BAGPIPING, Weddings, Funerals, Memorials

I can be dressed in either formal or informal Scottish attire. Within the range of bagpipe capabilities, I can offer a full range of appropriate bagpipe tunes and music.

I was born in Scotland. On a ferry trip, many years ago, I encountered my first bagpiper, the sound of those pipes burned into my senses and for many years, I searched for a tutor. One might ask why it took so long... Whie I was still young, my family moved south, to central England, where the bagpipe was NOT admired. In 1970, I was offered a job in Chicago and moved my family here. June 1977 was an eventful time in my life; I became a naturalized American. Fast forward to 1990, we relocated to Oklahoma City, OK., happened on a Scottish club and finally in 1992, found the tutor I had been seeking for all those years. He was a great teacher, I was a keen student and purchased my first set of bagpipes in 1994. My first solo was in April 1996; the band I had joined, were invited to play at the first anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. My tutor, our Pipe Major, tapped my on the shoulder and announced that I would play the solo part of the program... in front of 28 million people, on national TV. I was scared stiff, but I made it. Cutting a long story short, I ended up in West Plains, Mo, started teaching the bagpipes myself and decided to move to the BIG city, Springfield. Some friends and I started a small group of pipers and in 2025, we formed Southwest Missouri Pipes and Drums. I still teach piping, so if you have the desire to learn this beautiful instrument, give me a call.