes happening and organised with the Theatre Board to take a couple of weeks’ leave to do the dates, with one being at the Burdekin! I was truly excited to be working on stage with Ken and to have the thrill of hearing him singing for six brilliant nights from side-stage.
The sic dates (and indeed the entire sold-out tour of Australia) were a huge success for everyone in the show, including the wonderful Scottish accordionist, Arthur Spink from Dundee. Arthur did the full tour and being “on the road again” with those marvellous artists was right up my street and brought back fantastic memories of touring the UK with the likes of Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Marty Wilde, Billy Fury and many more.
Kenneth McKellar was a joy to work with and I couldn’t believe that it was THE Kenneth McKellar that was sitting with his fellow “pros” having “bacon butties” in roadside cafes and service stations!! Great shows, great company, great thrill - and the butties were great, too!
I never got the chance to work with Kenneth in the UK, for I went to London when I was 19 and, by the time I was 20, I was starring on BBC TV and recording for His Master’s Voice records, so the “twain” never met, but I remained a staunch fan of Kenneth, always telling people that Ken was Scotland’s greatest tenor and that I wish I had a voice like that!
When I changed over to theatre management, my venue in North Queensland, the beautiful Burdekin Theatre, booked Ken for one of his dates on his Australia-wide concert tour and I at last had the opportunity to chat to my “idol”.
Cut to some years later, Kenneth was doing yet another tour of Australia (which turned out to be his last) and, due to his previous success, was booked back into the Burdekin Theatre. I was thrilled to bits that I was going to have yet another chance to hear the glorious voice of Ken and have another wee chat!!
But things got even better!!! A couple of weeks before Ken was scheduled to appear at the Burdekin the Australian promoter rang me to say that the supporting artist to Kenneth couldn’t do six of the Queensland concerts and would and could I do the concerts as compere and do a couple of songs? I almost “freaked out” at the chance to have one of my life-time wishes happening and organised with the Theatre Board to take a couple of weeks’ leave to do the dates, with one being at the Burdekin! I was truly excited to be working on stage with Ken and to have the thrill of hearing him singing for six brilliant nights from side-stage.
The sic dates (and indeed the entire sold-out tour of Australia) were a huge success for everyone in the show, including the wonderful Scottish accordionist, Arthur Spink from Dundee. Arthur did the full tour and being “on the road again” with those marvellous artists was right up my street and brought back fantastic memories of touring the UK with the likes of Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Marty Wilde, Billy Fury and many more.
Kenneth McKellar was a joy to work with and I couldn’t believe that it was THE Kenneth McKellar that was sitting with his fellow “pros” having “bacon butties” in roadside cafes and service stations!! Great shows, great company, great thrill - and the butties were great, too!
