Biography:

Fergie MacDonald MBE (24 April 1937 – 23 April 2024) was a Scottish accordionist who specialised in ceilidh music and played the button accordion. A trained physiotherapist and an international clay pigeon shooter, MacDonald is considered^[1] to be the man who popularised the West Highland style of traditional Scottish dance music.

Life and career

Born in Glasgow, Scotland on 24 April 1937, he was brought up in Moidart.

MacDonald topped the Scottish Singles Chart in 1966 with his tune “Loch Maree Islands”. He was initially banned from appearing on the BBC due to the traditional audition process, but later became a regular feature on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio nan Gaidheal.

MacDonald toured throughout the world and released 23 albums. He was well known through the tales told by fellow Scottish accordionist Phil Cunningham as part of his stage act.

In 2003, he released his autobiography, Fergie: Memories of a Musical Legend.

MacDonald died on 23 April 2024, one day before his 87th birthday.^[2]

Credits: