Alex Beaton

Alex Beaton is a Scottish, guitar-playing folksinger who makes more than 35 concert appearances annually at various events across the United States (primarily highland games). Beaton appears annually at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in North Carolina, and the Stone Mountain Highland Games in Atlanta, Georgia, two of the largest highland games events in the United States. Beaton has been called "probably the country's most popular Scottish folk singer." He has a baritone voice.

At many events, Beaton not only serves as a key entertainer, but as the event emcee. Alex is known for his powerful stage presence and sense of humour. He frequently interacts and jokes with audiences while performing and in-between songs. One of his albums, Daft Ditties, is composed entirely of comedic songs. Alex is also known for his keen knowledge of Scotland's history.

Beaton has released 21 albums on CD and one DVD musical travelogue of Scotland that pulls together three titles that were previously released on VHS tape. He has featured artists such as Alasdair Fraser and Eric Rigler on his recordings. Along with his concert appearances, Alex hosts one or two trips to Scotland per year where he served as the host and tour guide. All tours typically sold out quickly.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, to a Scottish father and an Irish mother, Alex began his musical career as a member of The Cumberland Three, one of Britain's top folk groups in the early 1960s. The Cumberland Three consisted of Alex, Brian Fogarty, Leonard Sturrock, with Pete Sayers on the banjo. Alex emigrated to the United States in 1965. He served in the US Army, entertaining troops in the Third Army Soldiers' Show and the Seventh US Army Chorus in Germany. He launched his solo career in New York in 1969. During the 1970s, he re-directed his career toward writing and performing American country music. He had a song of that genre that was a winner of the International American Song Festival Awards in 1974.

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