Andy Stewart (musician) - Career

Career

The use of tartan patriotism and stereotypical Scottish humour goes back to Sir Harry Lauder and music hall songs. In the 1960s, this strand was continued by the entertainer Andy Stewart.

He was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1933, the son of a teacher. When he was five years old, the family moved to Perth, and then to Arbroath six years later. Even in early childhood, he loved imitating people and amazed his parents with impersonations of famous singers and actors. He attended Arbroath High School and then trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.

He had several international hit singles: "Come in-Come in", "Donald Where's Your Troosers?", "A Scottish Soldier" (which reached no. 1 in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, spent 36 weeks in the UK Singles Chart in 1961 and was in the top 50 in the USA for over a year), "Campbeltown Loch", "The Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre", "The Road to Dundee","The Battle's O'er", "Take Me Back", "Tunes Of Glory", and "Dr. Finlay" (1965). He is also remembered for being the compere of The White Heather Club. This was a BBC Scotland television programme that existed as an annual New Year's Eve party (1957–1968), and also as a weekly early-evening series (1960–1968). At the height of its popularity, the show had a viewership of 10 million.

"Donald Where's Your Troosers?" was a hit in 1961 and again in 1989. Stewart is said to have written the song in 10 minutes as he sat, minus trousers, in the lavatory of a recording studio. It was also featured on the American TV show Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles, sung by one of the terminators, played by Garrett Dillahunt. Stewart included an Elvis Presley impersonation half way through the song. On the strength of this comedy hit, Stewart toured Australia and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1968, doing impersonations of Dean Martin. His skill with different accents is also evident on "The Rumour", where the rumour moves across Scotland and into Ireland, with Stewart speaking in a different accent for each place.

Among the highlights of Andy Stewart's stage shows were his impersonations of other famous singers, including Tom Jones, Billy Eckstine, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, Johnny Ray, Elvis Presley, Petula Clark and Johnny Cash.

His albums, such as Scottish Soldier, The Best of Andy Stewart and Andy Stewart's Scotland, were also popular internationally. In 1973 he recorded a "live" album in Johannesburg, South Africa, entitled Andy Stewart in South Africa - White Heather Concert, which also featured accordionist Jimmy Blue, singers Alexander Morrison and Anna Desti and pianist Mark Simpson.

His international appeal was well-illustrated by his appearance before many thousands of people at the World Fair, New York in 1964, where he received a standing ovation. From the early 60s to the mid 80s, he frequently and successfully toured Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand. He appeared in concert throughout South Africa in 1968, 1971 and 1973. He also performed in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and in Singapore and Hong Kong. Coming out of retirement in 1991, he began tours at home and abroad once again.

A prolific lyricist, he penned words to many traditional Scottish tunes, e.g. "Green Hills of Tyrol" (which he called "A Scottish Soldier"), "The Black Bear" ("Tunes of Glory"), and "The Battle is Over"("The Battle's O'er") etc. He wrote his first lyric at the age of 14 (to a tune composed by his father) and called the song "My Hameland", which in 1969 (21 years later) became the title track of one of his most popular albums.

Stewart took part in the 1961 and 1962 Royal Variety Performances and also appeared before the Royal Family at a Christmas party at Windsor Castle.

"Scotch Corner", a Scottish television series (1972–1976) featured Andy Stewart and various guest singers and musicians. Some of the artists included in these broadcasts accompanied Stewart on his international White Heather concert tours during the 1970s. Andy's Party was another popular TV series on Grampian television in the late 70s.

From 1973 onwards, recurrent ill-health took its toll on Andy's voice and stage vitality, and in middle age he was not the exuberant, dynamic performer he had once been. Frequently hospitalised in the 1970s and '80s, he underwent several heart and stomach operations, including triple heart bypass surgery in 1986 and 1989.

In retirement, he moved back to Arbroath and died there in 1993. Coming out of retirement in 1991, he began touring once again and recorded two DVDs-CDs on the Scotdisc label. In 1993 a summer season at the Capitol Moat House Hotel in Edinburgh was cut short because of a back injury. A further long season for the following year was planned at the same venue. Shortly before he died, he gave a small concert at Arbroath High School (which he had attended) for the pupils. He was also due to appear in The "Pride of the Clyde" at Glasgow's Pavilion Theatre and other tours and concerts were planned. A sheltered housing scheme in Arbroath, 'Andy Stewart Court', was named in his memory.

Stewart died after giving one of his most renowned performances during a Gala Benefit Concert for Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS). He came to the Usher Hall in Edinburgh from his sick bed to appear for the children, and gave his last ever performance. Stewart's funeral took place at St Andrew's Church Arbroath on Friday 15 October. His family were joined by many stars and friends from the showbiz world. A large crowd gathered outside the church to pay their respects to "The Tartan trooper".

Stewart was awarded an MBE in 1976. He received the Freedom of Angus in 1987.

Stewart's son Ewan Stewart is an actor, whose film and television credits include Rob Roy, Titanic, Only Fools and Horses and River City.