Calum MacDonald (musician)
Encyclopedia
Calum Macdonald is the percussionist of the Scottish
Celtic rock
band
Runrig
, as well as their primary songwriter
with his old brother
, Rory MacDonald
. Rory tends to write the melody, and Calum the lyrics. Since former lead singer Donnie Munro
left the band in 1997, Rory has taken lead vocal duties on song
s in the band's catalogue written in the Scots Gaelic language
, as the band's new lead singer, Bruce Guthro
, is not a Gaelic speaker.
Macdonald previously attended Jordanhill College
and worked as a P.E. teacher until Runrig went 'professional'.
, Sutherland
. His father, Donald John MacDonald of Scalpay
, was a World War II
veteran. The family moved to North Uist
, when Rory was about four years old. On arrival in Lochmaddy
, Calum was born.
When the time came for Rory to attend High School, which at the time was situated in Portree
, on the Isle of Skye, the whole family moved en masse. It was in Skye that the brothers formed Runrig
along with Blair Douglas and subsequently Donnie Munro
.
in the Highlands. He has contributed main, if not lead, vocals to a handful of Runrig tunes, including Dust and Faileas air an Airigh.
His son, Donald MacDonald, is also a songwriter and performer and has his own band Donald MacDonald & the Islands.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
Celtic rock
Celtic rock
Celtic rock is a genre of folk rock and a form of Celtic fusion which incorporates Celtic music, instrumentation and themes into a rock music context...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Runrig
Runrig
Runrig are a Scottish Celtic rock group formed in Skye, in 1973 under the name 'The Run Rig Dance Band'. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included songwriters Rory Macdonald and Calum Macdonald. The current line-up also includes longtime members Malcolm Jones, Iain Bayne, and more...
, as well as their primary songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
with his old brother
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
, Rory MacDonald
Rory MacDonald
Roderick Macdonald is the bassist of the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig, as well as their primary songwriter with his younger brother, Calum Macdonald. Rory tends to write the melody, and Calum the lyrics...
. Rory tends to write the melody, and Calum the lyrics. Since former lead singer Donnie Munro
Donnie Munro
Donnie Munro is a Scottish musician, and former lead singer of the band Runrig.A native speaker of Scottish Gaelic, much of his work is in that language.-Early life:...
left the band in 1997, Rory has taken lead vocal duties on song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s in the band's catalogue written in the Scots Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
, as the band's new lead singer, Bruce Guthro
Bruce Guthro
Bruce Guthro is a Canadian singer / songwriter, from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Guthro has recorded as a solo artist, and in 1998 also joined Scottish folk rock band Runrig, whilst still pursuing his solo career...
, is not a Gaelic speaker.
Macdonald previously attended Jordanhill College
Jordanhill College
Jordanhill Campus, in Jordanhill, Glasgow, Scotland, is now home to the Faculty of Education of the University of Strathclyde. Within the University of Strathclyde faculty of education, departments include Childhood and Primary Studies, Creative and Aesthetic Studies, Curricular Studies,...
and worked as a P.E. teacher until Runrig went 'professional'.
Early life
His brother Rory was born in DornochDornoch
Dornoch is a town and seaside resort, and former Royal burgh in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth, near to where it opens into the Moray Firth to the east...
, Sutherland
Sutherland
Sutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
. His father, Donald John MacDonald of Scalpay
Scalpay, Outer Hebrides
Scalpay to distinguish it from the other Scalpay) is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:Scalpay is around 2.5 miles long and rises to a height of 341 ft at Beinn Scorabhaig. Scalpay's nearest neighbour, Harris is just 330 yds away over narrow Caolas...
, was a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran. The family moved to North Uist
North Uist
North Uist is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:North Uist is the tenth largest Scottish island and the thirteenth largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has an area of , slightly smaller than South Uist. North Uist is connected by causeways to Benbecula...
, when Rory was about four years old. On arrival in Lochmaddy
Lochmaddy
Lochmaddy is the administrative centre of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland...
, Calum was born.
When the time came for Rory to attend High School, which at the time was situated in Portree
Portree
Portree is the largest town on Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It is the location for the only secondary school on the Island, Portree High school. Public transport services are limited to buses....
, on the Isle of Skye, the whole family moved en masse. It was in Skye that the brothers formed Runrig
Runrig
Runrig are a Scottish Celtic rock group formed in Skye, in 1973 under the name 'The Run Rig Dance Band'. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included songwriters Rory Macdonald and Calum Macdonald. The current line-up also includes longtime members Malcolm Jones, Iain Bayne, and more...
along with Blair Douglas and subsequently Donnie Munro
Donnie Munro
Donnie Munro is a Scottish musician, and former lead singer of the band Runrig.A native speaker of Scottish Gaelic, much of his work is in that language.-Early life:...
.
Later life
During the 1980s, Calum's Christian faith deepened and this influence began to be felt in his lyrical content, in both Gaelic and English. Calum was based in Edinburgh for the 1980s and early 1990s before re-locating his young family to ContinContin
Contin is a Ross-shire village and civil parish between Strathpeffer and Garve in the Highland council area of Scotland...
in the Highlands. He has contributed main, if not lead, vocals to a handful of Runrig tunes, including Dust and Faileas air an Airigh.
His son, Donald MacDonald, is also a songwriter and performer and has his own band Donald MacDonald & the Islands.
External links
- The Official Runrig website
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1069730/