Alex Beaton

Alex Beaton (July 15, 1944) is a Scottish, guitar-playing folksinger who makes more than 35 concert appearances annually at various events across the United States (primarily highland games). Beaton appears annually at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in North Carolina, and the Stone Mountain Highland Games in Atlanta, Georgia, two of the largest highland games events in the United States. Beaton has been called "probably the country's most popular Scottish folk singer."[1] He has a baritone voice.

Alex Beaton in 2006
For the Canadian actress and dancer, see Alexandra Beaton.

At many events, Beaton not only serves as a key entertainer, but as the event emcee. Alex is known for his powerful stage presence and sense of humour. He frequently interacts and jokes with audiences while performing and in-between songs. One of his albums, Daft Ditties, is composed entirely of comedic songs. Alex is also known for his keen knowledge of Scotland's history.

Beaton has released 21 albums on CD and one DVD musical travelogue of Scotland that pulls together three titles that were previously released on VHS tape. He has featured artists such as Alasdair Fraser and Eric Rigler on his recordings. Along with his concert appearances, Alex hosts one or two trips to Scotland per year where he served as the host and tour guide. All tours typically sold out quickly.

Biography

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, to a Scottish father and an Irish mother, Alex began his musical career as a member of The Cumberland Three, one of Britain's top folk groups in the early 1960s. The Cumberland Three consisted of Alex, Brian Fogarty, Leonard Sturrock.[2] Alex emigrated to the United States in 1965. He served in the US Army, entertaining troops in the Third Army Soldiers' Show and the Seventh US Army Chorus in Germany. He launched his solo career in New York in 1969. During the 1970s, he re-directed his career toward writing and performing American country music. He had a song of that genre that was a winner of the International American Song Festival Awards in 1974.[3]

Since the early 1980s, Alex has focused on folk music that is primarily Scottish in origin or subject, although his repertoire includes songs in the folk music genre that are not purely Scottish (Stan Rogers music for example). Featured on his recordings are artists such as Eric Rigler and Alasdair Fraser.

In July 2011, Alex was paralysed from the neck down due to a severely compressed cervical disc.

Little is known about his personal life other than he is a cancer survivor and, after spending more than three decades in the Los Angeles area (most recently the Woodland Hills area), he moved to Franklin, Tennessee. Two years after his accident, he and his wife, Linda, moved to St. Peters, Missouri nearer to family who will offer assistance. Alex Beaton has two daughters, Alessandra (Ali) MacLeod Beaton and Catriona (Catie) MacLeod Beaton. He also has a stepson, John Patrick Polston.

Discography
Alex Beaton performing at the 2006 Kentucky Scottish Weekend (picture taken 5/14/06)

Beaton is the founder and president of his own record label—Glenfinnan Music Ltd. He has released 21 albums under this label (all titles are available on CD).

Album Title Glenfinnan Music Product Number Copyright Date
Alex Beaton Sings of Scotland ForeverGRCD1011984
Los Angeles Police Pipe Band, Featuring Vocals, Alex BeatonGRCD1021984
The ScotsmanGRCD1031985
I Have Seen the HighlandsGRCD1041986
On the Beaton PathGRCD1051987
Daft DittiesGRCD1061987
Halfway HomeGRCD1071988
A Dream of ArranGRCD1081989
Songs of Praise, Pipes of PeaceGRCD1101990
The Road to the IslesGRCD1121991
Beaton's BestGRCD1131992
In The Scottish TraditionGRCD1151993
Alex Beaton's Christmas ClassicsGRCD1161994
The Water is WideGRCD1171995
Kidding AroundGRCD1181999
Over the BorderGRCD1192001
Lover's HeartGRCD1202004
Beaton's Personal FavoritesGRCD1212006
The Songs of Robert BurnsGRCD1222007
From the Sea to the ShoreGRCD1232010
Live in ConcertGRCD1242013

Filmography
  • Alex Beaton's Scotland, A Musical Travelogue of Scotland in Three Films (GR DVD 101), includes three films previously released on VHS tape:
    • Going Home (1989) — "Alex's Going Home, magically transports you – in this stunning musical and video production – to such historic and majestic locales as Glencoe, Culloden, Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle, Glenfinnan, Bannockburn and the Isle of Skye" (from DVD jacket).
    • I Belong to Glasgow (1990) – "Let Alex personally lead you on an enchanted stroll through his beloved birthplace in I Belong to Glasgow. Share in the humor, the songs, and the history. Take a trip down the river Clyde and see Glasgow from its industrious past through its rich and colorful present" (from DVD jacket).
    • On The Castle Trail (1994) – "...travel back in time as Alex takes you on a mysterious exploration of Scotland's rich history. With castles as guideposts, On The Castle Trail is a magic carpet ride of sheer exhilaration. You'll visit the picturesque ruins of Caerlaverock and the forbidding strongholds of Hermitage and Dunstaffnage. See the remarkable fairytale retreats of Glamis and Eilean Donan; and the dramatic clifftop fortress of Dunnottar and the world-famous Edinburgh Castle. You'll came face-to-face with knights in shining armor and warring clan chiefs. Let your imagination run wild!" (from DVD jacket).

Guitar

Beaton uses a Tony Rice model guitar made by the Santa Cruz Guitar Company, located in Santa Cruz, California. That model is based on Tony Rice's D-28 (circa 1930s), formerly owned by Clarence White.

Interesting facts
  • Beaton's full name is Alexander William MacLeod Beaton.
  • Beaton also plays the harmonica.
  • Beaton sometimes refers to himself as "Alec" during live shows.
  • In times of whimsy, Beaton has been known to perform "On the Commode Again," a humorous take on Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again."
  • Beaton regularly (every August) hosted one or two tours on a 10-day trip to his beloved homeland. It sold out quickly and was so popular that several of his tour group members signed up to go more than once.

References
  1. Knippenberg, Jim (7 May 2004). "Party 'n' play like the Scots". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
  2. Gatherer, Nigel. "The Cumberland Three & Alex Beaton". Traditional Music. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
  3. Tager, Miles (8 July 2004). "Top Act". The Mountain Times. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
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