It was 1972. I was a member of the guitar club at Stanely Green High School, Paisley, Scotland. My art teacher had just moved to teach in another school and invited us to a concert there. It was to be held in her classroom and I was asked by my music teacher to be the support act to Colin Scot. At the tender age of 15, I sang and played the full version of "American Pie." The walls were adorned with paintings done by pupils - "Welcome to Paisley, Scotty," was the message on them all. In a darkened room, with only a few spotlights and no P.A. system, it was indeed an intimate affair. After doing my bit, raffle tickets were sold, the prize being Scotty's debut album. Accompanied by Jo Partridge on six string acoustic, Scotty, with a Yamaha twelve string, delivered a performance to be remembered. I'll always remember that day - "passionate" and "soulful" are a few of the words I'd use to describe his act. When the show ended, Scotty and Jo spoke to me and I got their autographs.

The following year, I won the music prize and left school, then formed a rock band and started gigging. However, a few years later, I left and started writing and performing my own songs, as well as covering other compositions, including some by Scotty. In 1979, I entered the Melody Maker Contest solo section, won the Scottish heats and went on to be British runner-up. I always wanted to meet Scotty again. I bought all his album releases and saw him play again in the mid-seventies as support to King Crimson at the Glasgow Apollo. I'd heard he was living in Amsterdam and owned a pub there and it was my intention to venture over to visit. I was saddened to hear of his death in 1999, only discovering the news when I heard Allan Taylor's song "Scotty" from the album "Colour to the Moon." Alan, like many others, had great respect for him. Scotty's contribution to the folk and music scene was, to say the least, vast. And, as a person, he was - to echo the words of many - a true gentleman. I am very proud to be part of that day, thirty six years ago, when something special happened in a school classroom somewhere in Scotland.

R.I.P. Scotty.

Davey Mullen