Stylish sax solo was a global hit
THE Scottish-born saxophonist Malcolm ‘Molly’ Duncan was a founding member of Average White Band and worked with some of the biggest musicians of his era.
While he played live with Eric Clapton, Marvin Gaye and Chaka Khan, he also recorded with Bryan Ferry, Ray Charles, Dire Straits and Tom Petty.
His rich style of playing and superb musicianship won him worldwide praise as he found it easy to adapt to many different musical genres.
Born in Montrose, Duncan enjoyed perhaps his greatest success with the soul and funk Average White Band after its formation in 1972.
The song Pick Up The Pieces was a huge global hit, especially in the United States.
Duncan and his bandmate Roger Ball were known as the Dundee Horns as they had both attended art college in the city.
The band paid tribute to Duncan on its Facebook page, saying he would be “sorely missed”, writing: “We are saddened to learn of the passing of our old friend and tenor player, Molly Duncan.
“He had a recent bout with cancer, and so one half of the ‘Dundee Horns’ is with us no more. His was the world-famous sax solo on Pick Up The Pieces, but apart from that he was one of the funniest and most charming people you could ever meet.
“His son, Dan, was with him at the end, and our condolences are with him and other family members.” In July 2015, Duncan,
along with Steve Ferrone and Hamish Stuart, reunited to form The 360 Band, which was one half of the original Average White Band.
They released an album titled Three Sixty in 2017 and performed live together along with supporting musicians.
Malcolm ‘Molly’ Duncan Musician BORN AUGUST 24, 1945 – DIED OCTOBER 8, 2019, AGED 74