Requiem for a Humblebum: Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty’s bandmate dies aged 78
HE was co-founder of the 1960s folk band that set Sir Billy Connolly on the road to global stardom.
But now Tam Harvey – who is said to have taught the Big Yin how to play guitar – has died at the age of 78.
Sir Billy was working as a welder when he first met Harvey. They went on to form The Humblebums in 1965, which later also boasted Scots music legend Gerry Rafferty as a member.
Tributes have been flooding in for Harvey since his daughter Georgiana Mannion, shared the news of his death on social media early on Sunday morning, saying that he had passed away ‘hours’ before.
She wrote: ‘Born in Donegal, Ireland, his family relocated to Glasgow when he was a kid.
‘He was supposed to become a priest but he had other ideas.
‘In the 60s, he started a band, The Humblebums, with Billy Connolly. He says he taught Billy to play the guitar and then they made this album (on my record player) where my father played guitar, banjo, and harmonies.
‘Gerry Rafferty joined but my father left to do his own thing.
‘They went on to be famous but my father sadly never broke into the music industry again. I still listen to his vinyl with pride.’
In his series Made in Scotland, Sir Billy recalled: ‘One night in the Folk Attic I met a guitarist called Tam Harvey. I loved the way he played guitar. He had
‘I loved the way he played guitar’
been a rocker, so he knew how to play up the neck of the guitar. We got chatting, started practising together and decided we would become a duo.
‘One night we were at a party and somebody suggested we should be called The Stumblebums. “Huh! Humblebums, more like!” somebody else said. I thought that was a brilliant name, so that was it: The Humblebums we were.’
As The Humblebums they released an album, The First Collection of Merry Melodies, and grew in reputation after playing Glasgow pubs and clubs.
Rafferty joined in 1969, and Harvey left soon after. The Humblebums broke up in 1971.
In her tribute, Miss Mannion revealed Sir Billy and her father had lost contact over the years, saying: ‘Yep, even though they weren’t close at the end, Billy had the utmost respect & gratitude to my father.’
Fans took to social media to pay tribute to Harvey. Bill Torrance wrote: ‘Saw The Humblebums a good few times at Strathclyde Uni Union. We got a bit annoyed with the Big Yin taking up so much time with his patter... we were there for the great music by your dad.’
Another fan wrote: ‘He was THE original Humblebum. Excellent musician. So entertaining. Sorry to hear of your loss.’