Glasgow was cleaned out of candles this week, as Dick Gaughan's 60th Birthday approached. Celtic Connections saw a special birthday concert on January 28th, the legendary singer/songwriter was joined by an array of musical friends from down the decades.

He was born in Glasgow's Rottenrow Maternity Hospital, because his father was working in Glasgow as an engine driver. He spent the first one and a half years of his life in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, a suburb of Glasgow, after which the whole family moved to Leith, a port on the outskirts of Edinburgh. He has never returned to Rutherglen, and is proud to be a Leither.

He has been a professional musician and singer since Jan 1970. Has been playing guitar since the age of 7 and made his first solo album in 1971. Working mainly in the areas now known as "Folk" or "Celtic" music, he has recorded quite extensively since then in many countries and in various combinations. Has also worked extensively as a session musician in a wide variety of musical styles.

During this time he has also been fairly active as a record producer, midi programmer, composer - composing the music for films for the BBC, Scottish Arts Council and independent producers - actor and theatre music director, having been in both roles with the celebrated 7:84 (Scotland) Theatre Company in the early 80s, songwriter whose songs have been recorded by, among others, Billy Bragg, Mary Black and Capercaillie, and also served for several years as a reviewer/columnist with Folk Review magazine in the late 70s. Instigated the setting up of the association Perform in the early 80s and was its Chair for 2 years.

Was an early member of the band Boys of the Lough and is on their first album and was with the now-legendary Scottish Folk-Rock (what a lousy label that is!) band, Five Hand Reel, making 3 albums with them. In the 90s he founded and produced the short-lived but quite extraordinary ensemble Clan Alba.