Musical Scots Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Lewis Capaldi is a relative newcomer to the music scene. Born in Glasgow in 1996, his breakthrough single was 'Someone You Loved' in 2018. He is related to 'Doctor Who' actor Peter Capaldi. Annie Lennox has been around rather longer, beginning her career in a band called The Tourists in 1976. She then established a successful partnership with Dave Stewart, performing as Eurhythmics. Their hits include 'Here Comes the Rain Again' (1984) and 'Thorn in My Side' (1986). Annie was born in Aberdeen in 1954. She has also established a long-lasting and successful solo career.

Born in Paisley in 1947, Gerry Rafferty began his career in a group called The Humblebums, working with Billy Connolly, later to become better known as a stand-up comedian. Rafferty then formed Stealers Wheel with Joe Egan with their biggest hit being 'Stuck in the Middle With You' in 1973. His solo career included hits such as 'Baker Street' in 1978 and 'Night Owl' the following year. Susan Boyle made her mark by appearing on the television show 'Britain's Got Talent' in 2009. Although she didn't win the show, finishing as the runner-up, her performances of songs such as 'I Dreamed a Dream' and 'Memory' impressed the public. At a relatively late stage in her life, Susan has continued a successful career. She was born in West Lothian, Scotland, in 1961.

As the name rather indicates, Paolo Nutini has Italian heritage from his father's family, but is a true Scot having been born in Paisley in 1987. He is a solo performer, and his hits include 'New Shoes' in 2007 and 'Pencil Full of Lead' in 2009. Marie Lawrie was born in Stirlingshire in 1948, grew up in Glasgow and burst onto the music scene aged only fifteen when she recorded 'Shout', the Isley Brothers song, using the name Lulu. She has remained in the public eye ever since with her other hits, including 'I'm a Tiger' (1968) and 'The Man Who Sold the World' (1974). Lulu also appeared in films, most notably in 'To Sir With Love in 1967, with Sidney Poitier. The theme song, with the same title, gave her a massive hit in the USA.

Jim Kerr was born in Glasgow in 1959 and is best known as the lead singer for the band Simple Minds. He has recorded solo albums as well, and is also known for marrying two famous women in Chrissie Hynde and Patsy Kensit, although both marriages ended in divorce. Among the songs recorded by Simple Minds are 'Belfast Child' (1989) and 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' (1985). Kate Tunstall, better known as K T Tunstall, was born in 1975 in Edinburgh. Her breakthrough hit was 'Suddenly I See' in 2005, and she has also written songs for the soundtracks of various films.

Donovan Leitch is another Glaswegian, born in Glasgow in 1946. As a singer/songwriter, Donovan (his performing name) is known for writing his own songs and has had hits with 'Catch the Wind' (1965), 'Mellow Yellow' (1966), and 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' (1968), to name a few. He was equally successful in the USA. John Bruce, better known as Jack, was born in Lanarkshire in 1943, and made his name as a bass guitarist and vocalist. His early performances were in blues bands - he met both Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton during this part of his career. For a time he was part of the band Manfred Mann, including playing on 'Pretty Flamingo' in 1966, but his main success came when he, Clapton, and Baker formed the band Cream in 1966.

Barbara Dickson was born in Dunfermline in 1947 and began her singing career in the folk genre. She then moved to musical theatre, working with the Liverpool playwright Willy Russell. She also worked closely with Gerry Rafferty, providing backing vocals on two of his albums. Among her successful recordings are 'January February' in 1980 and a duet with Elaine Paige performing 'I Know Him So Well' in 1984. Jimmy Somerville was born in 1961 in Glasgow with his first band being Bronski Beat. The biggest hit for this band was 'Smalltown Boy' in 1984. Somerville then formed The Communards, having further hits with 'Don't Leave Me This Way' in 1986 and 'Never Can Say Goodbye' the following year. Since 1989 Somerville has pursued a solo career.

Brian Connolly was born in Hamilton in 1945 and became the lead singer of the band Sweet (originally The Sweet) in 1968. The band were among the leading glam rock outfits of the 1970s and had several hits including 'Block Buster' in 1973 and 'Love is Like Oxygen' in 1978. Connolly turned to alcohol to cope with fame, and left the band after disagreements with other members. Born in Glasgow in 1959, Eddi Reader became the lead singer of Fairground Attraction in the 1980s. The band achieved success with their first single, 'Perfect', in 1988. The band broke up the following year and Eddi embarked on an acting career before she began performing solo.

If you are thinking that Karl Denver doesn't sound very Scottish, you'd be right, but his real name was Angus Murdo McKenzie and he was born in Glasgow in 1931. After his career in the Norwegian Navy, he turned to singing and was particularly noted for his yodeling style. Hits included 'Wimoweh' in 1962 and 'Indian Love Call' the following year. Sheena Easton is another singer who found fame through a television show, appearing on a series called 'The Big Time', which followed her attempts to break into the music industry. Easton, who was born in Lanarkshire in 1959, succeeded and had several hits, being particularly popular in the USA. Hits include 'Modern Girl' (1980) and 'We've Got Tonight', a duet with Kenny Rogers in 1983.

Marti Pellow was born in Clydebank in 1965 and is known primarily as the lead singer of the band Wet Wet Wet. He fronted the band for nearly thirty years, with a break in the middle, as well as performing in musical theatre and as a solo artiste. Among the band's best known hits are 'Love is All Around' in 1994 and 'Sweet Little Mystery', an earlier hit from 1987. Sharleen Spiteri fronted the band Texas. Sharleen was born in Lanarkshire in 1967 and was a co-founder of the band, which got together in Glasgow, in 1986. Among their hit records are 'I Don't Want a Lover' (1989) and 'Say What You Want' (1997).

Midge Ure, real first name James, was born just outside Glasgow in 1953. He played with bands such as Visage and Thin Lizzy, but is best known for Ultravox. Having joined the band, Ure was prominent in their most successful years with 'Vienna' (1981) and 'Dancing With Tears in My Eyes' (1984) among the hits. These are dwarfed by the success of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', the 1984 (original version) charity single Ure co-wrote with Bob Geldof to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The final Scot in the quiz actually bears that name. Bon Scott (Ronald is his real first name) was born in Forfar in 1946, although he grew up in Australia where his parents had emigrated in 1952. His Scottish roots are well known, though. He was a member of the rock band AC/DC from 1974 until 1980, when he died from alcohol poisoning. Fellow members of the band, brothers Malcolm and Angus Scott, had similar backgrounds having emigrated from Scotland in their childhood.

The other musicians listed are all from other Celtic nations. The Irish contingent consists of Damien Rice, Rory Gallagher, Phil Lynott, Chris de Burgh and Sinead O'Connor. Bonnie Tyler, Dave Edmunds and Kelly Jones are all Welsh.