Andrew McGregor Stewart (8 September 1952 – 27 December 2015) was a Scottish singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, formerly the

frontman The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...

for

Silly Wizard Silly Wizard were a Scottish folk band that began forming in Edinburgh in 1970. The founder members were two like-minded university students— Gordon Jones (guitar, bodhran, vocals, bouzouki, mandola), and Bob Thomas (guitar, mandolin, man ...

. He was born in

Alyth Alyth () () is a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, northeast of Blairgowrie and Rattray, Blairgowrie and about northwest of Dundee. In 2022 the town had an estimated population of 3,046. First mentioned by name in a 12th-century royal char ...

, Perthshire. With Silly Wizard he not only sang, but also played the tenor banjo, mandolin and tin whistles. Andy Stewart came from the Stewart family of Scottish Travellers which included

Belle Stewart Belle Stewart, born Isobella McGregor, (18 July 1906 – 4 September 1997) was a Scottish Traveller traditional singer. Her biography, ''Queen Amang the Heather: the Life of Belle Stewart'', was written by her daughter, Sheila Stewart, and publ ...

and

Sheila Stewart Sheila Stewart (7 July 1937 – 9 December 2014) was a Scottish traditional singer, storyteller, and author. She inherited a large number of traditional songs from older family members, including her mother Belle Stewart. Biography Born in a ...

. He learnt the song "If I were a Blackbird" from the former, his great-aunt. Stewart toured with Silly Wizard until the band broke up in 1988. After this, he recorded four solo albums, as well as three with

Manus Lunny Manus Lunny (born 1962) is an Irish producer and multi-instrumentalist from County Donegal, Ireland, best known as a member of Celtic music, Celtic supergroup Capercaillie (band), Capercaillie. He is the brother of multi-instrumentalist and prod ...

. Several of Stewart's songs became well-known within the

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...

community, including "The Ramblin' Rover", "Golden, Golden", "The Queen of Argyll" and "The Valley of Strathmore". In addition, his renditions of classic

Robert Burns Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the List of national poets, national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the be ...

songs have been well received. Failed spinal surgery in 2012 left Stewart paralysed from the chest down. He died from a stroke on 27 December 2015, aged 63.

Discography

Solo

*''By the Hush'' (1982) *''Songs of Robert Burns'' (1991) *''Man in the Moon'' (1994) *''Donegal Rain'' (1997)

With Silly Wizard

*''Silly Wizard'' (1976) *'' Caledonia's Hardy Sons'' (1978) *''So Many Partings'' (1979) *''Wild and Beautiful'' (1981) *''Kiss the Tears Away'' (1983) *''Live in America'' (1985) *''Golden Golden'' (1985) *''A Glint of Silver'' (1987) *''Live Wizardry'' (1988) *''Live Again'' (2012)

With Manus Lunny

*''Fire in the Glen'' (1985, also with Phil Cunningham) *''Dublin Lady'' (1987) *''At It Again'' (1990)

References

External links

Andy M Stewart Official WebsiteGreen Linnet (Record Label) Artist PageObituary in The Scotsman
1952 births 2015 deaths 20th-century Scottish male singers Scottish male songwriters Silly Wizard members Green Linnet Records artists British male songwriters {{UK-singer-stub