Now, fast forward 17 years when John and I were working together as full time musicians.
John was a brilliant and versatile piano and keyboard player.
Our repertoire gradually changed from mostly folk songs, to more rock n roll and standards. For about 5 years in the 90s, we had a top ‘cover’ band called “Black Velvet” with a drummer, bassist, lead guitarist, John and myself as lead singer and rhythm guitarist ( on a Fender Stratocaster).
We played for Dinner Dances in most of the 5 Star hotels and Country Clubs in the Province.
We had bought our own sound equipment and, even after Black Velvet disbanded, were much in demand as a duo for 20 years or more from posh cabarets to Senior Citizens functions.
Most of our work was as “Auntie Mim and John” in the schools.
From 1987 I put together 40 The Art of Education Theme Programmes and Puppet Pantomimes.
We were asked to do a show about Musical Instruments.
John already played the keyboards for all our shows, so he showed the children all the sound equipment and the drum box which fascinated them.
He had also learned bugle and trumpet in his High School Cadet marching band, and still had those instruments with us.
We quickly acquired a bass guitar and a pedal steel, which I picked out a tune or two on. Someone gave me a clarinet – but I battle to master the embouchure.
When in India in 1974, John had bought a sitar, so I learned to play an Indian prayer on that for another variation in sound for the children.
John played along on the tabla!!
We also had a big African drum and John played that whilst I did a tune on the whistle a la Mango Groove. I also played “Sizinyoni” on the Kalimba.
John played the jews harp, and the mouthorgan as in Piano man.
His father had an accordion and John learned to play the Clap Clap song.
I think at one time we were carting around and playing 30 instruments between us.
Oh yes, the ukelele – I bought a pink one!! For a while I had a George Formby Banjolele, but that was stolen with the viola.
John also bought me a five string banjo and I spent many hours learning to ‘frail’ it.
One show would take us the whole morning!!
It took John ages to pack the bakkie, then travel time, then another hour to unpack the instruments and set up, An hour and a quarter for the show, then packing, travelling and unpacking again.
2025 … I have been invited to present the show again, as it is one of the few I can do on my own without sound equipment.
Many of our instruments were in storage and I am now in the process of restoring, polishing and getting new strings and parts for them, ready for schools and other places who would like to hear them.
I am practising like crazy ……Wish me luck!!
These Musical Instruments have brightened my musical life no end and the ones that I play best have been used for many of my other shows.
I am touring Europe again this Summer with my folk music and for these concerts I play guitar, autoharp, treble recorder and viola.
The number of instruments I use depends whether I am travelling by public transport or hiring a car !!
I hope to see you on my travels, and play some of these wonderful instruments for you.
