|
→Biography: Simplified existing content.
|
navbox added
|
||
| (13 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{About|the Scottish musician|the New Zealand playwright|Brian McNeill (playwright)}} |
|||
{{Use British English|date=May 2019}} |
{{Use British English|date=May 2019}} |
||
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}} |
||
{{Infobox musical artist |
{{Infobox musical artist |
||
| name |
| name = Brian McNeill |
||
| image |
| image = BrianMcNeillAug06.jpg |
||
| caption = McNeill performing in August 2006 |
| caption = McNeill performing in August 2006 |
||
| image_size |
| image_size = <!-- Only for images smaller than 220px! --> |
||
| |
| birth_name = |
||
| |
| alias = |
||
| |
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|4|6|df=y}} |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|4|6|df=y}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | | instrument = [[Violin]], guitar, [[viola]], [[mandolin]], [[Irish bouzouki|bouzouki]], [[cittern]], [[concertina]], [[hurdy-gurdy]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ |
| instrument |
||
| ⚫ | | occupation = Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| years_active = 1969–present |
|||
| ⚫ |
| occupation |
||
| |
| label = |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| label = |
|||
| ⚫ | | website = [http://www.brianmcneill.co.uk/ Official website] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ |
| website |
||
}} |
}} |
||
| Line 24: | Line 25: | ||
==Biography== |
==Biography== |
||
McNeill learnt music on the [[violin]] before taking up |
McNeill learnt music on the [[violin]] before taking up other instruments including guitar, fiddle, [[viola]], [[mandolin]], [[Irish bouzouki|bouzouki]], [[cittern]], [[concertina]], and [[hurdy-gurdy]], as well as singing. He played [[fiddle]] with [[Battlefield Band]] from its formation in 1969 until 1990.<ref name="Weir">{{cite journal |last1=Weir |first1=Rob |title=On the Road Again: BRIAN MCNEILL & Scottish Wanderlust |journal=Sing Out! |date=Autumn 2010 – Winter 2011 |volume=54 |issue=1 |pages=56–59 |issn=0037-5624 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Asheville">{{cite news |title=McNeill offers up the Scottish legends |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/203791424/?terms=Busker%2B%22Brian%2BMcNeill%22 |accessdate=1 May 2019 |work=Asheville Citizen-Times |date=14 July 2016 |location=Asheville, North Carolina |page=B2}}</ref><ref name="Romanski">{{cite news |last1=Romanski |first1=Kara |title=Taking the road less traveled. Brian McNeill and his wife enjoy the scenic routes in life |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/256772847/?terms=Busker%2B%22Brian%2BMcNeill%22 |accessdate=1 May 2019 |work=Daily Record |date=15 October 2010 |location=Morristown, New Jersey |page=7 TGIF!}}</ref> In 1987, he won the UK National Songsearch competition for amateur and professional performers, having been runner-up in 1986.<ref name="Stage">{{cite news |title=Sponsorship shortfall hits Songsearch |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19870910/027/0004 |accessdate=5 May 2019 |work=[[The Stage]] |date=10 September 1987}}</ref> |
||
From 1996 until January 2008, McNeill was head of the traditional music course at the [[Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama]], Glasgow.<ref name="Weir"/><ref name="Scott">{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Robert Dawson |title=Accordionist is new head of traditional music course |url=http://search.ebscohost.com.rp.nla.gov.au/login.aspx?direct=true&db=anh&AN=7EH3948689791&site=ehost-live |accessdate=1 May 2019 |work=The Times |date=30 January 2008 |page=26}}</ref> |
From 1996 until January 2008, McNeill was head of the traditional music course at the [[Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama]], Glasgow.<ref name="Weir"/><ref name="Scott">{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Robert Dawson |title=Accordionist is new head of traditional music course |url=http://search.ebscohost.com.rp.nla.gov.au/login.aspx?direct=true&db=anh&AN=7EH3948689791&site=ehost-live |accessdate=1 May 2019 |work=The Times |date=30 January 2008 |page=26 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |
||
