ABOUT MARIAN
Whakataukī: Ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini
Māori Proverb: My strength does not come from myself alone, my strength comes from many
EARLY BEGINNINGS - MARIAN’S STORY
Hi, I’m Marian Burns
On a personal note, here’s where it all started.
When I was four, while Mum was in the kitchen, I remember prancing around the lounge, with the somewhat battered custard pot in my left hand, and very old and well used wooden spoon in the right. The National Programme blasting away with the weekly Music Education Programme for youngsters... and there was me prancing around, beating in time .. That must have been sooooo loud. Poor Mum, no wonder she suffered from migraines.
WHEN DID I GET MY FIRST VIOLIN
When I was five, Mum asked me what I'd like for Christmas. I asked her for a violin. I just wanted to play the instrument that featured on the Blue Danube 33LP that she played so regularly. Johann Strauss. The Photo of the violins drew me in. I LOVED THE SOUND OF THE STRINGS.
I still have the ‘doll’ she bought me that year - but I asked again when I was six, so she decided to hire one. I started lessons at the Campbell’s Bay Music Centre, held on Saturday mornings. Quite soon after that, Jim Newman found me a private teacher, June Allen, in Clematis Avenue, Murray's Bay. North Shore, Auckland. All I wanted to do was be good enough to play in an Orchestra.
FIRST MEMORY OF WANTING TO BE IN A BAND
I had only just turned eight when my mum remarried. At their Wedding Reception at The Lodge, a live band played. I remember just gazing at them for ages, soaking it all in, and thinking to myself, "That's what I want to do when I grow up." (I wish I could meet up with even one of those band members, to tell them how much they inspired me. That would be so cool.)
WATCHING CELEBRITIES AT WORK
Between the ages of ten to thirteen, I remember seeing New Zealand Show Hosts, Don Lindon & Max Cryer coming out into the local community Mardi Gras and beach parties. They held singing competitions with kids during the school holidays. I so wished I could be one of those kids up on stage, but I was very shy and seriously lacked confidence in myself 'big time' - so I just watched from a distance. I also loved watching programmes on TV like: Happen In early 70’s, and Opportunity Knocks in the 70’s, and That’s Country in the 80’s.
KAREN - (my sister) GOT ME HOOKED ON GUITAR
When I was twelve, I used to watch my sister, Karen sitting on the end of Mum's big double bed in the end room. She'd strum away on her guitar, learning chords and songs. Once again, I just knew I had to pick it up and try to play it too... so when she wasn't looking I'd sneak in, close the door and try to copy what she'd just played. I will always remember that proud moment playing my very first Chord, " G" it felt so great! .. but then came the sore fingertips - Yowza!! but it was worth it.
My father gave me some money when I was fifteen, so I went into Farmers Trading Company in the city, and bought my very first 'Matsuoka' guitar.
At the age of 14 I started playing for church meetings, and youth group meetings. I’ve used that guitar throughout my teaching career ever since.
MY FIRST DESIRE TO WIN AN AWARD
I was in my twenties watching my sister, Karen Davy-Perrett perform in the Auckland Country Music Awards at the Town Hall. There was a table of trophies which you couldn't help but notice ...and there it was.... One little one grabbed my sight. "Best Country Instrumentalist."
I turned it around and on the back it read, 'Cath Newhook'. At that time, Cath was getting me through my letters, in classical violin, but here she was, an awesome fiddler in a fantastic country band called "Gentle Annie," and playing an ELECTRIC FIDDLE! She definitely rocked it! After seeing her play with her band, and many more times after that, I got my self a pick up, and worked really hard to learn a classic bluegrass Anthem, 'THE ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL' by Irwin Rouse. I entered the Auckland Country Music Awards in 1993, the following year, and won Best Country Instrumental, and there it was. My name DID get put under Cath's that next year, (my dream came true) and blow me down, I ended up winning the overall of those awards that year, and that's pretty much when my life took a turn away from the classical world and the rest is history.
DISCOVERING COUNTRY MUSIC
MY FIRST COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB EXPERIENCE
My oldest brother, Brian Davy, was always so proud of how I was going on the violin. I was nine when he asked me to play ‘Happy Birthday at his 21st. My first public performance.
One Sunday afternoon he took me to the Glenfield Hall, to the 'North Shore Country Music Club meeting' and he put me up to play "Home on the Range". My knees were knocking, I was soooo nervous. People started singing along. Woah!! My second public performance.
