“If the sound of a bagpipe touches your heart, your ethnic heritage matters not”
So says Piper Wayne Francis as he looks back on the path that led him to become a bagpiper.
When I was a kid, “I remember watching old black and white movies on TV. The pipers began playing and the reinforcements arrived- they always carried themselves nobly.”
However, it was the live broadcast of President John F. Kennedy’s funeral in late 1963 that stirred Francis’ soul. “I saw that having a bagpiper at a funeral was a special event. I was 10 at the time and remember the great solemn honor that the bagpipers brought to the day.
“At that time, every American boy and girl wanted to play the guitar. I did spend a long time playing the guitar – however, it never felt fluid or natural.”
Interestingly, it was a budding friendship with a Scotsman that pushed him over the piping edge.
“He and I began exchanging Christmas presents and he sent me a cassette of The Strathclyde Police Pipe Band. I loved the sound – it spoke to my soul.
Around the same time, I learned of a pipe band in nearby Tow Son (Maryland) that was offering free lessons as a way of bolstering their roster and so I started studying with The John F. Nicoll Pipe Band. For whatever reason, I found it quite natural to play the practice channel.”
“Whenever I would become discouraged, there were individuals that would remind me of how far I came and encouraged me to keep learning”.That would keep Mr. Francis on the path to becoming a bagpiper.
“I had a moment of inspiration
early on whilst learning to play that said, ‘This is something you can do for those who are experiencing loss and in grief.”
“For myself, every time I play at a funeral is my opportunity to help bring a sense of honor; so that family and friends gathered will always remember this day.”
These days, Francis performs Weddings, Surprise Parties, Graduations, Golf Tournaments, Pub Crawls and Funerals.
Recently he played at The World War ll Memorial in Washington DC, to honor the Code Talkers who served on Iwo Jima during the conflict with Japan.
Marine Cpl. Peter MacDonald is one of four remaining Navajo Code Talkers.
Cpl. MacDonald enlisted when he was 15 and he and 120 other Navajo Indians provided secure combat communications during the battle.
The Japanese were completely baffled by this strange language.
The movie “Wind Talkers”, featuring Nicolas Cage tells the historical story.
On a pleasant sunny day, he spoke of us all being Americans regardless of our ethnic backgrounds.
Mr. Francis feels positive about the future of piping and notes the impact that young people today play in keeping the musical tradition alive.
“When I was in solo competition years ago, the young ones rocked the scene. Starting young is never a bad thing if you are under the tutorship of someone who knows what they are doing.
Piping enriched my life in so many ways and has allowed me the opportunity to enrich the lives of those who hear my music
I think that so long as pipe bands and universities promote the instrument with outreach, it can only improve. Tutorship is a great way for someone to learn.
For the immediate future, Francis plans to further diversify his music portfolio.
“Currently I play the Scottish bagpipe and the whistle. This year I am learning to play Ireland’s little-known bagpipe, the Uilleann pipe. It is quieter and sweeter than its highland cousin.
Wayne Francis
410-591-2322
