Video tribute to departed pal
“This is for you, pal”
That was the poignant message from Wishaw youngster Scott Ralston to his departed friend Johnny Mackenzie after he released a video tribute dedicated to his memory.
Former Coltness High pupil Scott shot to fame last year when a video of him playing classic dance tracks on his grandfather’s 150-year-old piano went viral.
The clip, which garnered more than 200,000 views and was backed by Clyde 1 DJ George Bowie, was filmed by Johnny himself.
And 19-year-old Scott hopes that the latest video does him justice as his family still come to terms with his loss.
Scott said: “Johnny was my brother William’s best mate and it was his idea originally to film the first video.
“After the video we used to meet up every weekend and became good pals.
“We were all gutted when he passed away and I thought this would be a good tribute to him.
“It was obviously a bit more emotional this time around. I did it for his family though and his mum said they all loved it. “That means a lot to me.” Talented Scott is about to start his third year of his music performance degree at Edinburgh Napier University.
And while he dreads getting the train through to the capital, he hopes it will all pay off as he chases his dream of a career performing in front of huge crowds.
He had a taste of that when, off the back of his first viral video, he was invited to play at a Ted Talks event at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow.
He said: “I was invited to play there after they’d seen my first video.
“I played in front of 1,500 people which was a great buzz.
“I honestly wasn’t that nervous. I thought I would be but I actually get more nervous in front of two people in an exam room than I did in front of that crowd!
“I hate all the travelling through to Edinburgh, but hopefully it will all be worth it in the end.”
You can see Scott’s latest video on our Facebook page.