Alex Beaton

Alex Beaton (July 15, 1944 – May 27, 2022) was a Scottish, guitar-playing folksinger who made more than 35 concert appearances annually at various events across the United States (primarily highland games). Beaton appeared annually at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in North Carolina, and the Stone Mountain Highland Games in Atlanta, Georgia, two of the largest highland games events in the United States. Beaton had been called "one of the most popular balladeers"^[1]. He was a baritone once described as having a "honey voice" ^[2]. At many events, Beaton not only served as a key entertainer, but as the event emcee. Beaton was known for his powerful stage presence and sense of humor. He frequently interacted and joked with audiences while performing and in-between songs. One of his albums, Daft Ditties, is composed entirely of comedic songs. Beaton was also known for his keen knowledge of Scotland's history. Beaton released 21 albums on CD and one DVD musical travelogue of Scotland that pulls together three titles that were previously released on VHS tape. He featured artists such as Alasdair Fraser and Eric Rigler on his recordings. Along with his concert appearances, Alex hosted one or two trips to Scotland per year where he served as the host and tour guide. All tours typically sold out quickly.

Origins and early work[edit]

Beaton was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to a Scottish father and an Irish mother. He began his musical career at age 19 as a member of The Cumberland Three, one of Britain's top folk groups in the early 1960s. The Cumberland Three consisted of Beaton, Brian Fogarty, and Leonard Sturrock, with Pete Sayers on the banjo. Alex emigrated to the United States in 1965. He served in the US Army, entertaining troops in the Third Army Soldiers' Show and the Seventh US Army Chorus in Germany. He launched his solo career in New York in 1969. During the 1970s, he re-directed his career toward writing and performing American country music. He had a song of that genre that was a winner of the International American Song Festival Awards in 1974.

Solo entertainer career[edit]

Since the mid-1980s, Beaton focused on folk music that was primarily Scottish in origin or subject^[3], although his repertoire included songs in the folk music genre that are not purely Scottish (Stan Rogers music for example). In 1990, it was noted that "Beaton has won acclaim as the featured performer at numerous Highland Games and Scottish cultural events throughout the U.S. and Canada" ^[4]. Beaton used a Tony Rice model guitar made by the Santa Cruz Guitar Company, located in Santa Cruz, California. That model is based on Tony Rice's D-28 (circa 1930s), formerly owned by Clarence White.

Beaton regularly (every August) hosted one or two tours on a 10-day trip to his beloved homeland. Tours sold out quickly and were so popular that several of his tour group members signed up to go more than once.

Discography[edit]

Beaton was the founder and president of his own record label—Glenfinnan Music Ltd. He released 21 albums under this label (all titles are available on CD).

Filmography[edit]

• Alex Beaton's Scotland, A Musical Travelogue of Scotland in Three Films (GR DVD 101), includes three films previously released on VHS tape:
  • Going Home (1989) — "Alex's Going Home, magically transports you – in this stunning musical and video production – to such historic and majestic locales as Glencoe, Culloden, Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle, Glenfinnan, Bannockburn and the Isle of Skye" (from DVD jacket).
  • I Belong to Glasgow (1990) – "Let Alex personally lead you on an enchanted stroll through his beloved birthplace in I Belong to Glasgow. Share in the humor, the songs, and the history. Take a trip down the river Clyde and see Glasgow from its industrious past through its rich and colorful present" (from DVD jacket).
  • On The Castle Trail (1994) – "...travel back in time as Alex takes you on a mysterious exploration of Scotland's rich history. With castles as guideposts, On The Castle Trail is a magic carpet ride of sheer exhilaration. You'll visit the picturesque ruins of Caerlaverock and the forbidding strongholds of Hermitage and Dunstaffnage. See the remarkable fairytale retreats of Glamis and Eilean Donan; and the dramatic clifftop fortress of Dunnottar and the world-famous Edinburgh Castle. You'll came face-to-face with knights in shining armor and warring clan chiefs. Let your imagination run wild!" (from DVD jacket).

Personal Life[edit]

After spending more than three decades in the Los Angeles area (most recently the Woodland Hills area), Beaton moved to Franklin, Tennessee. In July 2011 Beaton was paralyzed from the neck down due an accident that severely compressed a cervical disc. Two years after his accident, he and his wife, Linda, moved to St. Peters, Missouri nearer to family who could be of assistance.

Alex Beaton has two daughters, Alessandra (Ali) MacLeod Beaton and Catriona (Catie) MacLeod Beaton. He also has a stepson, John Patrick Polston and a granddaughter, Maggie James Polston.

Sadly, Alex passed away at his home on May 27, 2022 with his devoted wife, Linda, by his side.

Interesting facts[edit]

• Beaton sometimes referred to himself as "Alec" during live shows.
• In times of whimsy, Beaton was known to perform "On the Commode Again," a humorous take on Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again."

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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