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Significant Scots
Will Fyffe


Singer-songwriter and Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross looks at Fyffe's life, career and legacy with family, film historians and music hall experts, including Professor Jeffrey Richards, and Will Fyffe's daughter, Eileen.

Born in Dundee in 1885, Will Fyffe became synonymous with a different city when his song 'I Belong To Glasgow' captured the nation's hearts. After spending his formative years in touring theatre, Will Fyffe switched to comedy and music hall, and became a headline act throughout Scotland. Along with his contemporary Harry Lauder, his humour transcended the regional stage and appearances all over Britain led to five Royal Variety performances.

A leading film star of the Thirties and Forties, Fyffe made one Hollywood film, but then put this burgeoning career on hold as war broke out and he returned to entertain the troops. An accident in 1947 led to his untimely death, but his body of work lives on through his songs, sketches and films.

Will Fyffe (16 February 1885 - 14 December 1947) was a Scottish music hall artist, a star of the 1930s and 1940s, on stage, screen and records. Fyffe made his debut in his father's stock company at the age of six. He travelled extensively throughout Scotland and the rest of the rest of the UK, playing the numerous music halls of the time, where he performed his sketches and sang his songs in his own inimitable style. During the '30s, he was one of the highest paid musical hall artistes in Britain. In addition, Fyffe appeared in 23 major films of the era (American and British), sometimes starring, and recorded over 30 songs, delivered with his own unique style. His singer-songwriter skills are still well today, particularly his own composition, "I Belong To Glasgow". This song has been covered by Danny Kaye, Eartha Kitt, Gracie Fields and Kirk Douglas.

Audio Files

I Belong to Glasgow

The Will Fyffe Story

If Scotland Turns Republic
Ah'm Feart For Mrs McKie
Corporal McDougall
Daft Sandy
Down in the Quarry
Dr McGregor
He's Been On The Bottle Since A Baby

See also obituary notices


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