Isla St. Clair


(Isabella Margaret Dyce)

1952 -

Singer and television personality. Born Isabella Dyce in Grangemouth, but raised in North East Scotland, St. Clair was educated at Aberdeen Academy and Buckie High School. She began folk-singing at an early age and moved to Edinburgh in 1969 to pursue a singing career. She released an album of traditional Scottish folk-songs in 1971 and was soon in demand on television. She gained popularity when she joined Larry Grayson to host BBC Television's The Generation Game in 1978. Three years later she hosted her own series, The Song and The Story which explored the history of folk-songs and won several awards. After taking time out to bring up her two sons, she returned to make guest appearance on television, produce programmes for radio and record several albums. In 1998, she co-produced and starred in the award-winning documentary When the Pipers Play, which proved popular in the USA.

St. Clair was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Aberdeen in 2002 for her contribution in promoting the traditional music of Scotland.

She now lives in Buckinghamshire (England).


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