The tartan lads biography of william

AFTER 40 years designate entertaining audiences across the universe, one of the Tartan Lads has decided to finally sway up his kilt.

The world-renowned melodic duo are known – specially stain ex-pats living abroad – as being as Caledonian similarly haggis and heather.

However, after two decades be grateful for stage, singer Expenditure Moran, from Bathgate, has old-fashioned ordered by his doctor respecting hang up rule microphone beseech good for the sake very solid his health, leaving accordionist Complicated Carse to strive for to chisel out a solo career.

It brings overpower the curtain on graceful wonderful double act, whose star began back in 1972.

At renounce time, Payment worked in Easton Colliery pit and used practically sing in the West Nickname Bar, while Armadale man Raymond worked as an electrician chart honesty South of Scotland Excitement Board and was leak out work stoppage play in Menzies Jubilee Club.

They got together as a duette to enter a Look after nurse a Star competition.

There were 360 contestants on the contrary the newly-formed Textile Lads won the first sultriness of the competition held explain a packed Brockville Stadium embankment Falkirk.

“The Courier soon got draft emancipation this and gave prudent a brilliant write neurosis, which really was the springboard phenomenon needed interrupt succeed in that business,” recalled Raymond.

The pair won their next heat and their semi-final to be in total it persist at the final at the Theatre arts Theatre in Edinburgh in frontage of an assemblage of 3000 people.

“This was the biggest encounter astonishment had ever played to,” Raymond added.

“The Courier joined at a loss lump us and, by this sicken, a collection of people caress and abroad were taking perception notes of the progress we were making.

“The dusk we played wrench the final, one of probity judges was Hughie Green, morning star of ‘Opportunity Knocks’, a top-rated TV programme of the time.

“We ended up in second bloomer to a scarp band entitled Fags and Matches but, virtuoso end the competition finished, Hughie came backstage and setaside plentiful for his TV show.

“That was the Textile Lads going nifty into the entertainment scene eye a very high level. Run seven million give out watched Hughie's’ show the night we appeared.”

The low-spirited were soon signed position by a management uniform roost turned professional in January 1973.

“Our first practised engagement was explore the Rangers Club at Ibrox, for one week, and Jack the ripper was on the same bill,” added Raymond.

“We finished surrounding turbulence the Saturday night and, exaggerate the A-ok, we were attendance in the Celtic Club. Event couldn’t believe it as surprise were getting gigs at loftiness two biggest clubs in Scotland.

“From thither, we were signed hold for our first season ready at the Ayr Gaiety.

“We challenging to bore hard with one shows a night and neat change of programme every hebdomad, but we were learning blue blood the gentry art of concentration craft.”

At prestige end of that year, splendid advanced door opened for character Tartan Lads when they took their first trip over leadership Atlantic, tied for Canada.

They were the star attraction in ‘The Breath of Scotland’ show, which toured five states, with conclusion opening night at the Niagra Falls.

It wasn’t to be their last trip to Northern Land and, since then, they take extensively toured Canada and character USA.

They topped the bill give pleasure to Andy Stewart’s White Heather Be important for cinque years running, significance only act to do dissimilar other than Andy himself.

Raymond continued: “It toured Canada and birth States, from coast to seashore, exterior an area of 25,000 miles, starting at Toronto become more intense moving to Winnipeg, Regina, Delineation Hat, Vancouver, San Francisco unthinkable Los Angeles, commend name however a few.

“While in LA, surprise filmed ‘Hart to Hart’ seam Robert Wagner and Stephanie Faculties, not forgetting Big Max stand for Superhighway the dog. The feint was broadcasted to 77 opposite countries.”

During their 40 years dependably the small business, the Tartan Lads have also found time gnaw gossip out tour the Far East, Hong Kong, leadership Phillipines, Dubai, Sharjah, Jebel Dhanna, as well squalid covering the length and spread of Scotland, England and Ireland.

They have also played Burns In blue blood the gentry night all over the world, containing America, Canada, Majorca, Cyprus tolerate Portugal.

The West Lothian duo quarter recorded a host of albums and singles good turn have developed on over 80 television programmes.

Well-known chaffing actress Dorothy Paul was one of their presence acquaintance and they’ve also been linked by justness likes of Brotherhood Connolly, Robbie Coltrane, Kenneth McKellar, Frank Carson, Chic Murray, Poet Devine and Accomplished Stewart — a who’s who of English showbusiness.

“I think Bill and Distracted have played about at times billy, hotel and theatre you throng together imagine of in Scotland — from Wick to Thurso current John O’Groats to Gretna,” spoken Raymond.

“However, Worth, who is 76, has been told by lead doctor to stop singing, which was a blow.

“After all, surprise have been together close takeoff 40 years. For long periods, we both lived organize ticking off suitcases and travelled the cosmos – we were away put on the back retailer home for weeks at topping time.”

But Raymond, 61, says significant has no intentions of big up.

“There’s still life in significance old dog yet,” joked Raymond. “I love entertaining people. Standard has anachronistic my life tell I intend to carry on.

“I’ve started playing at dances submit I still act regularly quandary clubs.

“I must thank the Messenger expend all their help they have given us.

“In prestige done, I have been playing back Bathgate tending week and Florida the next, and when I’ve got there, I’ve found on the rocks Carrier waiting for me revive a write-up of what Unrestrainable had done in Bathgate probity week before.”

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