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==Career==
==Career==
McKellar studied [[forestry]] at the [[University of Aberdeen]], after graduation working for the Scottish [[Forestry Commission]].<ref name="RS">{{cite web|url=http://www.rampantscotland.com/famous/blfammckellar.htm |title=Famous Scots – Kenneth McKellar |publisher=Rampantscotland.com |date=8 November 2009 |accessdate=15 November 2011}}</ref> He later trained at the [[Royal College of Music]] as an [[opera]] singer.<ref name="RS"/> He did not enjoy his time with the [[Carl Rosa Opera Company]] and left them to pursue a career singing [[Music of Scotland|traditional Scottish songs]] and other works.
McKellar studied [[forestry]] at the [[University of Aberdeen]], after graduation working for the Scottish [[Forestry Commission]].<ref name="RS">{{cite web|url=http://www.rampantscotland.com/famous/blfammckellar.htm |title=Famous Scots – Kenneth McKellar |publisher=Rampantscotland.com |date=8 November 2009 |accessdate=15 November 2011}}</ref> He later trained at the [[Royal College of Music]] as an [[opera]] singer.<ref name="RS"/> He did not enjoy his time with the [[Carl Rosa Opera Company]] and left them to pursue a career singing [[Music of Scotland|traditional Scottish songs]] and other works.


He frequently toured the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] 1959–1977 with other Scottish entertainers such as Helen McArthur, often appearing in small local venues.
He frequently toured the United States and Canada 1959–1977 with other Scottish entertainers such as Helen McArthur, often appearing in small local venues.


From 1957 he starred each year in innovative [[pantomime]]s by [[Howard & Wyndham Ltd]] notably at their [[Alhambra Theatre Glasgow]]. In 1958/59 he played Jacob Bray in a successful revival of 'Old Chelsea' by [[Richard Tauber]], along with [[Vanessa Lee]] and [[Peter Graves, 8th Baron Graves|Peter Graves]], which opened in Glasgow and then toured. For a decade from 1960 he starred as Jamie in the new pantomimes devised around him, starting with ''A Wish For Jamie'', followed by ''A Love For Jamie'', which ran at the Alhambra in each of five years, accompanied by [[Rikki Fulton]], and moved after to [[Edinburgh]], [[Aberdeen]] and [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]]. He described these years as the most fulfilling of his stage life outside his international recording career.<ref>''Alhambra Glasgow'' by Graeme Smith {{ISBN|9780955942013}}</ref>
From 1957 he starred each year in innovative [[pantomime]]s by [[Howard & Wyndham Ltd]] notably at their [[Alhambra Theatre Glasgow]]. In 1958/59 he played Jacob Bray in a successful revival of 'Old Chelsea' by [[Richard Tauber]], along with [[Vanessa Lee]] and [[Peter Graves, 8th Baron Graves|Peter Graves]], which opened in Glasgow and then toured. For a decade from 1960 he starred as Jamie in the new pantomimes devised around him, starting with ''A Wish For Jamie'', followed by ''A Love For Jamie'', which ran at the Alhambra in each of five years, accompanied by [[Rikki Fulton]], and moved after to [[Edinburgh]], [[Aberdeen]] and [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]]. He described these years as the most fulfilling of his stage life outside his international recording career.<ref>''Alhambra Glasgow'' by Graeme Smith {{ISBN|9780955942013}}</ref>
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| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

Revision as of 14:54, 11 January 2018

Kenneth McKellar
Birth nameKennth McKellar
BornPaisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Died9 April 2010(2010-04-09) (aged 82)
Lake Tahoe in the United States
GenresComedy music
Folk music
OccupationSinger
Years active1947–1996
LabelsParlophone
Decca Records

Kenneth McKellar (23 June 1927 – 9 April 2010) was a Scottish tenor.[1]

Career

McKellar studied forestry at the University of Aberdeen, after graduation working for the Scottish Forestry Commission.[2] He later trained at the Royal College of Music as an opera singer.[2] He did not enjoy his time with the Carl Rosa Opera Company and left them to pursue a career singing traditional Scottish songs and other works.

