 In 1960 he formed his first band The Islanders, with whom he made one album.It contained one of the first songs he wrote; the "Pawn Song" drew on his experiences in the business.For the next ten years he played in two more bands, The Skerries and The Other Half, and was in demand as a session musician for the likes of Hamish Imlach, Gaberlunzie and Watt Nicoll.