Harmonica star to play at Strathnaver
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SCOTTISH harmonica virtuoso Donald Black is due to give a much anticipated performance at a remote Sutherland village hall next week.
Donald, a native of Argyll and widely regarded as the country’s best harmonica player, is set to perform at Strathnaver Public Hall on Friday, 29th June.
No stranger to the Far North, he gave a very well received concert in Bettyhill last year.
His return to Sutherland has been organised by Strathnaver Hall committee members Catriona MacLeod and Morag MacLeod.
Catriona, who is herself a music composer, said: "We’re delighted to be welcoming Donald back."
An economics honours graduate, Donald tried his hand at a variety of jobs before becoming a professional musician.
He spent time as a forestry worker, insurance salesman and building site labourer as well as a cattlehand in the Australian outback! His musical career took off when he was "discovered" in 1993 playing the harmonica for fun in a Glasgow bar by another well respected Scottish musician Phil Cunningham.
At the time Phil was musical director of the BBC programme "Talla a Bhaille" and asked Donald to perform on it.
Since then Donald, who received his first harmonica from an aunt at the tender age of four and is totally self-taught, has gone from strength to strength.
He has played at ceilidhs, concerts and festivals throughout Scotland and beyond and has recorded a number of albums, usually with the Skye-based Macmeanmna label.
One fan recently summed up the virtuoso performer by saying simply: "Donald Black rocks!"
A highlight of his career so far has been an invitation to appear at the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica’s (SPAH) annual convention in 2005, held in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the first Scot ever to receive such an invitation.
He has also collaborated with the world-famous German harmonica manufacturer Hohner to produce the "Highlander" tremolo harmonica.
According to Catriona, 2012 is turning out to be a bumper year for Donald.
She said: "He’s working on the recording of two albums to be released later this year.
"The first is with Runrig star, Malcolm Jones and the second (Dreams and Dances) with his own band members, Allan Nairn and Ross Wilson."
Catriona revealed that Donald will be playing some of the tracks from the Dreams and Dances album at the Strathnaver concert.
He will also be playing two tunes composed by Catriona who will be accompanying him along with fiddle tutor Rhona Sutherland from Brora.
Guest artistes include bagpiper and accordionist Carol-Anne MacKay from Strathy and piper Hannah MacDonald, Bettyhill.
The concert begins at 8pm and tickets, priced £6, are available at the door. To reserve tickets, telephone Morag MacLeod on 01641 561255.
