Dougie MacLean

by Craig Harris
 
Dougie MacLean is one of Scotlands premier singer-songwriters. A past member of the Tannahill Weavers and Silly Wizard, MacLean has used his songs, including Caledonia, The Singing Land and Solid Ground, to capture the natural beauty of his hometown on the border between the Highlands and the Valley of Strathmore.
 
MacLean first attracted attention as a teenager when he formed a band with future Silly Wizard members Andy Stewart and Martin Hadden. While performing as a street musician in Kinross in 1974, MacLean was invited to join the Tannahill Weavers. He remained with the group for three years before he moved to Germany and launched his solo career. For a while, MacLean also performed in a trio with Alex Campbell and Alan Roberts. MacLeans breakthrough came with the release of the album, Caledonia, in 1979. Returning to Scotland in 1980, he spent six months as the replacement for fiddler Johnny Cunningham in Silly Wizard. Although he temporarily returned to the Tannahill Weavers, afterwards, he resumed his solo career in 1981.
 
In addition to his busy schedule as a touring singer/songwriter, MacLean has been an influential record executive, having founded Dunkeld recording studios and record label with his wife, Jennifer, in 1983. Among the many tradition-rooted Scottish musicians that have recorded for the label, whose slogan is Scotlands new heritage music, are Sheena Wellington, David Allison, Gordon Duncan, Hamish Moore and Frieda Morrison.
 
A tour of the United States in 1989 was conducted in conjunction with Fiona Ritchies National public radio show, Thistle & Shamrock. The following year, MacLean returned to the U.S. for a 17-concert tour with other Dunkeld artists. In 1995, MacLean played guitar and sang harmony on country artist Kathy Matteas album, Good News and toured as opening act for Matteas North American tour .
 
Several of MacLeans songs were heard on the soundtrack of the film, The Last of the Mohicans. In 1993, MacLean served as music director of the TAG Theater Companys production, A Scots Quair. A 40-minute ary on MacLeans life and music, The Land: The Songs of Dougie MacLean was aired by the BBC.
 
Tracks from MacLeans three albums on the Plant Life label were assembled on the 1997 album, The Plant Life Years. A sampling of tunes from MacLeans albums on Dunkeld were included on the 1995 album, The Dougie MacLean Collection.