Famous Scottish Singers

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.

Donovan is a Scottish guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for developing and popularizing a distinctive and eclectic style that blended many genres, such as folk, jazz, pop, calypso, and psychedelic rock. Donovan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

Lauren Mayberry is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and musician. Mayberry, who possesses a soprano singing voice, is the lead vocalist of the popular Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches, where she also plays keyboards and drums. One-third of the band, Mayberry co-produces and co-writes the songs along with Martin Doherty and Iain Cook. A vocal feminist, Mayberry runs the feminist collective, TYCI.

Lonnie Donegan was a British musician and singer-songwriter. He is remembered for his contribution to a genre of folk music called Skiffle which earned him the nickname King of Skiffle. Donegan is credited with influencing British rock and pop musicians of the 1960s. Thanks to his influence on American music, Donegan is considered an important figure in the British invasion.

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.

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

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.

Scottish singer Lena Zavaroni is an example of how harmful unregulated childhood stardom can be. At 10, she became the youngest singer with a Top 10 album on the UK Albums Chart. However, after a lifelong battle with anorexia nervosa and depression, she died at 34, following a psychosurgical operation.

Actor Nicol Williamson was often compared to superstar Marlon Brando. Born to a Scottish factory owner, he initially worked in his father’s factory. Best known for his Drama Desk-winning roles in the plays Hamlet and Uncle Vanya, he is also remembered for his role in the movie Laughter in the Dark.