Calum Ross

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Choisinn Calum Ros Bonn Alba Nuaidh agus Bonn Òr Tìm an Òbain mus d’ fhuair e Bonn Òr a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich ann an 1968 ann an Dùn Omhain. An uair sin, fhuair e am Bonn Òr airson seinn san t-Seann Nòs aig Mòd Pheairt ann an 1980. Chan eil ach àireamh glè bheag de sheinneadairean air na ceithir buinn sin a bhuinnig.

Bha comas seinn a’ ruith ann an teaghlach Chaluim. Bhiodh athair a’ cur a-mach na loidhne ann an Eaglais Shaor Duke Street an Glaschu agus bhiodh Eardsaidh agus Eachann, bràithrean athar, a’ seinn. Air an taobh eile, bhiodh Aonghas, bràthair a mhàthar, a’ seinn na pìoba agus thòisich Calum fhèin air a’ phìob nuair a bha e mu dhusan bliadhna a dh’aois. B’ ann aig Aonghas bho thùs a bha a’ phìob a chluicheas Calum chun an latha an-diugh.

Ged a rinn Calum clàr singilte le Thistle Records an dèidh dha Bonn Òr a’ Chomuinn a ghlèidheadh, bha e riamh na amas dha clàr nas fhaide a thoirt a-mach agus seo e - mu dheireadh thall - le measgachadh de na h-òrain a chlàraich e dhan BhBC agus feadhainn a chaidh a chlàradh a dh’aona ghnothach airson a’ chruinneachaidh seo.

Ged a rugadh Calum ann an Kildonan Drive ann an Glaschu b’ ann às an Eilean Sgitheanach a bha a phàrantan. Na òige, chuir e seachad ùine ghoirid ann an Sgoil Thornwood ach nuair a thòisich an cogadh, chaidh e gu Bun-sgoil Ùige. Thill e air ais a Ghlaschu an ceann trì bliadhna agus chuir e crìoch air fhoghlam sgoile ann an Àrd-sgoil Hyndland.

An dèidh Seirbheis Nàiseanta, chaidh Calum a dh’obair do dh’Urras Chluaidh mus deach e do dh’Oilthigh Ghlaschu. Cheumnaich e le MA agus an dèidh dha teisteanas teagaisg fhaighinn aig Colaiste Chnoc Iòrdain, chuir Calum seachad iomadh bliadhna ann an sgoiltean Ghlaschu, aig aon àm mar cheannard air Sgoil Cranhill.

An dèidh dha a dhreuchd a leigeil dheth ann an 1998, thòisich Calum air dreuchd ùr, a’ cur seachad dà latha san t-seachdain a’ teagasg Gàidhlig (agus uaireannan òran) ann an Conservatoire Rìoghail na h-Alba an Glaschu.

Tha Calum air a bhith na bhall de Chòisir Ghàidhlig Bhaile Ghobhainn bho mheadhan nan leth-cheudan agus tha e air mòran bhliadhnaichean a chur seachad an sàs ann an Comunn Sgitheanaich Ghlaschu. Bidh e fhathast a’ seinn aig cèilidhean agus cuirmean thall ’s a bhos agus, mar a chluinnear air a’ chlàr seo, tha a ghuth seinn fhathast air a ghleusadh.

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Calum Ross won the Nova Scotia Medal and the Oban Times Gold Medal before going on to win the Mòd Gold Medal at the Dunoon Mòd in 1968 and the Gold Medal for Traditional Singing at the Perth Mòd in 1980. He is one of a relatively small number of people to have won those four medals.

Singing was prevalent in Calum’s family. His father used to precent in Duke Street Free Church in Glasgow and his uncles, Archie and Hector, were also singers. On his mother’s side, his uncle Angus was a piper and Calum began playing the pipes when he was around 12 years old. He still plays his Uncle Angus’ pipes.

Although Calum recorded a single with Thistle Records shortly after winning the Mòd Gold Medal, it was always his intention to make an album and here it is - at long last - featuring a mixture of songs recorded by Calum for the BBC and some newly recorded specifically for this collection.

Although Calum was born in Kildonan Drive in Glasgow, his parents came from Skye. After a time at Thornwood School, on the outbreak of the second world war, Calum attended Uig Primary School. After three years there, he returned to Glasgow and finished his schooling at Hyndland Secondary School.

Following National Service, Calum worked for the Clyde Trust before going to Glasgow University from where he graduated with an MA. Having trained at Jordanhill College, Calum spent many years teaching in Glasgow schools and was, at one time, a head teacher of Cranhill School.

When he retired from teaching in 1998, Calum embarked on a new career spending two days a week teaching Gaelic, and singing from time-to-time, in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Calum has been a member of the Govan Gaelic Choir since the nineteen fifties and has spent many years involved in the Glasgow Skye Association. He still sings at cèilidhs and concerts and, as can be heard on this CD, is still in fine voice.

Mu dheireadh thall

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