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The 7th Annual Gateway To Learning Spelling Bee

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Accordion Man brings musical life to Rogers TV

Just recently the Rogers TV studio in Woodstock was momentarily transformed into a glorious little music hall, filled with the joyful sounds of the accordion supplied by a local entertainer.

The tuneful selections were courtesy of popular accordionist Ian Robinson, who was there chatting with What’s Up Oxford host, Chris Cunningham for a recent edition of the Rogers program.

“I have always had an affinity with this instrument,” Ian said. “I was a toddler and if we visited my Grandma’s and I went missing you could almost certainly be assured I would be in the next room, inside my Granddad’s accordion case pushing the buttons.

“My Granddad used to play the accordion. He did not sight-read music but played by ear. We called it pomping.”

Ian, who is also an Oxford Media Group associate editor, told the host he got his first accordion – a 12 bass Hohner – for his seventh birthday. A lad, by the name of Kevin Slade, who lived at the end of his street, was an accordionist and became his first accordion teacher.

“I was eventually introduced to an older gentleman called Arthur Darby,” he continued. “He was a well-known accordion teacher and band leader. The accordion band he fronted was the Junior Accordionaires. As a member of this band, I entertained throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.

“The Junior Accordionaires also appeared on the Yorkshire Television program, Junior Showtime.

“After my time with the band I helped set up an accordion showband called the DMD accordion showband. The DMD stood for the three staff members: Donald (Teal), Maureen (Hunt) and David (Hunt). We entertained at galas and numerous residential homes around the Halifax area.

At the conclusion of the program Ian played La Cumparsita. As an introduction to his second and final piece, Ian told viewers he always included Danny Boy as part of his concert performances as a tribute to the man who had been his musical inspiration.

That man was his beloved Granddad, Frank Quain.

With his trusty accordion, Ian Robinson gets prepared to entertain his fans for a recent edition of the Rogers TV program What’s Up Oxford. (Geoff Dale Photo)