Don McGlashan

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Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan at the Kings Arms Tavern in 2007
Don McGlashan at the Kings Arms Tavern in 2007
Background information
Born 1959
Auckland, New Zealand
Instrument(s) Singer, songwriter, euphonium
Years active 1979–present
Label(s) Arch Hill
Associated acts Auckland Sinfonia
From Scratch
Blam Blam Blam
The Front Lawn
The Mutton Birds
The Seven Sisters
Website www.donmcglashan.com

Don McGlashan (born 1959) is a New Zealand musician and songwriter who has been a member of bands such as The Plague, From Scratch, The Whizz Kids, Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, and The Mutton Birds. He composed several pieces for the Limbs Dance Company.

Contents

[edit] Instruments

McGlashan has played a number of different instruments throughout his musical career. Some of his earliest instrumental work was with the French horn and percussion for the Auckland Symphonia. Working with From Scratch, from 1979, McGlashan played a number of more eclectic percussion instruments, such as PVC piping struck with jandals; the name of the group came from the fact that they produced their own instruments 'from scratch'.

With Blam Blam Blam, McGlashan played drums and euphonium. He later picked up guitar duties for his work with The Front Lawn and The Mutton Birds. McGlashan has also collaborated with other New Zealand musicians, playing the euphonium in tracks by Dave Dobbyn ('It Dawned On Me'), Tim Finn and on Time On Earth, by Crowded House.

[edit] Solo Albums

McGlashan's first solo album, entitled Warm Hand, was released in May 2006.

[edit] Awards

[edit] New Zealand Music Awards

McGlashan won the 'Best Song' award in the 1982 New Zealand Music Awards, for the Blam Blam Blam song Don't Fight It Marsha, It's Bigger Than Both Of Us. In the 1989 awards, McGlashan, along with Harry Sinclair, received three awards for their work as The Front Lawn: 'Best Film Soundtrack / Compilation', 'Most Promising Group' and 'International Achievement'. In 1993, McGlashan's group The Mutton Birds won a further three New Zealand Music Awards: 'Album of the Year', 'Single of the Year' (for Nature), and 'Best Group'.

Warm Hand has been announced as a finalist for 'Album of the Year' in the 2006 awards. His work on the album has also placed him in the running for the 'Best Male Solo Artist' award. McGlashan, SJD and Ed McWilliams were nominated for the 'Best Producer' technical award, but did not win.

[edit] Silver Scrolls

McGlashan won the 1994 APRA Silver Scroll, a prestigious award for songwriting, for Anchor Me - performed by The Mutton Birds. In 2006, McGlashan had two songs nominated for this award - a feat last achieved by Dave Dobbyn in 1995. Bathe in the River, written by McGlashan for the film No. 2, later won the award.

[edit] Other

In 2001, McGlashan received a University of Auckland Literary Fellowship for song writing.

Street Legal won 6 AFTA Awards in 2003 including: Best Original Music: Don McGlashan.

[edit] Soundtracks

[edit] Movies

[edit] Short Films

[edit] TV

  • Mortimer's Patch (NZ 1979) (with Wayne Laird and Keith Hunter)
  • Terry and the Gunrunners (NZ 1985)
  • Street Legal (NZ 2000-)
  • Orange Roughies (NZ 2006)

[edit] Acting in film

[edit] Shorts

The Front Lawn:

  • Walkshort 1987:- all the characters were played by Don McGlashan and Harry Sinclair.
  • The Lounge Bar 1989: Don McGlashan - Mike
  • Linda's Body 1990: Don McGlashan - Ben

[edit] Feature Film

  • Perfect Strangers (NZ 2003): singing "Anchor Me" with band in bar.

[edit] Theatre

  • co-founder of Watershed Theatre, Auckland 1990 (disbanded 1995)
  • Play 2, Maidment Studio Theatre, October, 2002: Don McGlashan played a choirmaster.

[edit] Dance

[edit] Music for Limbs Dance Company

New Zealand

  • Arcade (1981)
  • This Is A Love Song (1983)
  • Decoy (1984)
  • Souvenirs (1984)
  • Vigil Switch (1985)
  • Now Is The Hour (1988)

[edit] Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians

New York, 1983

  • He co-composed the scores to two new Dean pieces
  • Later appointed Music Rehearsal Director.
  • Toured with the company on US and European tours, playing drums and synthesiser.

[edit] References

  • Chunn, Mike and Chunn, Jeremy, The Mechanics of Popular Music, A New Zealand Perspective, GP Publications, 1995. ISBN 1-86956-130-9
  • Dennis, Jonathan and Bieringa, Jan (eds), Film In Aotearoa New Zealand, Victoria University Press, 2nd Edition, 1996. ISBN 0-86473-309-7
  • Dix, John, Stranded In Paradise, Penguin, 2005. ISBN 0-14-301953-8
  • Eggleton, David, Ready To Fly, Craig Potton, 2003. ISBN 1-877333-06-9
  • Martin, Helen and Edwards, Sam, New Zealand Film 1912-1996, Oxford, 1997. ISBN 0-19-558336-1
  • Spittle, Gordon, Counting The Beat, GP Publications, 1997. ISBN 1-86956-213-5

[edit] External links