The Stewart Family

Music and song of Scotland

About Doug and the Family


 

 

Doug Stewart started his musical career at the age of 18, when he was asked to sing at a local concert in his home village of Beauly. ,Doug soon became popular in the area as a regular entertainer at the Beauly ceilidhs. He soon joined the ranks of the Allangrange Dance Band, under the wing of band leader Fraser Maclean, whenever a singer was needed.

To take his singing career further, Doug became a pupil of Sir James Curr, a very prominent vocal coach, and had voice production classes over a three-year period and joined a local operatic society.

Inspired by the famous Scots singers of that time; Alister Gillies, Kenneth Mackellar, Jack Alexander, and greatly encouraged by Grant Frazer, David Solley, and Colin Stuart, Doug then started to take on many singing engagements with accordion accompanists :

Fraser Maclean, Norman Urquhart, Graham Wilson, Alister MacGregor, Tom Cruickshank, Iain Anderson, Paddy Neary, John MacDonald (now sadly missed), Jock Fraser, John Worth (piano), David Bowen, Iain Armor, Stuart Anderson and others.

Fraser Maclean and Doug soon teamed up to form the musical duo “Fraser & Duggie”, who were to continue entertaining at many hotel venues, and a couple of Eden Court appearances. They also found themselves in a situation that ended up on stage with the famous Roy Castle at the Dickens Inn in London. They then continued together for a period of twelve years.

After a break in the music world, Doug was nominated to join the British actors Equity association with the help of impresario John Worth and Scots singer Colin Stuart. With the help of John Worth, Doug was allocated some prestigious venues throughout the Highlands.

Now living in the Muir-of-Ord area, Doug remembers many gigs with Local Comedian Johnny Urquhart (Bogan) and also Bob Hepburn from Inverness (both now sadly missed).




Due to ill heath and family commitments, Doug took a rest from the singing for a while, but did the occasional few gigs with accordionists Tom Cruikshank and David Bowen.

Now with Son Iain and Daughter Marina, Doug is Back on the music scene, who now wants to share the many years of musical experience to introduce theses youngsters to the Scots music world.
 
                                     "The start of the Trio"

Thanks for your interest