Johnny Mack MacCrimmon (1917-1977) was the son of Dan (Penny) MacCrimmon and his wife Margaret Ann MacCuaig. He married Anna Mary Stewart in 1948.
His early interest in music came from his aunt Jessie (Mrs. Neil B) MacLeod, a noted fiddler and Jimmy (Penny) MacCrimmon who played the bagpipes. He took violin lessons from Olive Ferguson.
He played at various events, granary dances and house parties far and wide an orchestra in the 1930s, with Johnny Hughie Morrison and Archie Clark both on violin, Ernst Wigfield on mandolin, Penny MacCrimmon on piano and Stanford MacCrimmon and Vince Pilon on guitar. Their first gig was at McCrimmon Hall in McCrimmon. The band broke up when Johnny, Hughie and Ernie joined the army.
Many of their popular tunes are still played today, such as “Gillie Crubach,” “Mrs. Drummond of Perth,” “Jessie Smith,” “Lady Mary Ramsay,” “Haste to the Wedding” and “My Love is but a Lassie Yet.”
The orchestra is remembered for playing “Johnny Cope” in reel time for the “Eight Hand Reel” which is seldom seen now.
After the orchestra folded Johnny Mack played at dances, socials and house parties accompanied by his wife, Anna Mary who was the first piano player in the Skye Orchestra. Their piano was donated to the Maxville Manor where it is still in use.
Johnny Mack’s signature tune is “Davie Taylor”. His contribution to Celtic music in Glengarry and surrounding area make him a worthy choice for Induction into the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame.