TAKAPUNA COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB
Years later, my classical violin teacher at the time, Cath Newhook, invited me to her gig to see her “Gentle Annie” band. I was amazed. I decided there and then I'd like to try ‘fiddling’. I joined the Club with my sister, Karen Davy-Perrett, and friend Jim Morrogh. Recorded on Karen’s first Gospel Album. They both encouraged me to play with a "country feel" (mmm - I had a lot to learn.)
I remember the first few times were daunting. Standing on stage with four other musos. People from the club would come up on stage and say, ‘It's in G’. That was all I got! My first attempt at improvising and 'jamming'. I nearly had kittens when they turned around and said ‘Fiddle solo!’ or ‘Turnaround’, pointing to me. Well those were horrifying first days. I met some really neat people, including the Late Gary Cooke, the Late Ricky Waters, Sally Burgess, Dave Reid, Ron and Meryl Nichols, Don Rae, Jeannine Beatie, Noel Parlane and Kylie Austin who was eight or nine at the time.
Pivotal relationships formed.
THE WEARING OF THE ‘HAT’
I remember meeting Maria Scott - line dancing instructor - for the first time in the toilets at the Auckland Town Hall. She looked gorgeous, in her country boots & hat. Her sparkly shirts and skirt. She was so friendly, and I was feeling very nervous. She gave me a waistcoat to put on, so that I’d look a little more country, and that was the day I walked down the road, a couple of hours before the show began, and saw ‘the hat’ in the shop window. It was cool. It wasn't a typical 'Country' hat. I tried it on, liked it, bought it and pretty much haven't taken it off since. That was the night of The Auckland Country Music Awards, in the Town Hall - 1993 - that night pretty much changed my life.
FIRST OFFICIAL BAND 1992 - BEAU, LUKE AND DUKE - (chuckle chuckle) Yes the Dukes of Hazzard series was on TV at the time.
FIRST GIG RESIDENCY: The Cask and Cleaver - Balmoral, Auckland
The Line Up:
Dave Reid: Vocals and Rhythm Guitar,
the late, Ross Simms: Vocals and Electric Bass
Marian Burns: Vocals and Fiddle
Pat Olsen: Electric Lead Guitar and Vocalist.
We played many a night at the Cask and Cleaver, as "Beau, Luke and Duke." I was Beau (bow) get it? Haaa!
These were my very first 'paid' gigs, which included early pack ins, late nights, and late pack outs.
Enjoying each others harmonies, Dave, Pat and I decided to enter the Auckland Country Music Awards in 1993 for a bit of fun. We asked Jeannine Beatie to join us that year, calling ourselves: “Queen City Cousins,” We won Best Vocal Group, plus the Overall Runner-up with the Eagles song, "Seven Bridges Road"
1993 - THE BOOT SCOOTIN’ BOOGIE BAND
The Line Up:
Dave Reid: Vocals and Rhythm Guitar,
the Late, Ross Simms: Vocals and Electric bass
Marian Burns: Vocals and Fiddle
Pat Olsen: Electric Lead Guitar and Vocalist.
Pat left for family reasons, so Dave changed our name to
'The Boot Scootin' Boogie Band' and a new chapter began. Ross Simms joined us on Bass, Electric Guitar, and vocals.
Line dancing had just begun to take off in New Zealand in1993, and was becoming increasingly popular, so a 'line dancing' country band was just what the Auckland Country Music Scene needed.
Paul Holmes - filmed the band, for one of his 30-minute news and current affairs shows, for Television One in the early 90’s.
We took ourselves off on a national tour, Karen Shirley Dawson, (Dave’s Partner at the time) learnt all the line dances as they filtered in from the US, and taught the crowds as we went from town to town. They were called the ‘Boot Scootin’ Line Dancers.’ Karen has become a renowned Line dance instructor, and has a very successful club in Auckland. (She choreographed a line dance to my MOOD SWING THING-A-LING song) wooohooo! Click here to see just how much fun her team have learning, dancing and keeping fit.
94.2 COUNTRY FM
Auckland based Country Music Station set up in Albany playing all the latest American Country songs. (THOSE were the days.) The Boot Scootin’ Boogie Band toured throughout New Zealand. Line dancing was sweeping the whole country in a huge way, and even became a recognised ‘sport event’ in the Masters Games, in Whanganui.
SOUTHERN CROSS BAND AT THE STETSON CLUB
I joined a new band with Sel Nash, Keith McIntyre, Jeannine Beatie, Rob Galley and Mal.
The Stetson Club was the place to be every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. Line Dancing became the craze.
The Club is still going strong today, and it’s known as ‘Auckland’s home of Country Music,’ with live bands playing from 8.00 - 11.30pm, for line dancing, partner dancing, or just listening.
MCSWEENEY BROTHERS .. see the McSweeney Brothers page
