Kenneth McKellar

Born 23rd June 1927 in Paisley, Scotland / Died 9th April 2010 in Lake Tahoe, CA, USA.

Kenneth McKellar was a Scottish tenor. Most famous for his interpretation of the works of Robert Burns.

McKellar studied forestry at the University of Aberdeen. He later trained at the Royal College of Music as an opera singer but rose to prominence as a performer of Scots songs.

His albums of the songs of Robert Burns (now digitised) are considered by musicologists to be definitive interpretations.

He competed for the UK in the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest, performing 'A Man Without Love'. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s he appeared on the BBC Television Hogmanay celebration programme, alongside Jimmy Shand and Andy Stewart.

McKellar made the majority of his recordings on the Decca label. He also recorded several classical works, including Handel's Messiah alongside Joan Sutherland in a performance conducted by Sir Adrian Boult.