I was born in Glen Morriston, a crofting community; set in a secluded Glen in the Scottish Highlands nestling between heather covered hills, and lush green valleys. As a boy I would be found on the high hills with my father, tending his sheep and cattle, a transistor radio held to my ear.

When I wasn't on the hill you would find me fishing on the river Morriston with my pals. I think we must have fished that river dry, the amount of time we spent there. I look back on my childhood in the Glens with great joy, remembering our house full of people laughing, sharing joys and sorrows, and singing songs and telling stories.

Some years later we moved to Inverness where I bought an old second hand guitar. In those days, I often used to sneak in the back doors of local pubs to listen to the local folk groups, and rock bands, and then rush home and thrash out three chords on my out-of-tune guitar.

As soon as my seventeenth birthday dawned, I got my driving licence and bought an old van and immediately became a roadie for a local rock group, playing gigs in various venues around the Highlands.

When some years later, I met compere Jimmy Smith while playing at a ceilidh. Jimmy arranged music in local Hotels in the area, and fixed bookings for local musicians. One night, he suggested that I come along to the Highland Hotel in Strathpeffer the following Friday night and sing two or three songs, as it would be really quiet at that time of year.

Friday finally came around, and I took my old guitar out of the cupboard, fitted new strings, and headed to my first real gig at the Highland Hotel.

I was young, totally innocent and naïve, and profoundly grateful that there would be only a few people in the audience if I dropped a chord or two, or my voice cracked and dried up. I opened the big wooden doors of the hotel, and walked in with my guitar case.

There before my horrified eyes sat over two hundred people, seated row after row, right to the back of the hall! Gasp! What was I to do? I felt so alone and my heart was beating so loudly, that I felt everyone must hear it thumping. It was too late to turn back. Jimmy was smiling into the darkness beyond the footlights, and already introducing me to the audience.

I couldn't move, and felt as if my feet were nailed to the wooden floor. Somehow, I had to find the strength to cross the expanse of floor, climb up to that little stage, unpack my guitar, and get behind the microphone.

I can't remember the next few moments, but the next thing I remember, I was standing there centre stage, strumming wildly, and singing out with all my might… I had arrived!
Four or five numbers later Jimmy had to drag me away still holding on to the mike. I couldn't believe my eyes or ears. The audience was clapping and cheering wildly…for me! … They actually liked me!

A few years passed before I finally climbed back up onto a stage again. I had spent most of the intervening time learning new songs and learning to play new instruments. I felt I was finally ready.

I answered an advertisement in the music press, 'Bass Player requires Country Singer, & Guitar Player.' I didn't know diddly about playing Country but Hey that didn't seem to matter at all. I went along to the audition and found out that the budding country player knew less about Country than I did. I said, "Do you play another instrument?" He said, "yes I play the accordion" and that was the beginning of a fruitful partnership that was to last for years.

I must admit we had more enthusiasm than talent to start with, but gradually we refined our craft. As well as playing different instruments, Guitar, Pipes, Mandolin, Accordion, Bodaran, we introduced comedy into our act, which was a great hit with the audiences. After doing this act for a number of years I felt like a change.

I wanted to do less of the traditional music and start writing more of my own music. My business commitments were taking more and more of my time and I was spending very little quality time with my family, something had to be done. I woke up one morning and decided I had spent long enough on the road, and I'd grown weary of the constant travelling and being away from home.

I had written many songs over the years, many on odd scraps of paper that eventually ended up in the bin, because I wasn't happy with some part of it, and I rejected a chorus here, a verse there. I really wanted to record by now and had been looking for an affordable local studio, but most of the major studios were just too expensive for me. I desperately wanted to be involved in the production of my own music.

Then I heard from a friend about Ex-Procol Harum guitarist Richard Brown, who had a studio located right next door to his home, which he used mostly for his own music but occasionally for selected artistes. I contacted Richard and found his facilities more than adequate and affordable, and thankfully he was in tune with where I wanted to go musically.

I finished "Dream Maker" which is an easy listening album, in the latter part of 2001. Fans of all ages can relate to this album and it has been received enthusiastically all over the world. The song "Angie" was released by Comstock Records on their International Country Sampler and has been played on Radio Stations in Europe, America, and Australia. It even made it onto 'The Most Played Major and Indie Artist Chart.'

I take this opportunity to thank Frank Fara of Comstock Records and all the DJ's World-wide who have played "Angie" as well as other songs from the "Dream Maker" Album. Without their help and assistance and enthusiasm, independent artists like myself would never be heard. They do a wonderful job, and I take my hat off to them.

My second album "Homeland" was released in November 2002. The songs I have written are predominantly about Scotland, and the feudal periods of our history. Describing a time of imposed repatriation and the bitter oppression of Scotland's people. I have also included some of my favourite traditional songs on this album. So; for the die-hard traditionalists out there; eat your heart out! This is not what you might expect.

My third Album "Monday Morning Blues" was released in January 2004 and it has receiving excellent reviews and World-wide acclaim charting on many European charts and reaching # 17 on the World most played Indie charts.

My latest single "Tall Ship" was released in May 2005. It tells the story of the plight of Highlanders who were forcibly transported to Virginia during the mid 17th Century. The story will grab your imagination and take you on a nostalgic journey into the past.

I am currently working in the studio at the moment on 14 self penned tracks to be released before 2006. This is where I am musically at the moment. I thank you for taking the time to read this, and for listening to my musical efforts, and not least, for becoming part of my life, and together helping redefine our destinies.

Bookings
Bookings taken now for 2006. Singer Songwriter solo sets, performing a wide variety of self-penned songs please e-mail for details.

Favourite Guitars: Gibson Les Paul, Ovation, and Ibanez Classical.