As a novelist he has published three books, ''The Busker'' (1989),<ref name="Asheville"/><ref name="Romanski"/><ref name="Sawyers"/> ''To Answer the Peacock'' (1999),<ref name="Asheville"/><ref name="Romanski"/> and ''In the Grass''.<ref name="Asheville"/> He has also produced an acclaimed audio-visual show about Scottish emigration to America, ''The Back o' the North Wind''.<ref name="Asheville"/><ref name="Sawyers">{{cite news |last1=Sawyers |first1=June |title=Allure of emigration. Brian McNeill's 'North Wind' profiles Scottish wanderlust |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/389495703/?terms=Busker%2B%22Brian%2BMcNeill%22 |accessdate=1 May 2019 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=5 December 1991 |location=Chicago, Illinois |page=3, S5}}</ref><ref name="Bird">{{cite news |last1=Bird |first1=John |title=Americans may be in for quite a shock |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000726/19910223/233/0018 |accessdate=5 May 2019 |work=Newcastle Evening Chronicle |date=23 February 1991 |location=Newcastle, Northumberland, England |page=18}}</ref> |
As a novelist he has published three books, ''The Busker'' (1989),<ref name="Asheville"/><ref name="Romanski"/><ref name="Sawyers"/> ''To Answer the Peacock'' (1999),<ref name="Asheville"/><ref name="Romanski"/> and ''In the Grass''.<ref name="Asheville"/> He has also produced an acclaimed audio-visual show about Scottish emigration to America, ''The Back o' the North Wind''.<ref name="Asheville"/><ref name="Sawyers">{{cite news |last1=Sawyers |first1=June |title=Allure of emigration. Brian McNeill's 'North Wind' profiles Scottish wanderlust |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/389495703/?terms=Busker%2B%22Brian%2BMcNeill%22 |accessdate=1 May 2019 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=5 December 1991 |location=Chicago, Illinois |page=3, S5}}</ref><ref name="Bird">{{cite news |last1=Bird |first1=John |title=Americans may be in for quite a shock |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000726/19910223/233/0018 |accessdate=5 May 2019 |work=Newcastle Evening Chronicle |date=23 February 1991 |location=Newcastle, Northumberland, England |page=18}}</ref> |
||
| Line 34: | Line 35: | ||
McNeill's songs often feature lyrics based on Scottish historical themes, and he continually has celebrated the culture of his fellow Scots, including those who have emigrated to North America. His album ''The Back o' the North Wind'' features songs about industrialist [[Andrew Carnegie]] and the man who initiated the conservation movement in the United States, [[John Muir]].<ref name="Sawyers"/><ref name="Asheville"/> |
McNeill's songs often feature lyrics based on Scottish historical themes, and he continually has celebrated the culture of his fellow Scots, including those who have emigrated to North America. His album ''The Back o' the North Wind'' features songs about industrialist [[Andrew Carnegie]] and the man who initiated the conservation movement in the United States, [[John Muir]].<ref name="Sawyers"/><ref name="Asheville"/> |
||
Brian McNeill won the inaugural Fatea Lifetime Achievement award in 2007<ref>http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazineOld//awards2007.html</ref> and was the producer of |
Brian McNeill won the inaugural Fatea Lifetime Achievement award in 2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazineOld//awards2007.html|title=Website Powered by FATEA|website=Fatea-records.co.uk|accessdate=2020-07-05}}</ref> and was the producer of 2017's instrumental album of the year, "Matt Tighe", the eponymous debut album of the young English fiddler that Brian had inspired at one of his many Cambridge Folk Festival appearances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/news/Wnners2017/|title=FATEA - Home|website=Fatea-records.co.uk|accessdate=2020-07-05}}</ref> |
||
==Books== |
==Books== |
||
| Line 42: | Line 43: | ||
==Discography== |
==Discography== |
||
===With Battlefield Band=== |
===With Battlefield Band=== |
||
*1976 <small>[#01]</small> ''[[Farewell to Nova Scotia (Battlefield Band album)|Farewell to Nova Scotia]]'' <small>debut studio album (first released on Escalibur label as ''Scottish Folk'')</small> |
*1976 <small>[#01]</small> ''[[Farewell to Nova Scotia (Battlefield Band album)|Farewell to Nova Scotia]]'' <small>debut studio album (first released on Escalibur label as ''Scottish Folk'')</small> |
||
| Line 68: | Line 68: | ||
* 1994 ''Horses for Courses'' <small>(with Tom McDonagh)</small> |
* 1994 ''Horses for Courses'' <small>(with Tom McDonagh)</small> |
||
* 1995 ''No Gods'' (Greentrax Recordings)<ref name="Carnahan">{{cite journal |last1=Carnahan |first1=Danny |title=Hail Caledonia: A Brief History of Scottish Song in America |journal=Acoustic Guitar |date=May 2018 |url=http://acousticguitar.com/hail-caledonia-a-brief-history-of-scottish-song-in-america/ |accessdate=5 May 2019}}</ref> |
