Andy M. Stewart

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Andy M. Stewart (Andrew McGregor Stewart) was a Scottish singer, songwriter and instrumentalist best known as the frontman of the folk group Silly Wizard. He was born on 8 September 1952 in Alyth, Perthshire, Scotland, and died on 27 December 2015 at the age of 63. He came from a family of Scottish Travellers that included Belle Stewart and Sheila Stewart. His great-aunt taught him the song If I Were a Blackbird.

With Silly Wizard, Stewart sang and played the tenor banjo, mandolin and tin whistle. He toured with the band until it broke up in 1988.

After Silly Wizard, he released four solo albums and made three albums with Manus Lunny. Many of his songs became popular in folk circles, including The Ramblin’ Rover, Golden, Golden, The Queen of Argyll and The Valley of Strathmore. He also recorded well-regarded versions of songs by Robert Burns.

In 2012 a failed spinal surgery left Stewart paralysed from the chest down. He died of a stroke in 2015.

Discography (highlights)

Solo:
- By the Hush (1982)
- Songs of Robert Burns (1991)
- Man in the Moon (1994)
- Donegal Rain (1997)

With Silly Wizard:
- Silly Wizard (1976)
- Caledonia’s Hardy Sons (1978)
- So Many Partings (1979)
- Wild and Beautiful (1981)
- Kiss the Tears Away (1983)
- Live in America (1985)
- Golden Golden (1985)
- A Glint of Silver (1987)
- Live Wizardry (1988)
- Live Again (2012)

With Manus Lunny:
- Fire in the Glen (1985, also with Phil Cunningham)
- Dublin Lady (1987)
- At It Again (1990)