Review: Robert Wilson

Subject: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Com Seangan
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 09:03 AM

Did anyone ver hear of a Scottish singer called Robert Wilson. He used sing the Scottish songs with great gusto. He was tragically drowned in the River Suir at Waterford, Ireland aroung the late fifties. I'd be inteested to know if is records are avaliable anywhere ? For auld lang syne !!

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Rain Dog
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 09:35 AM

Have a look here


Robert Wilson

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Com Seangan
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 02:40 PM

Rain Dog - Did anyone ever tell you your'e a star ? Well Im telling you. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 04:14 PM

I'm certain that Robert Wilson, the Scottish singer, (Down in the Glen etc.) did not die as mentioned above.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 05:49 PM

Yes me too Guest.
Giok

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: akenaton
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 07:11 PM

Aye I remember Robert Wilson, he was a favourite of mine as a boy ,used to listen to him on the "wireless".
He was always on "Scottish requests" on radio Luxemburg.

WE had a couple of 78s, "Marching thru' the glen" and "The clans are gathering", which we played on an old wind -up gramophone.....Happy days...Ake

PS   I think he did drown, but not in water!!

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Com Seangan
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 07:42 PM

Gee I would not want to say such a thing. But I am from Waterford County region and a Robert Wilson fan and was shattered to read on the local papers at the time that the well known Scottish singer, Robert Wilson had drowned in the Suir. Will check it up and believe me I will make the humblest of apologies on this site if I am wrong. Meantime I would appreciate help from the good man's family or others.

He was a great performer.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Boab
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 11:28 PM

---"By the Brig o' Balgownie I'll meet ye, bonnie Scots lassie o' mine!"---

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Jim McLean
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 07:56 AM

Robert Wilson died in 1963 as the result of a road accident

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 01:00 PM

Found this site with record for sale
Giok

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 05:09 PM

Thee's a CD for sale on that site called Highland Voyage which is the funniest collection of songs I have ever heard.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Com Seangan
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 07:50 PM

As I am so sensitive to the feelings of Robertv Wilsons' family, I will corresct what I have said about the report of his drwoning in the river Suir at Waterford. But give me a chance to check the records. If the family or anyone else can give details of the great man's demise kindly post.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 05:29 PM

Dear Com Seangab, Robert's son Carey wilson, is also a singer, although of a different genre, and is a good friend of mine, I never knew his father although I met his mother and can assure you of the facts of Robert Wilson's demise. I think Carey has a web site and can be contacted but, as we say in Scotland, facts are chiels what dinna ding and yours are incorrect.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Com Seangan
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 04:11 PM

Jim
Thanks for the info. Kindly give the facts of Robert's demise and where he died and I will have no problem in apologising if I am proved wrong. I should be grateful for website of his son and your friend Carey Wilson. My google didn't oblige.

Regards

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Megan L
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 04:35 PM

The sites below states he died in 1964 probably in AYR no mention of cause.
wilson at doily carte
scottish names

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 04:37 PM

Not to be confused with Robert ANTON Wilson, LOL!

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Com Seangan
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 12:33 PM

Thanks Megan and MRR. Sincere apologies and unreserved. But one final thing - is it possible that there was another Robert Wilson who sang Scottish songs at this time or some years earlier ?? The reason for saying is that I was far from Waterford in 1964 (the year given as the year of death ?)

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Jim McLean
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 05:43 PM

Dear Com, take it from me that the Rober Wilson who sang Down in the Glen and was known as The Voice of Scotland in the 50s/60s is not the Robert Wilson of Doyle Carte fame but died as a result of a car crash in 1963. There is no need of an apology as you probably confused two Robert Wilsons and Carey would not be upset ... there is no need to be.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 11:20 AM

Thanks Jim. But one must be sensitive when tallking about a person's sudden death. I may well have confused the two.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 11:38 AM

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 07:58 AM

The two photographs of the Robert Wilson at Doyle Carte and the other with the record sleeve picture are remarkably similar. Are you saying that the biography linking the two is incorrect?
David

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 06:39 PM

don't know much about Robert Wilson but I understand he came from lanarkshire area and I am related in some way. I would be interested to know if anyone can provide any details of his life.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 07:57 PM

According to the details on the back of the "Voice of Scotland CD1", he was born in Cambuslang in 1097, trained as a draughtsman, became a professional singer in his early 20s, moved to the Doyle Carte.

