Sydney Devine
| Sydney Devine | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Sydney Devine |
| Born | Cleland, North Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Instruments | Vocals |
Sydney Devine (born Cleland, Lanarkshire 1940) is a Scottish singer whose career began with a television appearance in 1953 at the age of thirteen, developed during eight years touring with the White Heather Group. When visiting Hawaii with Andy Stewart's band, he heard the Hawaiian singer Don Ho perform Tiny Bubbles; this became Devine's signature tune and he went on to sell fifteen million albums {verification please}. His record sales were revived in December 2005 when a frothy drink making machine was advertised on television using Don Ho's version of Tiny Bubbles.
Other songs that Devine made his own include The Answer To Everything, Legend In My Time, Crying Time, When You & I Were Young, Maggie and one that was written for him by his good friend Tommy Scott, Scotland Forever.
He is one of "Scotland’s most successful performers" of all time (Evening Times, 17 October 2007), and "Scotland's most successful crooner" who is an "ever-present part of the Scottish entertainment industry," ("Sydney Devine and the jingle that rings a bell with his fans" The Herald, 22 December 2005).
The entertainer has sold around 15 million albums (Sydney Devine 2011, Artistes International Management Ltd) - and has recorded and released almost 50 albums, 10 DVDs and more than 20 singles. From late 1974 he hosted a weekly radio show on Radio Clyde called Absolutely Devine and after a few years added a second show called Even More Devine. After leaving Clyde in the early nineties, he broadcast twice a week for West Sound Radio in Ayr. He has had numerous TV specials as well as several appearances on various Hogmanay shows and guesting on shows such as 321, Wogan and Seaside Special. He also hosted his own series, Devine Country, in 1979 with guests such as Stella Parton and Dottsy. In 1977, he was invited to appear in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Royal Variety Performance in Glasgow. In the early eighties he took over as host of the STV Scottish entertainment show, Shindig. In 2014 he celebrated 40 years at Glasgow's Pavilion Theatre with three special shows in November.
He is a staunch supporter of The Marie Curie Foundation, and makes himself available for shop openings and events connected to them.
In 2010 he was honoured to receive an MBE in honour of his achievements. More recently, he was honoured by the Scottish Music Hall Society with a lifetime achievement reward.
He continues to release albums and also appears annually for a run of shows in Glasgow's Pavilion Theatre. He lives in Alloway, Ayr with his wife Shirley.
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Wikipedia