In The News

Scottish singer Jack Alexander passes away

Scottish singer Jack Alexander passes away

TRIBUTES have been paid to the singer Jack Alexander, a member of the famous Scottish duo The Alexander Brothers, who has passed away at the age of 77.

The brothers enjoyed worldwide fame after launching their act in the late 1950s. At one point their records even outsold The Beatles in Scotland.

Over the years, they became one of the best loved acts from Scotland, touring extensively in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

They recorded more than 30 albums and had their biggest hit in 1964 with Nobody’s Child (see below), which outsold recordings from The Beatles that year in Scotland. Other hits enjoyed by the duo were These Are My Mountains, Two Highland Lads and The Northern Lights Of Old Aberdeen.

Later recordings included religious and devotional songs.

The pair made regular appearances on television, including at Hogmanay (see below) and on such shows as Sunday Night at the Palladium. At one point they also had their own TV show in Scotland.

They both received M.B.E.s from the Queen in 2005 for services to entertainment.

The brothers decided to retire their act in 2012 when Jack’s health began to falter. Talking about the decision, Tom Alexander (79) said: “We wanted to finish on a hight note and did not want to tarnish what we had achieved over the past 54 years.”

Mr. Alexander, who passed away at Ayrshire Hospice, had suffered a stroke at his home in Prestwick last month.

To see footage of The Alexander Brothers performing Nobody’s Child, click here.

To see an excerpt from a Hogmanay performance by the brothers, click here.

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