Willie Johnson
b. 19?? d. 2005
NB a full entry on Willie is in preparation.
Willie Johnson was born in Shetland, but settled in Edinburgh in 19?? He became leader of the Edinburgh Zetland Fiddlers in the 1960s, through to the early 1980s.
Willie never made a commercial recording, but we have some old tapes which give some idea of Willie’s energetic style, which led many great sessions at the fiddlers. Willie encouraged and inspired many younger players at a time when there was very little commercially-available or broadcast fiddle music that had an ounce of the drive you can hear in his playing.
Photo taken April 1975, former Zetland Halls, Pilrig Street, Edinburgh. Celia Smith (piano) and Willie Johnson (fiddle). Photographer Christine Hoy.