Musical youths scoop school award

A prize to celebrate the life of Uddingston musician Harry Barry has been awarded at his former school.

Uddingston Grammar pupils Heather Smyth and Rebecca Steven were jointly awarded the Harry Barry Prize for Music at the school’s prizegiving ceremony on Tuesday.

The delighted girls each received a trophy and the opportunity to record in a professional recording studio.

Harry’s family launched the award in 2015 as a tribute to the musician who wrote hundreds of jingles and songs in a career spanning 50 years.

The winners are looking forward to recording at Riverside Music Complex, Busby.

Duncan Cameron, who runs the studio and who was a friend of Harry’s, said:“i am thrilled to be supporting the award again this year. Harry was a great pal and it’s a good way to keep his legacy going.”

The singer songwriter, dubbed Scotland’s jingle king, is responsible for some of the country’s most well-known ads.

His most notable includes Forrest Furnishing (Get it at Forrest) – which is still on air after more than 40 years.

Scotland’s top ad man, Roy Mccallum, of Levy Mccallum advertising agency, based in Glasgow, said:“I can think of no more appropriate way to preserve Harry’s memory than by this annual award.

“Finding ways to interest young people in music was always very close to his heart.

“Harry was a highly original musician and composer. Whether he was working on a new song or a new advertising jingle you could be quite certain that the end result would be something very, very fresh. He would have rejoiced just listening to the enthusiasm of these youngsters.”

Harry’s back catalogue includes everything from Ally’s Tartan Army to producing work for Tiger Tim Stevens and the Krankies. He also wrote traditional Scots songs Scotland Again and Lochinver.

Locally he was best known for The Big Elastic Band which produced two albums and countless singles. The debut recording When Big Roy Sang on Annie Mc Gregor’s Juke Box was inspired by an Uddingston cafe owner.

Folk musician Alastair Mcdonald said:“i am so pleased to see this tribute. Harry was a fine musician and I had the pleasure of working with him, singing his lyrics and sharing his stories. I wish joy and success to the winners.”

Previous winners of the Harry Barry prize were Blair Moore (2016) and Jack Anderson (2015).