David Knight thought someone was pulling a prank on him when he learned he had received the Queen's New Year's Honours Certificate.

"When you get involved in pulling pranks yourself, you get cautious,'' Mr.

Knight said, smiling. "I'm still not sure what or who instigated it.'' "I don't look for honour, so this was a bit of a surprise,'' he added.

Mr. Knight, who has been involved with the Salvation Army for more than 40 years, said there were many people who were vital to his success, especially his Salvation Army friends the late Edmund Hollinsid, Bernard Doors, and former bandmaster Ernest Bean.

"They were instrumental in my journey in the Salvation Army,'' he explained.

"The recognition belongs to them as much as it does to me because we laboured together in the field of music.'' Mr. Knight also attributed his success to God.

"Through all of it I give God the glory for everything that has happened in my life,'' he said.

Ironically, the 71-year-old musician's award comes as the Salvation Army celebrates its 100th anniversary.

But Mr. Knight said his life of music began when his mother and grandmother insisted he take up an instrument at the age of eight.

"I was reluctant because I didn't want to play the piano,'' he recollected.

"They gave me the choice of either playing the violin or the piano, and I chose the piano.'' Mr. Knight, who is known as `Mr. Music' to many people on the Island, said it was his first piano teacher, Agatha Henderson, who "put him on line''.

He described her as a "tremendous'' teacher who really cared about her students.

Mr. Knight first became involved with the Salvation Army through the Hamilton Boy Scouts.

"One day I went home with the Doars boys and when I asked what they were doing later,'' Mr. Knight explained. "They said they were going to Boy Scouts and then to band practice. I was interested and went with them.'' He later joined the Scout Bugle Band under the advice of former bandmaster Ernest Bean.

At 15, Mr. Knight became involved with the Happy Smith Dance Band and played the piano with the band for three years.

And it was during this time that he first tried his hand at composing music.

Mrs. Hester Ming, who was part of the Central School Parent Teacher Association, asked Mr. Knight to write music for words written by Florence Webb Maxwell.

"The only thing I had done was play with the band, but I tried it,' he said.

"The fact that I was a Central boy myself motivated me.'' His composition was accepted and as a result the "Song of Central'' was created.

Mr. Knight said this was the "springboard'' to a life of composing.

All of his pieces throughout the years have been motivated by an event or a person, he said.

"I haven't got to the place where I just sit down and write something,'' he said. "I must have some kind of motivation.'' In 1944, Mr. Knight joined the Salvation Army and in 1958 he married his Canadian wife Marion. He has two adult children, Wayne and Susan, and four grandchildren.

Mr. Knight said when he gave his heart to God and became a Christian, he decided to do his best for the Lord.

"It seemed he wanted me to be in the field of music,'' Mr. Knight reflected.

"Throughout the years all kinds of doors have opened because of music.'' Mr. Knight has been asked to write pieces for the Salvation Army.

One of his songs "Just One'' was published after he won a Salvation Army territorial competition.

"I got a phone call about the competition and was told to send something in,'' he explained. "I ended up winning first prize. When something like that happens, I really appreciate it.'' He has had the opportunity to visit many places, including Toronto and Newfoundland, because of music.

He first went to Newfoundland in 1974 and was invited back in 1992 with his son Wayne to conduct a music clinic. He was then asked to return the next year to do another one.

But Mr. Knight said the most touching piece that he ever wrote was the one he wrote for his mother's funeral.

"That was the fastest that I ever wrote a piece,'' he recalled. "I started it in the morning and the funeral was in the afternoon.'' The song, entitled "The Pilgrim's Track'', was written for his daughter Susan to sing, he explained.

Mr. Knight said he still enjoys playing in the Salvation Army St. George's Corps Band under his son, who is now the bandmaster.

And he recently composed a march called "Bermuda Centennial'' to celebrate the 100th year of the Salvation Army in Bermuda.

"So many doors have opened for me because of music, it's unbelievable,'' he said. "There are many places that I would never have been able to go if it had not been for music.'' MR. MUSIC David Knight