13 February 2021(2021-02-13) (aged 81) University Hospital, Ayr
Instrument(s)
Vocals
Musical artist
Sydney DevineMBE (11 January 1940 – 13 February 2021) was a Scottish singer. He sold 15 million albums during his career, reached the UK's top 20 albums chart and was part of the White Heather Club troupe.
Sydney Devine was born in Bellside, a settlement near the village of Cleland, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, in January 1940.
Known for his charismatic personality, distinctive singing style and rhinestone encrusted stage suits Sydney first achieved a measure of fame as a boy through an extraordinary ability to reproduce bird calls. This was noticed by the tenor Robert Wilson and the young Sydneys whistling talents appeared on the recording of "Cottage By The Lea".
He went on to perform his bird whistling set in various venues including THE Hippodrome in London as part of the revue " Wild Grows The Heather".
When the theatre run of Wild Grows The Heather finished he once again teamed up with Robert Wilson in Wilsons "White Heather Group" troupe.
In 1957 after entering a Daily Record sponsored competition to find "Scotland's Tommy Steele" Devine came second and toured Scotland with the winner, Alex Harvey (later of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band )
Whilst with the "White Heather Group" Sydney introduced Rock and Roll to his act and became known, for a short while, as the "Tartan Rocker".
He was told after one such performance in Germany that Elvis Presley had been in the audience but this was never verified
Following Robert Wilsons debilitating road accident The White Heather franchise was taken over by Andy Stewart and latterly became the White Heather Club
Devine played guitar on Andy Stewart's hit "Donald Where's Your Troosers?" and it was while touring with Andy Stewart in South Africa Devine recorded his first two albums with RPM who then sold them to Emerald Gem thus beginning Sydney's recording career that would see him sell over 15 million albums world wide .
In the 1970s, he had his own television show on Scottish Television (STV). The show was called Devine Time and featured star guests such as Peters and Lee and Lena Zavaroni.
He worked with many major music artistes including Roy Orbison, Box-Car Willie and Dolly Parton.
In the 1970's Sydney had his own weekly shows on Radio Clyde where he coined the catchphrase " Get the Kettle on Shirley". After leaving Clyde he presented popular shows on West Sound Radio in Ayr.
Devine was a Freemason and was a member of Masonic Lodge 571 Dramatic Glasgow.
Other famous members of this lodge include Sir Harry Lauder, Izzy Bonn PM, Ben Gunn PM, Andy Stewart, Tom and Jack Alexander and Arthur J Jefferson (father of Stan Laurel).
Sydney Devine died on 13 February 2021, at the age of 81.
None of his family followed him into showbiz. His grandson Adam Devine is a professional footballer with Glasgow Rangers FC.[2]
