The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Son’s tribute to Perth-born musician Bill Kemp, 80
He was the man who swung to the beat on the sunny, sunny side of the for more than 60 street years.
And, whether recording in the studio with the likes of Barbara Dickson, Rab Noakes, Cilla Fisher and countless other artists, or appearing on stage with international stars at the Aberdeen Jazz Festival, Bill Kemp was one of those irrepressible individuals who enhanced the lives of everybody he met.
The Perth-born musician, who has died at the age of 80, was in his element as part of big bands, or small groups, and spent decades teaching youngsters about drums and percussion across Aberdeen City and Shire.
His family and friends have testified to his va va voom and zest for life, his remarkable stamina in performing at thousands of concerts all over Scotland, and attracting audiences in Moray, Garioch, the Highlands, the Granite City – wherever there was the opportunity to pick up the clubs and produce fascinating rhythms and songs in the key of life.
Indeed, his son William acted as a long-term roadie for his dad and said there was hardly a venue in the north-east of Scotland to which he had not travelled and relished watching jazz aficionados imagine they were at the Cotton Club in Harlem savouring the standards of Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway.
Bill, who went to school in Perth with Alan Gorrie, one of the founder members of the smash-hit Average White Band, was never happier than when he was spending time around musicians and creating joyful noise.
His son said: “It didn’t matter whether he was playing or teaching, practising with others, or performing in small rooms or on large stages – my dad loved music all his life and he provided so much pleasure to generations of people.
“He actually began in a pipe band as a youngster, then was part of the Ronnie Spiers group, who were very popular in their time and, after he moved to Aberdeen in the 1960s, he joined the Alex Sutherland Band and started working with different musicians on their albums, whether it was folk, pop or jazz.
“Dad enjoyed all kinds of music and poured his heart and soul into it.”
It did not matter to Bill whether he was in international company or nurturing the talent of tomorrow: what was important was the collaborative camaraderie which pervaded the Scottish music scene and was in his DNA.
Rab Noakes, who was an integral part of such iconic groups as Lindisfarne and Stealers Wheel and recorded with Gerry Rafferty, spoke this week about his sadness at learning of Bill’s passing.
Although he had not been well for some time, the younger generation have also benefited from his knowledge, passion and technical expertise.
And his son is determined to create a lasting legacy for his father when lockdown restrictions are eased.
William said: “Hopefully, when we emerge out of lockdown, and we are holding events at the Blue Lamp and other places again, we can properly pay tribute to my dad.
“We are also aiming to create a legacy where there’s backing for up-andcoming musicians because my dad was always committed to supporting youngsters who were interested in making music.”