* 1995 ''No Gods'' (Greentrax Recordings)<ref name="Carnahan">{{cite journal |last1=Carnahan |first1=Danny |title=Hail Caledonia: A Brief History of Scottish Song in America |journal=Acoustic Guitar |date=May 2018 |url=http://acousticguitar.com/hail-caledonia-a-brief-history-of-scottish-song-in-america/ |accessdate=5 May 2019}}</ref> |
||
* 1995 ''Stage By Stage'' <small>(with |
* 1995 ''Stage By Stage'' <small>(with Iain MacKintosh)</small> |
||
* 1999 ''To Answer the Peacock'' (Greentrax Recordings) |
* 1999 ''To Answer the Peacock'' (Greentrax Recordings) |
||
* 2000 ''Live and Kicking'' <small>(with |
* 2000 ''Live and Kicking'' <small>(with Iain MacKintosh; includes "[[The King of Rome]]")</small> |
||
* 2009 ''The Baltic tae Byzantium'' (Greentrax Recordings) <ref name="Romanski"/> |
* 2009 ''The Baltic tae Byzantium'' (Greentrax Recordings) <ref name="Romanski"/> |
||
* 2010 ''The Crew o' the Copenhagen'' <small>(with Drones & Bellows)</small> |
* 2010 ''The Crew o' the Copenhagen'' <small>(with Drones & Bellows)</small> |
||
| Line 80: | Line 80: | ||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
* [http://www.brianmcneill.co.uk/ Official website] |
* [http://www.brianmcneill.co.uk/ Official website] |
||
* [https://www.templerecords.co.uk/pages/brian-mcneill [[Temple Records (1978 UK label)|Temple Records] |
* [https://www.templerecords.co.uk/pages/brian-mcneill Brian McNeill profile] at [[Temple Records (1978 UK label)|Temple Records]] |
||
{{Battlefield Band}} |
|||
{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
||
| Line 87: | Line 87: | ||
[[Category:1950 births]] |
[[Category:1950 births]] |
||
[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
||
[[Category:Scottish male singers]] |
[[Category:20th-century Scottish male singers]] |
||
[[Category:Scottish songwriters]] |
[[Category:Scottish male songwriters]] |
||
[[Category:Scottish folk musicians]] |
[[Category:Scottish folk musicians]] |
||
[[Category:Scottish fiddlers]] |
[[Category:Scottish fiddlers]] |
||
| Line 94: | Line 94: | ||
[[Category:Battlefield Band members]] |
[[Category:Battlefield Band members]] |
||
[[Category:21st-century violinists]] |
[[Category:21st-century violinists]] |
||
[[Category:21st-century |
[[Category:21st-century Scottish male singers]] |
||
[[Category:British male songwriters]] |
|||
Brian McNeill
| |
|---|---|
McNeill performing in August 2006
| |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1950-04-06) 6 April 1950 (age 74) Falkirk, Scotland |
| Genres | Folk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Violin, guitar, viola, mandolin, bouzouki, cittern, concertina, hurdy-gurdy |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Website | Official website |
Brian McNeill (born 6 April 1950, Falkirk, Scotland) is a Scottish folk multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer and musical director. He was a founding member of Battlefield Band which combined traditional Celtic melodies and new material.
McNeill learnt music on the violin before taking up other instruments including guitar, fiddle, viola, mandolin, bouzouki, cittern, concertina, and hurdy-gurdy, as well as singing. He played fiddle with Battlefield Band from its formation in 1969 until 1990.[1][2][3] In 1987, he won the UK National Songsearch competition for amateur and professional performers, having been runner-up in 1986.[4]
From 1996 until January 2008, McNeill was head of the traditional music course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow.[1][5]
As a novelist he has published three books, The Busker (1989),[2][3][6] To Answer the Peacock (1999),[2][3] and In the Grass.[2] He has also produced an acclaimed audio-visual show about Scottish emigration to America, The Back o' the North Wind.[2][6][7]
Apart from his visible contributions, McNeill is influential in Scotland and abroad as a producer. He has many production credits in the UK and North America including "Emigrant and Exile" for Eric Bogle with John Munro.[8]
McNeill's songs often feature lyrics based on Scottish historical themes, and he continually has celebrated the culture of his fellow Scots, including those who have emigrated to North America. His album The Back o' the North Wind features songs about industrialist Andrew Carnegie and the man who initiated the conservation movement in the United States, John Muir.[6][2]
Brian McNeill won the inaugural Fatea Lifetime Achievement award in 2007[9] and was the producer of 2017's instrumental album of the year, "Matt Tighe", the eponymous debut album of the young English fiddler that Brian had inspired at one of his many Cambridge Folk Festival appearances.[10]
|
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio albums |
|
| Live albums |
|
| Compilations |
|
| International |
|
|---|---|
| National |
|
| Artists |
|
