Accordionist Blair Douglas was a founder member of the bands Runrig, Mactalla and Cliar, and has created a series of highly-regarded recordings under his own name. Over a decade ago, along with Arthur Cormack, singer Shona MacDonald and photographer Colin MacLean he collaborated in a project called 'Skye, The Island', a touring exhibition of photographs, song and music inspired by the island's unique culture and landscape. Producing an album and selling tapes as the exhibition toured, they went on to launch the Macmeanmna record label, initially to distribute Blair Douglas' music.
Blair was born and brought up in Skye. On his mother's side he has strong connections with North Uist while his father's people had moved to Skye from the Border country around 150 years ago. When he was 15 the family relocated to Glasgow but returned to their home in Braes after a number of years in the city.
Blair was inspired to buy an accordion after hearing the playing of the late, lamented Niall Cheòis of Lewis. In 1973, having quickly mastered the instrument he teamed up with Calum and Rory MacDonald, fellow Skyemen with North Uist connections. Together they formed the Run Rig Dance Band to play at the North Uist & Bernera Association concert in Glasgow. The band's background was in Gaelic/Highland music though somewhat tempered by exposure to rock so much so that part of their original repertoire allegedly included "gems" such as Whisky in the Jar and Snoopy vs the Red Baron, both classics for 70's cover bands.
During this time the band played mostly at the weekends allowing Blair to continue as a student at Glasgow University where he graduated with an economics degree. A short flirtation with a full time playing career in the late 70's proved unsuccessful and eventually led to Blair and Runrig (the 'Dance Band' tag having by this time been dumped) going their separate ways. However Blair did return to play on Run Rig's Recovery in 1981.
His first solo album, Celtology, came out in 1984 and featured songs rather than his better known instrumental style. It also included a few compositions which were not his own. Subsequent CDs are remarkable because the material is largely Blair's own. Beneath the Beret published in 1990 included Kate Martin's Waltz which became an instant hit with traditional musicians and remains a classic of the genre and Solus m'Aigh a beautifully haunting song which he dedicated to his friend Fr. Colin MacInnes. Blair Douglas's acclaimed 1996 recording A Summer in Skye is as much a delight as it is unprecedented. The compositions are all Blair's, a considerable achievement in itself, but what is so remarkable is his ability to create material which is diverse, imagininative and appealing.Compositions in both the ancient and contemporary idioms of gaelic clture are represented, as are ones which echo some of the world's other traditions.
His most recent recording Angels From the Ashes is releases on Ridge Records. | 
|