Lewis
"Scan" Tester was born in Sussex in 1887 to a musical
family. He was something of a prodigy playing from the age of 8
at all sorts of social functions where music was required. While
his greatest prowess was on the Anglo-German concertina, he was
first rate step-dancer, a fine singer and he also played fiddle,
melodeon and tambourine. He was famous in his local area and played
almost every weekend at The Stone Quarry Pub for over 40 years.
In the mid 1950s, folklorist and musician, Reg Hall met him and
invited him to play in his loose-knit band of musicians. Their playing
schedule covered the usual pub gigs and private parties and also
included a trip to London where Scan played before a full house
at the Royal Festival Hall. Game to go anywhere, Scan accepted invitations
to clubs and festivals around the country and thus became known
and loved by a public beyond his own place and time. Mostly recorded
by Reg Hall, these 55 tracks - expanded and remastered from the
1990 vinyl LP - open a window to our musical past.
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