Bob Fish of Johnny & the Roccos talking about Duncan Mackinnon by Mac Arts

My name is Bob Fish. I was born in 1945 in the small Scottish Borders town, Hawick where I grew up and went to school there. My big passion was music. In the austere times after WW2 there was little that was exciting in the way of popular culture in music. So you had to create your own. We had a piano at home, which was my vehicle for my creativity, along with my parents love of popular music of the day.

As I grew into a teenager music figured even larger in my life. I began work in the industry that Hawick is famous for, namely knitwear, but always dreamed one day of making music as my paid employment. The guitar was my instrument of choice - of course!!!

After playing in many different amateur groups, I quit my job with ‘Pringle of Scotland’ to embark upon a career as a full time musician. A life I could not have imagined in my formative years, and it has taken me to places that only existed for me on maps as a child in the Scottish Borders.

I have lived what many would consider to be a ‘charmed life’ although it was much harder than the popular misconception of an having ‘easy time of it’, but it was an excellent school of life for which I am grateful.

After forty-five years on the road playing music, I am now retired, and indulge myself in reminiscing about the places my career in music has taken me to; and the many colourful and fascinating people I have had the good fortune to encounter in an interesting and fulfilling life. I consider Duncan Mackinnon to be one of those special people that I had the privilege of knowing, and who enriched my young life by creating new and exciting opportunities.