Page 37 - RSCDS Toronto Golden Jubilee Book

Rob Wolanski Double Bass, (BFA: York)
Rob Wolanski has been a member of Bobby Brown & The Scottish Accent since 1986 and is seen, and heard,
at many SCD events. Rob is also active in other genres and aspects of musical performance. Currently, he plays Principal Bass for The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and sec-
tion bass for the Canadian Opera Company. He also works regularly
with Opera Ontario, Chamberworks Music Ensemble, Sinfonia Mississauga/ Mississauga Philharmonic, The Chamber Music Society of Mississauga, The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Orchestra and The Elora Festival Orchestra. He played in the orchestra of the Toronto production of The Phantom of the Opera. Teaching positions include double bass instructor at Brock University, double bass coach for the Niagara Youth Orchestra, the Claude Watson School for the Arts, and Earl Haig Secondary School.
Don Wood
Don Wood began playing Scottish Country dance music in September, 1966, while still attending high school. In spite of being a guitar player in a Rhythm & Blues band, he was exposed to Scottish music through his father, Bill, a fiddle player.
Born in Nova Scotia, Don grew up lis- tening to his father play reels and jigs, then eventually accompanied him on piano. While the music had all the usual
Music Makers
"East Coast" embellishments, it gave Don a grounding in traditional music.
Don's family moved to London, Ontario where his father met Stan Hamilton, recently arrived from Scotland. They became good friends. Stan was a regu- lar visitor, entertaining the family on piano while Don often enjoyed Ann, Stan’s wife’s, hospitality after school.
In early 1966, Stan suggested Don audi- tion on electric bass for his band, The Flying Scotsmen. Stan saw enough to take a chance and Don joined Bobby Frew, Fred Collins and, of course, Bobby Brown. His first dance was the Island Fling at the RCYC. Don says "If I played three right notes that night, it was a miracle. I was soooooo nervous."
Don and Bobby Brown became fast friends, a friendship that continues to this day. "He taught me how to play the piano. He taught me the Scottish vamp style. Everything I had played up to that point was just chording with three note triads. Bobby taught me music!"
Don joined Bobby in forming the Scottish Accent Band in 1976. Don con- tinued as the piano player until 1978 when he moved to Philadelphia. The band continued to evolve with several fine musicians lending their talent, most notably, Kathleen Fraser-Collins who continues today.
Returning to Canada two and a half years later, Don filled in for the Scottish Accent if a sub was needed, and eventu- ally rejoined full time as the bass player. He returned to piano when Kathy took on second accordion. He also played a couple of dances on second accordion
when the weight of the instrument finally got to her. Over the next decade, Don trav- elled throughout North America, playing bass and piano, and toured Scotland with
the band and the Cape Breton Symphony Fiddlers
in 1992. At the 1993 Montreal Branch workshop, he met the love of his life, Nadine Deacon. They married in 1995 with Bobby Brown, who takes credit for introducing them, acting as Best Man.
When Don retired in 1994, he explored other musical venues, including a coun- try music band, several studio projects and a folk band, John Prince & A Piece Of The Rock. When once again the lure of the traditional reels and jigs called, Don rejoined The Scottish Accent, alter- nating between bass, piano, and occa- sionally guitar. "I missed the band while I was away. I missed the music and how Bobby takes the strict, rigid parameters of the SCD music and makes it interest- ing with his innovative arrangements and a willingness to allow the band to explore new ideas. He makes it as inter- esting as humanly possible. I’m glad I’m back."
Don continues to play with The Scottish Accent and he and his wife Nadine can be found at workshops and dances whenever and wherever the band is playing.
Don Wood
Musical Notes
"Bands based in Toronto, led by Stan Hamilton, Bobby Brown, Bobby Frew, Angus MacKinnon, Ed Brydie and Don Bartlett, all of whom played for North American RSCDS dances, no doubt accounted for Toronto’s membership reaching 1200 or more in the mid- 1970s, the largest Branch in the Society at that time."
. . . David Grant
Nadine Deacon
36