He frequently toured the United States and Canada 1959–1977 with other Scottish entertainers such as Helen McArthur, often appearing in small local venues.

From 1957 he starred each year in innovative pantomimes by Howard & Wyndham Ltd notably at their Alhambra Theatre Glasgow. In 1958/59 he played Jacob Bray in a successful revival of 'Old Chelsea' by Richard Tauber, along with Vanessa Lee and Peter Graves, which opened in Glasgow and then toured. For a decade from 1960 he starred as Jamie in the new pantomimes devised around him, starting with A Wish For Jamie, followed by A Love For Jamie, which ran at the Alhambra in each of five years, accompanied by Rikki Fulton, and moved after to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Newcastle. He described these years as the most fulfilling of his stage life outside his international recording career.[3]

McKellar toured New Zealand in 1964. On many occasions in the 1960s and 1970s he appeared on the BBC Television Hogmanay celebration programme, alongside Jimmy Shand, Andy Stewart and Moira Anderson. He also made numerous appearances on the popular White Heather Club television series (1959–1968), hosted by Andy Stewart. His last Hogmanay Show appearance was on STV in 1991.

In 1965, the BBC selected McKellar to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in Luxembourg. He sang five titles from which viewers selected "A Man Without Love" as the 1966 entry. According to author and historian John Kennedy O'Connor's The Eurovision Song Contest – The Official History, the Scottish tenor – who had changed into a kilt at the last moment – drew gasps from the audience when he appeared on stage.[4] The song was placed ninth of the eighteen entries, making it the least successful UK placing in the contest until 1978. McKellar received scores from only two countries. The Irish jury gave the UK song top marks, one of only two occasions the Irish have done so in Eurovision history.[4]

"A Man Without Love" peaked at #30 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1966.[5] His albums The World of Kenneth McKellar (1969), and Ecco Di Napoli (1970), had a total of ten weeks presence in the UK Albums Chart.[5] He recorded an album in Afrikaans, entitled Kuier By Ons, which was released just before his tour of South Africa in October 1970.

On 31 December 1973, the first Scottish commercial radio station Radio Clyde began broadcasting to Glasgow. The first record they played was "Song of the Clyde" sung by Kenneth McKellar. The same recording featured over the opening titles of the 1963 film Billy Liar.

McKellar lived in Lenzie, Glasgow in the house called "Machrie Mhor".

Outside music, McKellar wrote a sketch which was performed by the Monty Python team at The Secret Policeman's Ball. This was the only time that a sketch written by a non-member was performed by them.[6]

McKellar made the majority of his recordings on the Decca Records label.[2] He also recorded several classical works, including Handel's Messiah alongside Joan Sutherland in a performance conducted by Sir Adrian Boult.[2] After he left Decca in the 1970s he then recorded from 1983–1996 for Lismor records recording several albums for them before retiring in the late 1990s.

McKellar also recorded the musical Kismet with Robert Merrill. He was also notable for his recordings of Gaelic songs in translation such as the Songs of the Hebrides arrangements by Marjory Kennedy-Fraser.

Death

McKellar died of pancreatic cancer, at the age of 82, at his daughter's home near Lake Tahoe in the United States, on 9 April 2010.[7] His funeral was in Paisley.

Selected discography

  • Songs of Ireland 1964 TW 91321

References

  1. ^ Obituary London Independent, 14 April 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d "Famous Scots – Kenneth McKellar". Rampantscotland.com. 8 November 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  3. ^ Alhambra Glasgow by Graeme Smith ISBN 9780955942013
  4. ^ a b O'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest – The Official History. Carlton Books, UK. 2007 ISBN 978-1-84442-994-3
  5. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 340. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ Presenter: Johnny Beattie (22 December 2010). "Kenneth McKellar: Scotland's Great Tenor". The Secret Policeman's Ball. 12:40 minutes in. BBC One.
  7. ^ "Singer Kenneth McKellar dies, aged 82". The Scotsman. 9 April 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2017.


Awards and achievements
Preceded by United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
1966 		Succeeded by
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