He died in 1964 "having never fully recovered from a car accident the previous year".

I bought a CD called "The Very Best of Robert Wilson" a few years ago which I have never seen since. The inserts on the CD gives a little more info, if you want any...

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 07:59 PM

For 1097, read 1907... Sorry. Stephen.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Lynda
Date: 07 Mar 12 - 07:04 AM

Can anyone please give me detail of Carey please as I am related to Robert his father (Second cousin I am lead to believe)Thank you

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Steve Barclay
Date: 08 Feb 13 - 08:03 PM

I'm a fan of Robert's, I became interested after I learned that my grandad beat him singing in a talent contest in the Motherwell area in the 1920's!!

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 05:47 AM

I Knew Carey in the 1960's when he played violin I believe it was at Covent Garden. He was living in Highgate and used to play fiddle and mandolin when we had a picking session going. Later around nine years ago I spoke to him and he was living in Ilford on the Eastern fringe of London and teaching music.
He may still be there.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Beachcomber
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 05:22 PM

I rem that my mother had an old 78 rpm record of Robert Wilson singing the Robbie Burns' poem "My Love is like a Red, Red Rose" she used to play it for my brother and I at bed-time , now and then. I think that the song "Beautiful Dreamer" was on the reverse side ? That was in the late 1940s, we didn't have electricity but we did have a wind up gramophone.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Maggie's granddaughter
Date: 28 Feb 17 - 09:58 PM

I have a number of old "His Master's Voice" red label recordings (78 rpm) of Robert Wilson, including "If I Can Help Somebody," "Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair," "A Gordon for Me," and "Bonnie Scot's Lassie O'Mine." I about wore them out as a child, listening to them over and over. I believe the recordings are from the 1940's, as they seemed a wee bit grainy even when I was listening to them as a child in the 50's and 60's. Grateful that I still have them! My grandparents came from Motherwell and Clydesdale. They met in the U.S.A, but discovered going through papers that they'd been baptized as infants in the same church on the same Sunday! Guess they were destined to marry!

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 01 Mar 17 - 07:06 PM

Jim McLean I agree about 'Highland Voyage' -- the songs are sooo funny! And all set to well known Scottish tunes.
There was an old one-off tv programme featuring I think the puffer Vital Spark with Para Handy and co. crewing heading off down the Clyde on the Highland Voyage, with these songs. Not sure if it is available as a dvd?

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 01 Mar 17 - 07:07 PM

Another well known singer of about the same era was Father Sydney McEwan (?) who had Dunoon connections -- -

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Frederick Tough of Aberdeen
Date: 04 Feb 19 - 12:44 PM

After scrutiny of the reviews I would like to put you in the picture regarding Robert Wilson.
It is true that he was a member of the Doyle Carte Opera Company and then broke out into scottish music Although I didn't miss a performance when he visited the Tivoli Theatre, I unfortunately never met him, but spoke with him on the phone.   
During a visit to Ireland he suffered a loss of memory bout, possibly due to overwork but recovered.       He died following a car accident from cerebral thrombosis, and arteriasclerosis.
He was a real gentleman, and had a compassion to help others.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: keberoxu
Date: 04 Feb 19 - 02:24 PM

Just to contribute to the thread drift to Highland Voyage.

The Highland Voyage video/film described by Gallus Moll is at YouTube,
let me see if I can find it.

Here you are.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST
Date: 23 May 20 - 04:09 PM

I understood Carey was an actor in Byrne's play 'Slab Boys' in Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre, but lived in England at least until a decade or so ago. Does anyone know his family please? I have a research question. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Charles Wilson
Date: 09 Jul 21 - 12:42 PM

Robert Wilson spoke/sang "On the Road to Mandalay" on an album I used to listen to as a child with my family. I can't find it on the internet and wondered if anyone knows where I could get a copy either electronically or on vinyl.

