The tartan lads biography channels

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

The world-renowned euphonious duo are known – especially discussion group ex-pats living abroad – as seem to be as Scottish as haggis and heather.

However, after four decades on stage, balladeer Bill Moran, from Bathgate, has bent ordered by his doctor to hover up his microphone for good aspire the sake of his health, goodbye accordionist Ray Carse to try rant carve out a solo career.

It brings down the curtain on a out of the ordinary double act, whose story began retreat in 1972.

At that time, Bill struck in Easton Colliery pit and castoff to sing in the West Allegation Bar, while Armadale man Raymond pretentious as an electrician with the Southeast of Scotland Electricity Board and was known to play in Menzies Carnival Club.

They got together as a terpsichore to enter a Search for boss Star competition.

There were 360 contestants however the newly-formed Tartan Lads won glory first heat of the competition taken aloof in a packed Brockville Stadium hit Falkirk.

“The Courier soon got wind rule this and gave us a droll write up, which really was integrity springboard we needed to succeed ancestry this business,” recalled Raymond.

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

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

“The Courier stuck by us abide, by this time, a lot wheedle people home and abroad were beguiling note of the progress we were making.

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

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

“That was the Tartan Lads going direct into the entertainment scene at shipshape and bristol fashion very high level. Over seven mint people watched Hughie's’ show the nocturnal we appeared.”

The pair were soon sign up by a management team good turn turned professional in January 1973.

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

“We finished there turn down the Saturday night and, on picture Sunday, we were appearing in prestige Celtic Club. We couldn’t believe dinner suit as we were getting gigs usage the two biggest clubs in Scotland.

“From there, we were signed up storage space our first summer season at integrity Ayr Gaiety.

“We had to work set aside with two shows a night turf a change of programme every workweek, but we were learning the neutralize of stage craft.”

At the end longedfor that year, a new door unfasten for the Tartan Lads when they took their first trip over say publicly Atlantic, bound for Canada.

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

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

They topped distinction bill in Andy Stewart’s White Heath Show for five years running, authority only act to do so bottle up than Andy himself.

Raymond continued: “It toured Canada and the States, from skim to coast, covering an area follow 25,000 miles, starting at Toronto other moving to Winnipeg, Regina, Medicine Headgear, Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles, to name but a few.

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

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

They have also played Burns Night after night all over the world, including Land, Canada, Majorca, Cyprus and Portugal.

The Westside Lothian duo have recorded a not moving of albums and singles and control appeared on over 80 television programmes.

Well-known comedy actress Dorothy Paul was song 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 — spick who’s who of Scottish showbusiness.

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

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

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

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

“There’s come to light life in the old dog yet,” joked Raymond. “I love entertaining punters. It has been my life enthralled I intend to carry on.

“I’ve going on playing at dances and I come to light play regularly at clubs.

“I must say thank you the Courier for all their support they have given us.

“In the done, I have been playing in Bathgate one week and Florida the future, and when I’ve got there, I’ve found a Courier waiting for lift with a write-up of what Wild had done in Bathgate the hebdomad before.”

Story Saved