Alexander Dundas McEwen
(Eck McEwen)

1935 -

Folk singer. Born at Marchmont House in the Scottish Borders, McEwen was educated at Eton. He inherited Bardrochat House (Ayrshire) from his father, the politician Sir John McEwen (1893 - 1962). With his brother, Rory (1932 - 1982), he formed a popular folk group. The duo travelled to the USA, where they made records such as Great Scottish Ballads (1956) and Scottish Songs and Ballads (1957), and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. They also appeared on British television performing jazz and blues as well as folk, and at the Edinburgh Festival.

In 1960, he married Princess Cecilia of Weikersheim, a relation of Queen Victoria. The brothers threw parties which included singer Bob Dylan, model Jean Shrimpton, Beatle George Harrison and actors Terence Stamp, James and Edward Fox. In 2005, McEwen sold much of the contents of Bardrochat, including a famous painting of his grandmother by Sir John Lavery (1856 - 1941).

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