Tom Spiers
Tom Spiers has been known for many years in Scotland, and elsewhere, as a fine singer of Scots songs and as an excellent fiddle player. Being from Aberdeen in North East Scotland, where his mother was also born, it's perhaps not so surprising that Tom should be drawn to the remarkable treasure trove of songs and music from that area, which lays claim to be home to traditional singers like Jeannie Robertson, Lizzie Higgins and Stanley Robertson.
Listen to
Tom Spiers
- Allan Water [2.30Mb]
- I'm A Working Chap [3.49Mb]
- Pills of White Mercury [3.43Mb]
- Rhynie [2.07Mb]
- The Sailor Deceived [2.52Mb]
Tom was brought up in an extended family environment where singing was the norm. His mother's side of the family had a great love for singing and they sang anything and everything - from traditional Scots songs to Frank Sinatra's popular ballads. His father's side of the family was distinctly less musical, to the extent that an annual ritual around Hogmanay was to hide his "moothie" in the hope that the family would not have to listen to him - his father usually managed to find it though!
In 1962 Tom joined Aberdeen Folk Song Club, at that time and for many subsequent years, one of the great Scottish folk clubs and a powerhouse of traditional performers, where he served his apprenticeship as a fiddler and singer. He was encouraged to learn traditional material initially by the late Arthur Argo. It was here too, that Tom got to know and admire the legendary singers named above who were regular club guests and, of course, an invaluable source of material.
In 1966, Tom and folklorist Peter Hall founded The Gaugers, a folk group which specialised in songs from North East Scotland. Then, with Arthur Watson who joined them in 1974, they made several fine recordings, a collaboration which lasted for 30 years and ended with the untimely death of Peter Hall in 1996.
In 2001 Tom was invited to record a solo CD, 'Allan Water', on The Tradition Bearers label from Scotland, and thereafter to perform in clubs, concerts and festivals in the UK and USA. The following year, Tom and Arthur Watson teamed up with Pete Shepheard under the name of Shepheard, Spiers & Watson and their current CD, ' They Smiled As We Cam In (Springthyme; August 2005) was warmly received and critically acclaimed. The trio has appeared at festivals and clubs around the UK including the Whitby Festival (for three years) performing in the usual range of concerts and presenting workshops on Ballads, Maritime Songs, Bawdy Songs etc..
In October 2004 Tom and Pete were guests of the Folksong Society of Greater Boston, USA and played concerts and gave workshops around Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York state, In November 2006 Shepheard, Spiers & Watson are taking part in the Eisteddfod in New York.
For more information visit Tom Spiers' Website
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