Gay Charmers
The Gay Charmers, Swan Hill, Vic provided details of some of the Australian tunes in this archive. Band members: Stuart Simms (1941- ), ( piano); Moritz (Morrie Gierisch (1935- ) (button accordion, piano-accordion & concertina); Ron McFarlane (banjo), Mary Curtis (piano-accordion).
The National Library of Australia holds aural recordings of interviews conducted with the Gay Charmers and its members. [1]
The Gay Charmers and various of its members were audited and interviewed on a number of occasions by:
- Peter Ellis in August 1982 [2]
- John Meredith in August 1992 [3], Video recording of Gay Charmers Band playing for a daytime dance; located at; National Library of Australia ORAL TRC 6936/7.
- John Meredith and Rob Willis in August 1992 [4], The Gay Charmers Band plays for the annual Meatian Ball, held in the Meatian Hall, Meatian, Vic. on 21 August 1992. "Music and conversation. Each dance consists of three tunes, except the Barn Dance and the Monte Carlo. Microphones moved for better balance after the first two dances. Master of Ceremonies: Ken Gray. Band members: Stuart Simms (piano); Moritz Gierisch (button accordion, piano-accordion & concertina); Mary Curtis (piano-accordion); Ron McFarlane (banjo); plus electric rhythm box."
- John Meredith and Rob Willis in August 1992 [5]. "Stuart's musical background; self-taught piano; accommodating playing with an accordion tuned to a lower pitch; history of the Gay Charmers Band; band charges and commercial viability; interjection by John Meredith about the commercialisation of folk music; crowd response; entertainment during intervals in playing; origin of the band's name; highlights of their playing careers; the band uniform; embarrassing moments; Mori's memory of playing to a dead bride; faux pas at a VIP's wife's birthday; playing on a hot night with only sherry to drink; pipers at Echuca; thick fog on way to Donald Vic.; Mori's musical background; his collision with a sleeping horse when cycling to an engagement; playing with the Gay Charmers; learning to play the same versions of tunes; importance of a good introduction; not knowing names of tunes; death of the Band's drummer; playing music to tempo required by dancers. DAT 66. Playing: Scottish Medley; Dan Murphy's Door (piano in F sharp); Old Bullock Dray (gypsy tap); British Grenadiers."
- Rob Willis in April 1995 [6], Rob Willis in April 1995 [7], "Mary Curtis interviewed". Also available online [8]
- Rob Willis in September 2006 [9] "Stuart Simms and Peter Ellis discuss old time dancing in Central Victoria; "New Vogue" dancing, its complications and social impact; the demise of old time dancing, the Gay Charmers Band.
The Gay Charmers took their name from Lake Charm, near Swan Hill. They played for local dances for more than 50 years, from 1960.
"The Gay Charmers with their lead pianist and tremendous vamper Stuart Simms, and talented banjo player Ron McFarlane have also been an inspiration in my musical direction.", Band Portrait, p90 -- Peter Ellis, "The Waltz, The Polka and All Kinds of Dance Music", 2007.
There is a recording of The Gay Charmers Dance Band at Meatian Victoria 1992.