Thanks,

Charlie Wilson

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Jim McLean
Date: 09 Jul 21 - 01:59 PM

Guest, Hootenanny, I lived a couple of houses away from Carey in Muswell Hill to be exact. He rented a flat from Jimmie Macgregor, half of the Scottish folk duo, MacGregor and Hall. I actually employed Carey as a violinist session man once.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Guest TF
Date: 09 Jul 21 - 02:40 PM

Yes Jim. If you recall Carey played guitar and mandolin on "Bitter Withy Sampler" way back. Thanks again for hospitality and an educational week.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 09 Jul 21 - 03:28 PM

Hi Charlie, I've tried numerous lists, the PRS/MCPS database - an HMV list which includes Wilson's 78's and discogs which also seems comprehensive. I can't find a single recording of Robert Wilson performing this one - though I'm not infallible. However, there are compilations where he appears along side various artists and the track has been recorded by other very similar tenors of the 40's Up. It doesn't seem like the type of thing Robert Wilson recorded - though if so, I look forward to somebody finding it so I can give it a listen. Similar styled Scottish tenor Kenneth McKellar did record it, as he had a much more varied output in the genres he covered.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 09 Jul 21 - 03:57 PM

Charlie I did find the following mention of Robert Wilson performing the song in 1941 live at Aberdeen Tivoli along with another singer, so not that far fetched to imagine he might have recorded it.. "Robert Wilson, superlatively good with his "Deep the night" and "The Road to Mandalay," would themselves have made a visit to the show worth-while."

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 09 Jul 21 - 04:15 PM

Jim McLean,

The reason I knew Carey was because I was personal manager to Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor for a period in the 60's and used to handle their bookings. Jimmie had two houses at the time in Onslow Gardens one he lived in and the other next door was let off into flats.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Jim McLean
Date: 10 Jul 21 - 03:50 AM

Guest TF when we recorded that album I had moved up the hill in Onslow Gardens. I recently found many photos Alison took both in Onslow Gardens and in Highgate Woods of the group. By the way I sent the master tape to Lesley way back.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Guest TF.
Date: 10 Jul 21 - 07:21 AM

I have the masters now Jim. I suppose I will pass them on to Lesley's daughter Becky when the time comes. Hope you're coping OK.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Charles wilson
Date: 10 Jul 21 - 03:27 PM

I want to thank all of you for your help - Kenneth McKellar - was the right guy not Robert Wilson. Realize we listened to both!! Again many thanks for your help.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: Jim McLean
Date: 10 Jul 21 - 04:00 PM

Thanks, Tich, still feeling the pain. Fraser is recording something I wrote for Alison with Alastair. Will let you know how thinks progress.
I wonder what Carey is doing now? Jimmie sold that house a while ago.

Subject: RE: Review: Robert Wilson
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 10 Jul 21 - 04:02 PM

No problem Charlie, I like a challenge - I'm glad we solved the puzzle. As it turns out you weren't far off.. both parties were White Heather Club tenors, and Robert Wilson started off with that varied type of material, before he was largely pigeon holed by his successful Scottish Tartan music. McKellar was equally often kilted, but allowed by his record company to go between different aspects of his vocal talents.

Subject: "Six Ages of Cricket" Humphrey Tilling
From: GUEST,charles wilson
Date: 25 Jul 21 - 07:10 PM

Again, my thanks to everyone especially Rossey. New question, Humphrey Tilling gave a speech at the Forty Club in UK where he did a wonderful story of cricket to Shakespeare's Seven Ages of Man. Probably in the '60s - i first heard it in 1979/80 in Australia. I am looking for the words and/or the recording. I found a cd but it is no longer available. Wondered if anyone had a direction for me??

Appreciate wide gap between Road to Mandalay and Six Ages of Cricket.

Many thanks,

Charlie