Andy Stewart (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andy Stewart
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Stewart in 1961
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Andrew Stewart |
| Born | 30 December 1933 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 11 October 1993 (aged 59) Arbroath, Scotland |
| Genres | Comedy music Folk music |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1955–1993 |
| Labels | EMI Top Rank Capitol (North America) |
| Associated acts | Scottish television show The White Heather Club |
Andrew Stewart MBE (born December 30, 1933 – died October 11, 1993) was a famous Scottish singer and entertainer. He was known for presenting the BBC TV show The White Heather Club in the 1960s. His fun song "Donald Where's Your Troosers?" was a big hit twice. Another very popular song of his was "A Scottish Soldier".
Contents
Early Life and Becoming an Entertainer
Andy Stewart was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1933. His dad was a teacher. When Andy was five, his family moved to Perth. Six years later, they moved to Arbroath. Even as a young child, Andy loved to copy people. He would amaze his parents by pretending to be famous singers and actors.
He went to Arbroath High School, where his dad taught science. In 1950, when he was 16, he took part in a local show called the Arbroath Abbey Pageant. He played "A Knight in Shining Armour." At first, he wanted to be a vet. But then he decided to study acting instead.
Andy trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. He studied there until 1954. In his first year, he won a top prize for comedy. He was also very good at fencing.
Andy Stewart's Amazing Career
Andy Stewart was famous for wearing tartan (Scottish plaid) and using Scottish humor in his shows. This style was like that of another famous Scot, Sir Harry Lauder.
His Big Hit Songs
Andy said his song "A Scottish Soldier" helped him become famous around the world. It was a number one hit in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It stayed on the UK music charts for 40 weeks in 1961. It also did well in the US, South Africa, and India.
Other popular songs included "Come in-Come in" and "Campbeltown Loch". "Donald Where's Your Troosers?" was a hit in 1960. It became popular again in 1989! Andy supposedly wrote this song in just 10 minutes. He even did an Elvis Presley impression in the middle of it.
TV Shows and World Tours
Andy Stewart was also known for hosting The White Heather Club. This was a BBC Scotland TV show. It started as a New Year's Eve party and then became a weekly series. At its most popular, about 10 million people watched the show.
Thanks to his comedy hits, Andy toured Australia. He even appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1968. On that show, he did impressions of Dean Martin. Andy was great at different accents. In his song "The Rumour," he spoke in a different accent for each place the rumor traveled across Scotland and Ireland. His stage shows often included impressions of other stars like Tom Jones, Louis Armstrong, and Johnny Cash.
His albums, like Scottish Soldier and The Best of Andy Stewart, were also popular worldwide. He even recorded a live album in South Africa in 1973.
From the early 1960s to the mid-1980s, Andy toured a lot. He performed in Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand many times. He also visited South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Writing Songs and Royal Performances
Andy was a talented songwriter. He wrote words for many traditional Scottish tunes. For example, he wrote the lyrics for "A Scottish Soldier" using the tune "Green Hills of Tyrol." He wrote his first song, "My Hameland," when he was just 14.
He performed for the royal family several times. This included the Royal Variety Performance in 1961, 1962, and 1978. He also performed at a Christmas party at Windsor Castle.
Andy had his own Scottish TV series called Scotch Corner (1972–1976). Another popular show was Andy's Party in the late 1970s. In 1975, he was featured on the TV show This Is Your Life.
Later Years and Legacy
From 1973 onwards, Andy had some health problems. He had several operations. In 1991, he came out of retirement and started touring again. He recorded two new CDs.
"Donald Where's Your Troosers?" became a surprise hit again in 1989. It was promoted as a fun song for Christmas parties. It reached number 4 on the UK music charts. Andy even made a special jingle for a radio DJ, saying "Simon, where's your troosers?".
Andy Stewart passed away in 1993. He had just performed at a benefit concert for a children's charity. A housing complex in Arbroath, 'Andy Stewart Court', was named in his memory. His funeral was attended by many stars and friends. A piper played "A Scottish Soldier" and "The Battle's O'er" as people paid their respects to "The Tartan Trooper."
Awards and Family
Andy Stewart was given an MBE award in 1976. This is a special honor from the Queen. He also received the Freedom of Angus in 1987.
His son, Ewan Stewart, is an actor. He has been in movies like Rob Roy and Titanic.
Andy's grandson, Harris Beattie, played the main role of Billy Elliot in the famous West End show. In 2017, Harris won a gold medal in a big ballet competition. He is now a dancer with Northern Ballet. Another grandson, Alistair Beattie, also toured internationally as a dancer in Swan Lake.
See also
- Music of Scotland
- Royal Variety Performance
- List of British Music Hall musicians
- List of artists who reached number one on the Australian singles chart
- List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1960s
- List of Scottish musicians
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