Famous Scottish Lyricists & Songwriters

This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

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Annie Lennox

(Singer-songwriter of)

Birthdate: January 25, 1954

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Aberdeen, Scotland

Known for her androgynous look, four-time Grammy-winning artist Annie Lennox became an international sensation with Eurythmics, a duo she formed with Dave Stewart, delivering hits such as Sweet Dreams. Her song Into the West from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King received an Academy Award.

Lewis Capaldi

(Scottish Singer Best Known for His Hit Single 'Someone You Loved')

Birthdate: October 7, 1996

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland

Lewis Capaldi's success story is one of the greatest testimonies to the fact that magical things can happen when talent meets opportunity. From being just another aspiring singer, he quickly became a popular singer-songwriter in the UK and the US after Ryan Walter stumbled upon his iPhone recording on his SoundCloud account. Subsequently, he was signed to Universal Music Group.

Emeli Sandé

(R&B Singer Best Remebered for her Album 'Our Vision of Events')

Birthdate: March 10, 1987

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England

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Amy Macdonald

(Scottish Folk Rock Singer and Songwriter)

Birthdate: August 25, 1987

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Bishopbriggs, Scotland

With songs that are a blend of contemporary folk-rock and traditional storytelling, Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald sold 3 million copies of her debut album worldwide. Known for hits such as This Is the Life, she is a self-taught musician and began her career singing at pubs and cafes in her teens.

Jimmy Somerville

(Scottish Pop Singer and Member of the 1980's Pop Groups 'Bronski Beat' and 'The Communards')

Birthdate: June 22, 1961

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland

Jimmy Somerville is a Scottish singer-songwriter best known for his association with popular synth-pop groups like The Communards and Bronski Beat. Somerville, who possesses a soulful and powerful falsetto singing voice, is known in particular for including political commentary on issues like LGBT rights in his songs. In 1984, he won the Grierson Award for his work in Framed Youth.

Marti Pellow

(Lead Singer of the Scottish Pop Group 'Wet Wet Wet')

Birthdate: March 23, 1965

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Clydebank, Scotland

Although discouraged by his father from choosing music as a career option, Mark McLachlan decided to try his luck with a band he formed with three friends. While the band grew to become the internationally renowned Scottish pop group Wet Wet Wet, Mark became Marti Pellow, its lead singer.

Derek William Dick

(Singer-songwriter, Actor, Singer, Composer, Poet)

Birthdate: April 25, 1958

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland

Better known by his pseudonym, Fish, Scottish rock singer Derek William Dick first gained fame as part of the British band Marillion. Known for hits such as Kayleigh, he later also had a successful solo career. He once revealed how he almost died twice, from skin-infection-induced blood poisoning.

Elizabeth Fraser

(Singer-songwriter best known as the vocalist for the pioneering dream pop band Cocteau Twins)

Birthdate: August 29, 1963

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Grangemouth, Scotland

Once described as “the voice of God,” Scottish singer Elizabeth Fraser gained fame as part of the dream pop band Cocteau Twins, known for its obscure lyrics and foreign words which were inserted in the songs because they sounded good. Sexually abused by her family members, she left home at 16

Scott Hutchison

(Founding Member and Primary Songwriter of Indie Rock Band 'Frightened Rabbit')

Birthdate: November 20, 1981

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland

Died: May 9, 2018

Scottish singer-songwriter Scott Hutchison is remembered as the founder of the indie rock band Frightened Rabbit. Though he had initially studied illustration, he later switched to his old love for the guitar and stepped into music. He was found dead by Scottish police after going missing for 2 days.

Jim Diamond

(Singer-songwriter)

Birthdate: September 28, 1951

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland

Died: October 8, 2015

Bert Jansch

(Musician)

Birthdate: November 3, 1943

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Glasgow, United Kingdom

Died: October 5, 2011

Isobel Campbell

(Singer-Songwriter)

Birthdate: April 27, 1976

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland

Ivor Cutler

(Scottish Poet, Singer-Songwriter , Musician, Artist and Humorist Known for His Regular Performances on 'BBC Radio')

Birthdate: January 15, 1923

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland

Died: March 3, 2006

Known for his frequent appearances on BBC radio programs and his baritone voice, singer Ivor Cutler had once been a RAF navigator. While he initially studied painting and sculpting, he later took to poetry and songwriting. He had also penned children’s books. Called an eccentric, he mostly traveled by bicycle.

Gordon Waller

(Singer)

Birthdate: June 4, 1945

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Braemar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland,

Died: July 17, 2009

King Creosote

(Singer-Songwriter)

Birthdate: 1967 AD

Birthplace: Fife, Scotland

William Reid

(Musician best known as being lead guitarist, songwriter, co-founder and occasional singer of the Scottish alternative rock band, The Jesus and Mary Chain)