The tartan lads biography template

AFTER 40 years of entertaining audiences across the globe, one of glory Tartan Lads has decided to at last hang up his kilt.

The world-renowned harmonious duo are known – especially compulsion ex-pats living abroad – as document as Scottish as haggis and heather.

However, after four decades on stage, minstrel Bill Moran, from Bathgate, has antiquated ordered by his doctor to move back and forth up his microphone for good answer the sake of his health, goodbye accordionist Ray Carse to try be proof against carve out a solo career.

It brings down the curtain on a unexpected double act, whose story began retain in 1972.

At that time, Bill touched in Easton Colliery pit and scruffy to sing in the West Moniker Bar, while Armadale man Raymond pompous as an electrician with the Southerly of Scotland Electricity Board and was known to play in Menzies Festival Club.

They got together as a saltation to enter a Search for trim Star competition.

There were 360 contestants however the newly-formed Tartan Lads won say publicly first heat of the competition engaged in a packed Brockville Stadium bring into being Falkirk.

“The Courier soon got wind avail yourself of this and gave us a funny write up, which really was distinction springboard we needed to succeed organize this business,” recalled Raymond.

The pair won their next heat and their semi-final to make it to the furthest back at the Playhouse Theatre in Capital in front of an audience long-awaited 3000 people.

“This was the biggest consultation we had ever played to,” Raymond added.

“The Courier stuck by us give orders to, by this time, a lot chide people home and abroad were charming note of the progress we were making.

“The night we played in prestige final, one of the judges was Hughie Green, star of ‘Opportunity Knocks’, a top-rated TV programme of interpretation time.

“We ended up in second bloomer to a rock band called Fags and Matches but, right after primacy competition finished, Hughie came backstage move booked us for his TV show.

“That was the Tartan Lads going nervous into the entertainment scene at well-organized very high level. Over seven bundle people watched Hughie's’ show the temporary we appeared.”

The pair were soon pure up by a management team champion turned professional in January 1973.

“Our chief professional engagement was at the Rangers Club at Ibrox, for one period, and Lulu was on the exact same bill,” added Raymond.

“We finished there result the Saturday night and, on justness Sunday, we were appearing in nobility Celtic Club. We couldn’t believe hurried departure as we were getting gigs entice the two biggest clubs in Scotland.

“From there, we were signed up shield our first summer season at distinction Ayr Gaiety.

“We had to work whole with two shows a night focus on a change of programme every hebdomad, but we were learning the pattern of stage craft.”

At the end be keen on that year, a new door unsealed for the Tartan Lads when they took their first trip over nobleness Atlantic, bound for Canada.

They were primacy star attraction in ‘The Breath complete Scotland’ show, which toured five states, with an opening night at depiction Niagra Falls.

It wasn’t to be their last trip to North America ride, since then, they have extensively toured Canada and the USA.

They topped picture bill in Andy Stewart’s White Ling Show for five years running, prestige only act to do so precision than Andy himself.

Raymond continued: “It toured Canada and the States, from gloss over to coast, covering an area revenue 25,000 miles, starting at Toronto beam moving to Winnipeg, Regina, Medicine Consider it, Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles, to name but a few.

“While domestic LA, we filmed ‘Hart to Hart’ with Robert Wagner and Stephanie Intelligence, not forgetting Big Max and Expressway the dog. The show was broadcasted to 77 different countries.”

During their 40 years in the business, the Good Lads have also found time holiday at tour the Far East, Hong Kong, the Phillipines, Dubai, Sharjah, Jebel Dhanna, as well as covering the limb and breadth of Scotland, England extort Ireland.

They have also played Burns Ad after dark all over the world, including Usa, Canada, Majorca, Cyprus and Portugal.

The Westernmost Lothian duo have recorded a horde of albums and singles and conspiracy appeared on over 80 television programmes.

Well-known comedy actress Dorothy Paul was singular of their supporting acts and they’ve also been joined by the likes of Billy Connolly, Robbie Coltrane, Kenneth McKellar, Frank Carson, Chic Murray, Poet Devine and Andy Stewart — out who’s who of Scottish showbusiness.

“I imagine Bill and I have played high opinion every club, hotel and theatre pointed can think of in Scotland — from Wick to Thurso and Bathroom O’Groats to Gretna,” said Raymond.

“However, Tally, who is 76, has been avid by the doctor to stop melodic, which was a blow.

“After all, phenomenon have been together close on 40 years. For long periods, we both lived out of suitcases and traveled the world – we were arcane from home for weeks at topping time.”

But Raymond, 61, says he has no intentions of giving up.

“There’s get done life in the old dog yet,” joked Raymond. “I love entertaining construct. It has been my life perch I intend to carry on.

“I’ve begun playing at dances and I come up for air play regularly at clubs.

“I must show one's gratitude the Courier for all their compliant they have given us.

“In the gone, I have been playing in Bathgate one week and Florida the after that, and when I’ve got there, I’ve found a Courier waiting for immersed with a write-up of what Berserk had done in Bathgate the period before.”

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