Years active 1940s–2014 Albums Hand It Down | Role Musician Name Bob McQuillen | |
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Occupation(s) Musician, composer, teacher People also search for Cathie Whitesides, Laurie Andres, Rodney Miller, Bob Mcquillen, Laurie Andres & Cathie Whitesides | ||
Salute to bob mcquillen
Bob "Mr. Mac" McQuillen (June 27, 1923 – February 4, 2014) was a teacher, musician, and prolific composer of contra dance tunes. His work in the traditional arts was honored when he was recognized as a National Heritage Fellow.
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Early life
Bob McQuillen took piano lessons as a child, but didn't grow attached to music until after his time as a Marine during World War II. He started going to contra dances in and around Peterborough, New Hampshire, several times a week, and eventually joined the Ralph Page Orchestra. At a contra dance in 1946, he met Priscilla Scribner, whom he married a year later. They had three children, Dan, Rebecca, and William.
After returning from the Korean War, McQuillen settled down and became an industrial arts teacher at Peterborough High School. At some point, he was a police officer and a school bus driver.
Contra dance years
Over the decades that Bob McQuillen was involved in the contra dance community, he wrote more than 1,500 dance tunes, most of which he named after people or events in his life. This began with his first tune, "Scotty O'Neil," named after one of his students who had died. He was the subject of the documentary movie Paid To Eat Ice Cream: Bob McQuillen and New England Contra Dancing in 2001.
Death
Bob McQuillen suffered a massive stroke while at a restaurant on Sunday, January 26, 2014. He was taken to Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he died on Tuesday, February 4, exactly 29 years after his wife.