Old Blind Dogs
Over the years Old Blind Dogs have evolved and grown into one of Scotland's favourite folk bands.
In the early days, the line-up consisted of: Jonny Hardie, Buzzby McMillan, and Ian Benzie, along
with Dave Francis on percussion and Carmen Higgins on fiddle . In 1992 Dave and Carmen left, and
Davy Cattanach joined the band (playing percussion), and they toured as a four piece for several
years. During this time they recorded four great CDs with Scotland's record label KRL - New Tricks,
Close to the Bone, Tall Tails and Legacy.
In 1996 Fraser Fifield became the fifth member of the Old Blind Dogs, adding to the bands cutting edge sound with his tasty jazz licks on the sax and his superb playing of the small pipes. Their first album as a quintet - entitled Five, aptly enough, and released in 1997 - completed their five-album deal with KRL. Then in early 1997 Graham 'Mop' Youngson (ex - Wolfstone) replaced Davy Cattanach with his funky, hard-hitting rhythm kit. The band was busy in 1998 touring in America, Germany, Spain, Denmark and the UK.
1999 saw Old Blind Dogs embracing the New Year with a new and evolved line up. lan Benzie retired
from the band in January, 1999. Fraser Fifield also moved on to develop other musical projects.
The Old Blind Dogs continued on with the introduction of another great Scottish singer and songwriter
Jim Malcolm and Rory Campbell (Deaf Shepherd) on small pipes and whistles. Jim Malcolm is a performer
of traditional Scots music and song with particular strong links to the ballads of Perthshire and
Angus. In addition he is a fine exponent of simultaneous guitar and harmonica playing. Rory Campbell
will be most recognised through his contributions in another great Scottish Folk band - Deaf Shepherd.
Rory's piping has been described as 'crisp and tight', 'pipe tunes with inexorable energy' and
a 'glorious blare of sound'. With Paul Jennings on percussion, the new Dogs line-up released two
CDs "The World's Room", and "Fit".
2002 saw the exit of Paul Jennings and the entrance of Fraser Stone on percussion as well as the release of their third CD for Green Linnet, 'Gab O Mey'. In 2003 Aaron Jones replaced Buzzby McMillan, playing bass and bouzouki. The band continued to tour extensively through 2004 and were rewarded for their efforts with the 'Band of the Year' Award at the Scots Trad Music Awards in the Queen's Hall, Edinburgh. Plans for 2005 include concert tours in USA, Canada and Europe AND the release of a live CD.
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