Career
In the early days of his career he formed (briefly and unofficially) part of the band The Humblebums with two other ‘unknowns’ Gerry Rafferty and Billy Connolly and Tam Harvey. He became nationally prominent as a founding member of The Boys of the Lough, a Scots- Irish folk group, with whom he played for over 30 years. He received several honorary citizenships in the USA.
Simultaneously, Bain pursued a solo career in collaborative and television projects with Pelicula Films Director, Mike Alexander and Producer, Douglas Eadie, working on several international television series: 'The Down home Recordings', 'The Shetland Sessions', 'Aly Meets The Cajuns', and four series of the Transatlantic Sessions - in 2010 winning the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, "Good Tradition Award". Since the early eighties Bain has regularly collaborated and recorded with prominent musicians from across the globe, including: Jerry Douglas, Emmylou Harris, Mark O'Connor, Jay Ungar, Mary Black, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Dan Tyminski, Rosanne Cash, James Taylor, Eddi Reader, Paul Brady, Darrell Scott, Michael Doucet, Martha Wainwright, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, John Martyn, Danny Thompson, Iris DeMent, Karen Matheson, Donal Lunny, Joan Osborne, Allison Moorer, Bruce Molsky and Allan MacDonald, bringing traditional music to a constantly widening audience.
In 1993 his autobiography "Fiddler on the Loose" was published by "Mainstream". It was written with Alastair Clark.
Bain has received many honours for his services to music: in 1994 he was awarded the MBE for his musical accomplishments. In 1989 he received a Silver Disc from the Record Industry Association for his 'Aly Meets the Cajuns' recording. A further Silver Disc followed in 1991 for The Pearl, recorded on his own Edinburgh Record Label, Whirlie Records. He also has received five honorary Doctor of Music (DMus) degrees: Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama; Stirling University; The University of St Andrews (2003); The Open University (2005) and Edinburgh University (2009). In addition, on the 27th November 2007, Bain - along with Phil Cunningham - were awarded Doctor of Letters from Glasgow Caledonian University for their contributions to music and to the education and encouragement of young musicians.
In 2005, together with Edinburgh’s Phil Cunningham, he won the BBC’s “Best Duo of the Year” award.
In 2006, a television programme celebrating his 60th year, documenting Aly Bain's life and works, was broadcast by the BBC.
In 2006, Bain was inducted into the Scots Traditional Music Hall of Fame.
In 2007, Bain and Cunningham celebrated their 20th anniversary of touring as a fiddle and accordion duo. Bain also tours with Swedish musician: (mandola player), Ale Möller, with whom he has recorded two albums.
In 2009 Bain collaborated with Nicola Benedetti to create on an hour long television programme for BBC Scotland: "When Nicola Benedetti Met Aly Bain", broadcast in 2009. In 2010, together with Pelicula Films and Billy Connolly, Bain made a further hour long television programme for BBC: "Fishing for Poetry", celebrating the life and works of the Scottish Poet, Norman MacCaig.
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