DICK GAUGHAN

Event information

Dick Gaughan was brought up immersed in the musical traditions and culture of the Gaels, both Scots and Irish, which naturally, therefore, provide the foundation for everything he does. His mother, Frances MacDonald, was a Highland Scot, originally from Bohenie in Lochaber, whose first language was Gaelic. She was a singer in both Gaelic and English. His father, Dick, was born in Leith of an Irish father, an Irish speaker and fiddle player, from Doohoma in Iorrais, Co Mayo
Dick Gaughan took up the guitar at the age of seven and has now been a professional musician for 40 years. He began playing mainly traditional songs on an acoustic guitar, but now writes his own songs as well as performing those of others. The intensity & power of his words and performance are legendary.
Although his approach to performing concentrates strongly on the song itself, Gaughan is known as a master of the acoustic guitar.
He was an early member of Boys of the Lough & Five Hand Reel. His greatest musical love is for the ancient traditional Scots ballads, the big story songs, which form a substantial part of Scotland's living wealth of traditional song.
He has also been fairly active as a record producer, midi programmer and composer - composing the music for films for the BBC, Scottish Arts Council and independent producers.
In 2010 Dick won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards