Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Legend Sydney back on the road
THE legendary Sydney Devine will be touring this spring — the first time he has gone on the road for more than 10 years.
The Scottish country and western singer has been entertaining audiences through television and on stage for more than 60 years.
He is one of Scotland’s most successful performers of all time and is regarded as an ever-present part of the entertainment industry north of the border.
This is a man who has sold 15 million albums and has recorded and released almost 50 albums, 10 DVDs and more than 20 singles.
Sydney was born in Cleland, Lanarkshire, in 1940 and his big break came when he made his first TV appearance in 1953 at the age of just 13.
He made his name with the well-remembered White Heather Group, with whom he toured the world.
When visiting Hawaii with Andy Stewart’s band, Sydney heard the singer Don Ho performing Tiny Bubbles, which became his signature tune.
After performing traditional Scottish music for some years, Sydney turned to country and western music in a style which some have compared to that of Pat Boone.
Fans refer to him as steak ’n’ kidney and he’s never forgotten his humble roots — he was the son of a miner and his story has been endlessly eventful.
He’s played at smoky clubs and huge halls, met fans in quiet city pubs and was invited to Buckingham Palace.
From late 1974, he hosted a weekly radio show on Radio Clyde called Absolutely Devine and several years later added a second show called Even More Devine.
After leaving Radio Clyde in the early nineties, he broadcast twice a week for West Sound Radio in Ayr.
The one and only Sydney Devine sings the great old country standards in his own inimitable fashion, featuring slide guitars, a bluesy beat and yodelling tones.
His awesome show at the Whitehall Theatre on April 22 will feature favourites such as Maggie, Tiny Bubbles, The Answer to Everything and lots, lots more.