Blàr Dùbhghlas
As would be said in Gaelic, Blair Douglas "did no need
to buy" his musical ability, he inherited it from both sides of his
family. But genetics alone cannot explain this rare talent. What Blair
has done over the years to hone and perfect his talents through good
times and not-so-good times by dint of sheer hard and often thankless
work. His musical expertise is a distillation of the tuition he received
and the influences to which he was exposed, the years of playing and
composing, and his recording and producing experience.
Blair was
born and brought up in Skye. On his mother's side he has strong
connections with North Uist while his father's people had moved to Skye
from the Border country around 150 years ago. When he was 15 the family
relocated to Glasgow but returned to their home in Braes after a number
of years in the city.
Blair was inspired to buy an accordion
after hearing the playing of the late, lamented Niall Cheòis of Lewis.
In 1973, having quickly mastered the instrument he teamed up with Calum
and Rory MacDonald, fellow Skyemen with North Uist connections. Together
they formed the Run Rig Dance Band to play at the North Uist & Bernera
Association concert in Glasgow. The band's background was in
Gaelic/Highland music though somewhat tempered by exposure to rock so
much so that part of their original repertoire allegedly included "gems"
such as Whisky in the Jar and Snoopy vs the Red Baron, both classics for
70's cover bands.
During this time the band played mostly at the
weekends allowing Blair to continue as a student at Glasgow University
where he graduated with an economics degree. A short flirtation with a
full time playing career in the late 70's proved unsuccessful and
eventually led to Blair and Runrig (the 'Dance Band' tag having by this
time been dumped) going their separate ways. However Blair did return to
play on Run Rig's Recovery in 1981.
His first solo album,
Celtology, came out in 1984 and featured songs rather than his better
known instrumental style. It also included a few compositions which were
not his own. Subsequent CDs are remarkable because the material is
largely Blair's own. Beneath the Beret published in 1990 included Kate
Martin's Waltz which became an instant hit with traditional musicians
and remains a classic of the genre and Solus m'Aigh a beautifully
haunting song which he dedicated to his friend Fr. Colin MacInnes. A
Summer in Skye, many of whose themes are based on Alexander Smith's
celebrated book of the same name was launched in 1996. Nic Mathain's
Thank You on this CD was written for Blair's wife Marion, née Matheson.
Other highlights on this album are A' Bhean Ionmhainn, The Landlord's
Walk, and Nelson Mandela's Welcome to the City of Glasgow. The latter,
like so many Blair compositions, has been picked up by other performers.
It was always going to be a tall order for Blair to match the
originality and class of A Summer in Skye but in 2004's Angels from the
Ashes it has met its match. He has achieved this is, providing us with a
beautifully crafted CD which, though being remarkable in its
originality, is unmistakably the work of Blair Douglas. It features
delightful airs (the composition of which is a speciality of Blair's)
waltzes, pipe tunes which are destined quickly to become part of the
many pipers' repertoire, laments including An Gaidheal Uasal for Donald
Archie MacDonald, a collector with the School of Scottish Studies, a
gentleman, and an exemplary Gael.
The album also introduces a
strong Cajun flavour to Blair's work and on this showing, what a rich
musical seam it promises to be.
In the tradition of many Celtic
composers, Blair's music draws from the deep well of social and
political injustice, both at home and abroad. The plight of the Gael
provides the local backdrop while 20th century icons like Nelson
Mandela, Martin Luther King and Michael Collins bring, through their own
local struggles, an international dimension. Where some would have
turned to anger and brought bitterness and cynicism to the table,
Blair's music exudes hope and brings a different kind of fruit.
The music of Blair Douglas comes from the heart, touches the soul, and
was born beneath the ever present gaze of Ben Tianavaig.
Blair,
firmly rooted in Uist and Skye with Border connections, profoundly
influenced by Gaelic music but drawing on musical idioms (and political
struggles) from Scotland and Ireland to Africa, now tunes into the music
of the persecuted Acadian minority in Louisiana. Where next? Who knows,
but we're looking forward to it.
He has two children, Iain Angus
and Ceitidh.
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