b. 1891 d. 1961

From Blackburn, West Lothian. A prolific recording artist and popular band leader he was a major influence on Jimmy Shand and button accordion playing in both Scotland and Ireland. He published a tutor and tune collection for the button accordion around 1925.

After the Great War, in which he served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, he took up playing mouth organ before moving up to the melodeon. During World War II he served as Lieutenant in the Home Guard and was noted for one particular act of bravery when he disposed of a live grenade, saving the lives of several others. He was later injured by a bomb and was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1944. He was head postman at Bathgate Post Office.

He often played in partnership with fiddler Paddy Cadden or his own dance band.

Hannah recorded twelve sides for the Winner label in 1920, twelve or more for Waverley around 1924 and a great many more for Parlophone, Broadcast and Regal Zonophone from 1925-1945.

Hannah was involved in the development of the modern accordion. There was some frustration with the simple tonic/dominant basses for each row, which the Wyper Brothers had played on their B/C melodeons, and as well as Italian-style “chromatic accordions” with a regular 8 (diatonic) basses, a hybrid instrument, with a melodeon-style treble end (with exposed pallets) and a 24-button (2 × 12) piano accordion-style bass end was developed and marketed by A. H. Wilkinson & Co. Ltd. of Glasgow, under their “Wilkinson’s Excelsior” brand. The latter model is featured in Wilkinson’s Accordion Tutor for 19 and 21 key Chromatic Melodeons (Glasgow, 1926), where it is shown being played by “William Hannah, Scotland’s premier accordionist” and described as the “Hannah Model”. “The outer row of the melody keys contains the tones of “B” major, the inner row those of “C” major; so, all notes of the chromatic scale can be played on these instruments.”

This was the foundation of Jimmy Shand’s development of the Hohner Organola B/C in the 1930s and his “Shand Morino” B/C/C# button accordion of the 1950s as well as the B/C button accordions which became, and remain, highly popular in the Irish tradition.

“In a BBC survey of the district last year his popularity was made very evident by the large number who plumped for him above all other musical items” Linlithgowshire Gazette 7 January 1944.

Scottish or Foursome Reel

William Hannah and his Band

Parlophone Matrix CE8160-1 Catalogue F.3270. Recorded Glasgow 1937.

The Dashing White Sergeant

William Hannah and his Band

Parlophone Matrix CE8158-1 Catalogue F.3270. Recorded Glasgow 1937.

The Barren Rocks of Aden

Accordeon Solo; On his Wilkinson’s “Excelsior” Accordeon; With Violin and Piano Accompaniment.

Parlophone Matrix E 795 Catalog F.3094. Recorded London 1926.

Caledonian Circle

Accordeon Solo; On his Wilkinson’s “Excelsior” Accordeon; With Violin and Piano Accompaniment.

Parlophone Matrix E793 Catalogue F 3094. Recorded London 1926.

Scotia Quickstep

Parlophone Matrix A 3494 Catalogue E-3655. Recorded London 1929.

Boston Two-Step

Parlophone Matrix CE10607-1 Catalogue F.3339. Recorded Glasgow 1940.

St Bernard’s Waltz (Little Annie Rooney; Peggy O’Neil; Molly O’Morgan; Maggie Murphy’s Home)

Accordion Solo With Pianoforte accompaniment. Recorded Glasgow 1940.

Parlophone Matrix CE 10611-1 Catalogue F.3339. Recorded

The Road to the Isles

Accordeon Solo; On his Wilkinson’s “Excelsior” Accordeon; With Violin and Piano Accompaniment.

Parlophone Matrix E444 Catalogue F.3090. Recorded London 1925.

Circassion Circle

Accordeon Solo; On his Wilkinson’s “Excelsior” Accordeon; With Violin and Piano Accompaniment.

Parlophone Matrix E441 Catalogue F.3090. Recorded London 1925.

Eightsome Reel – Maid of Perth

Accordeon Solo; With Violin and Piano Accompaniment.

Parlophone Matrix WE 1452 Catalogue F.3099. Recorded London 1927.

Foursome or Eightsome Reel

Reel Medley; Accordeon Solo; With Violin and Piano Accompaniment.

Parlophone Matrix WE 1460-2 Catalogue F.3095. Recorded London 1927.

Lassie Waltz

Including Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond

Parlophone Matrix WE 442-1 Catalogue F.3085. Recorded London 1925.

Lothian Quadrilles Figures I & II / III/ IV / V

Parlophone Matrix WE 449-1 / WE 450-1 / WE 451-1 / WE 452-1  Catalogue E-3147 / E-3147 / E-3148 / E-3148. Recorded London 1925.

These four tracks should play in sequence.

Lothian Quadrilles Figure VI

Parlophone Matrix E 453-1 Catalogue F.3085. Recorded London 1925.

Highland Waltz

Parlophone Matrix CE 8156-1 Catalogue F.3269. Recorded Glasgow 1937.

Rothesay Bay

Parlophone Matrix CE 8151-1 Catalogue F.3267. Recorded Glasgow 1937.

Highland Schottische

Parlophone Matrix CE 8152 Catalogue F.3267. Recorded

Circassion Circle

Parlophone Matrix CE 8157-1 Catalogue F.3269. Recorded Glasgow 1937.

Boston Two-Step

Parlophone CE 10607-1 Catalogue F.3339. Recorded Glasgow 1940.