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THE CELTIC CONNECTION • OCTOBER 1992
A Success Story
The Alexander Brothers, Painters by Day, Musicians by Night
By MIKE PAUL
It was among the dark satanic steelworks of industrial Lanarkshire that brothers Tom and Jack Alexander first saw the light of day. Growing up in a typical working-class Scottish family home, they developed a mutual love for music. At night, they would sit 'round the family piano with their mother, who was an accomplished musician herself. They would sing and play popular songs of the day but it was traditional Scottish songs that took their fancy most.
It was not long before Tom was saving all the money he could lay his hands on to buy his first accordion. To speed the process, he would rise at 5 AM to do the local milk and paper round. During this time, Jack, more interested in the piano, was taking lessons from a local music teacher twice a week.
By the time Tom was nine, he had his precious accordion and was also at lessons. He took to it like a duck to water and in a very short time had entered for the Boys Championship.
This was probably his first public appearance and it was a very nervous Tom who climbed up on the stage to play his opening selection of jigs and reels.
He soon forgot his nerves when he began to play, and so impressed the judges that he won first prize. He was advised to enter the next year for the Scottish open championship, which he did and won hands down.
By this time, Jack had grown very prof icient on the piano and also round he had developed an unusual tenor voice. During this period, although they received great encouragement from their mother and father to pursue their musical talents, their father also insisted that the boys take up a more orthodox trade upon leaving school. Soon, the boys were leaving the house each morning bedecked in white painters overalls.
Painters by day, musicians by night, so it was that the name The Alexander Brothers was first heard round the clubs of Lanarkshire. They made their first professional appearance in the summer of 1958 at the Webster Hall in Arbroath. Soon, the whole town was talking about the brightest new act seen in Scotland for some time.
Such was their impact on the Scottish music scene that they were invited to appear for the winter season of 1959 in the Metropolitan Theatre in London.
It was during this period that their first big break came in the person of Louis Benjamin, head of Pye Records. He was so impressed with the sound of the boys that he immediately signed them on a five-year contract. Their first album was "Highland Fling," which was released in September 1960. It soon became one of the top-selling LP's in Scotland.
Over the next few years a series of albums were released, including "Bonnie Scotland," "Haste Ye Back," "Let's Have a Ceilidh," "Two Highland Lads." Their single "Nobody's Child," was their biggest success to date.
By the early Sixties they were well on their way. A guest appearance on Scottish television resulted in a TV series of their own. They began writing their own material and formed their own publishing company called Greyfriars Music.
When Andy Stewart invited them to join him on his 1965 tour of Canada and the U.S. they made their first visit to North America.
The ex-painters from Wishaw have made an enduring mark on the Scottish music scene. They run their own shows, write and publish their own material and still perform extensively. One feels that even so, there is still a lot more to be heard from The Alexander Brothers.
Highland Dancing Champion
By MAURA McCAY
VANCOUVER — Congratulations to 16-year old Estelle Clewes of Maple Ridge who has just returned from Scotland as the Junior World-Champion highland dancer.
Twelve years of dedication to highland dancing have contributed to Estelle's success. She won the coveted award in competition with 32 dancers at the Cowal Games in Dunoon, Scotland.
Competitors came from the U.S., Australia, South Africa, Ontario and of course, B.C.
Estelle, a student at Centennial Secondary School in Coquitlam,
B.C., created a stir at Vancouver airport when she arrived back home. A welcoming committee greeted her, including 10 pipers From the Simon Fraser Pipe Band.
"I have one more year in the juniors, so I'll be defending my title next year," said Estelle, who has been dancing since she was four. She is a member of the Strathspey Dancers, coached by Heather Jolley of Coquitlam.
"Cowal is recognized as the world championships and it is billed as such," said Jolley. "I've had several students who have come close, but Estelle is the first to win."
1993
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