Lycra inspired music takes back seat for Greenlaw musician
AFTER previously providing backing music for exercise workouts on GMTV, a Greenlaw musician is getting ready to launch an album with his new bandmates.
Johnny Atkins first learnt to play guitar in 1963 and ever since then has had a wide ranging career including releasing top selling instrumental album Sea of Dreams in 1989 and then entering into the world of breakfast television soon after.
But instead of sitting on that famous ITV sofa, Johnny started out as a GMTV stage hand before moving onto a role as a production buyer.
And then he put his musical abilities to good use by doing the music for a series of exercise workouts and videos for the programme, including a few with the legendary Mr Motivator who has recently returned to our screens.
And Johnny admitted his three years in the job were very interesting.
"I worked my way up the GMTV ladder and it was fun to do the music for the workouts. Some of them were released commercially; of course in those days it was on video, I'm not sure if any of them have made it onto DVD!
"It could be quite tricky sometimes but I'll admit there was one time when I used music from my album Sea of Dreams - it was just fortunate that the new age, atmospheric music I put forward fitted exactly with what they had in mind.
"That was more for yoga and pilates workouts but I also composed more upbeat disco music for people to just jump around too - I was even Mr Motivator's driver at one point!"
But since moving to Berwickshire, lycra inspired music has definitely taken a back seat and Johnny's dedicated more time to his favourite instrument - the guitar.
He is now a member of Moorhouse and their album Direct Me To The Sun which is currently available on i-tunes is set to get its official launch next month.
Johnny got involved with this venture after being contacted by Kelso musician Peter Fry who wanted him to help bring some of his compositions to life. And having written 150 songs in the past few years, Peter gave Johnny plenty of material to get stuck into.
"Peter first approached me in March/April last year with the bare bones of a recording project," said Johnny.
"He wanted me to help make them into a commercial item so along with Alimay Wilson we began work on the album.
"I'm more of a musical mentor as well as playing lead guitar, bass guitar and keyboards; Peter is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist and Alimay does backing vocals."
In a musical era where many different genres are banded around, Johnny said he would describe Moorhouse's sound as "road music", with America-style songs telling tales of travelling.
"I wouldn't say it was typical of the country genre but it's got a definite country flavour. You couldn't really relate any of the songs to life in the Borders but they still deal with subjects that people can relate to.
"My personal favourites from the album include Caught in a Flame which is very Fleetwood Mac and Rainstorm which Peter based on the events of Hurricane Katrina."
And as well as being 'musical mentor' for Moorhouse, Johnny is also the mentor for thousands of Borderers who want to want to get to grips with the guitar.
But although he may teach them all the chords, Johnny has also found he's learnt a thing or two about music from his students too.
"Being in my late 50s I tend to listen to the music that I grew up with especially as I'm also in a 60s tribute band who do fundraising gigs as and when required.
"My younger students have introduced me to a lot of artists around at the moment including the likes of The Killers, Kings of Leon and Scottish singers such as Amy McDonald and KT Tunstall. Music by the likes of Slipknot and Guns and Roses, although not my cup of tea, is also fun to teach.
The likes of Snow Patrol might be permanent fixtures on his students' i-pods but Johnny is also keen to teach them music which has its origins a bit closer to home.
"Don't get me wrong I think it's great that there are a lot more guitar based bands around at the moment but I've noticed that a lot of kids don't know any traditional songs so I've re-introduced this into my lessons. So while they might love learning songs by Kings of Leon I also think it's important for them to know the likes of Mhairi's Wedding too."
With his guitar lessons, gigs with 60s tribute act The Adders and now another album launch in the pipeline it's a busy time for Johnny and if you want to find out more about his newest venture visit www.moorhouseband.com.
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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