Dougie MacLean

Dougie MacLean, OBE (born 27 September 1954 in Dunblane) is a Scottish singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. Described by Craig Harris in AllMusic as "one of Scotland's premier singer-songwriters", MacLean's most famous pieces include "The Gael", from his 1990 album The Search, which was adapted by Trevor Jones as the main theme to The Last of the Mohicans (1992); and "Caledonia", from his first album. The latter has been covered by numerous popular artists, and called Scotland's unofficial national anthem.

Origins

To support himself in the 1970s, MacLean was a driver for Doc Watson and Merle Watson during their tour around Europe. He maintained a friendship afterward and has appeared at Merlefest.

His career started with a traditional band, The Tannahill Weavers, in 1976. In the early 1980s, he was briefly part of Silly Wizard.

Solo career

His solo career started in 1981 and since then he has recorded numerous albums. He plays multiple instruments, including guitar, violin, mandola, viola, bouzouki, banjo and bass as well as being a singer and composer.

MacLean has organised and performed in the Perthshire Amber festival, Birnam & Dunkeld, alongside multiple performances at Celtic Connections, Glasgow.

Awards

In 2011, MacLean was invested as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).

In 2013, MacLean was awarded the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Lifetime Achievement for Contribution to Songwriting. The award was presented by First Minister Alex Salmond at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Discography

Studio

• Are Ye Sleeping Maggie (1976) (with The Tannahill Weavers)
• Caledonia (1978) (as Alan Roberts & Dougie MacLean)
• CRM (1979) (as Alex Campbell, Alan Roberts & Dougie MacLean)
• Snaigow (1980)
• On A Wing and a Prayer (1981)
• Craigie Dhu (1982)
• Butterstone (1983)
• Singing Land (1985)
• Real Estate (1988)
• Whitewash (1990)
• Indigenous (1991)
• Sunset Song (1993)
• Marching Mystery (1994)
• Tribute (1996)
• Riof (1997)
• Perthshire Amber (2000)
• Who Am I (2002)
• Early (2003)
• Inside The Thunder (2006)
• Muir of Gormack (2007)
• Resolution (2010)
• Till Tomorrow (2014)

Instrumental

• Fiddle (1984)
• The Search (1990)
• Sunset Song (1994)

Live

• Live: From The Ends Of The Earth (2000)

Video

• The Land (1996)
• Live At Perthshire Amber (2006)
• Songmaker (2010)

Compilations

• The Dougie Maclean Collection (1995)
• The Plant Life Years (1995)
• The Essential Dougie MacLean (2007)
• The Essential Too (2013)