Mary Ann Kennedy, daughter of singer Kenna Campbell was born and brought up in Glasgow in a house where Gaelic was the language of the home and in a community where speaking two languages was the norm even if not everyone spoke the same second language.
Mary Ann trained as a classical musician alongside Radio Scotland ‘Grace Notes’ presenter Jamie MacDougall and remembers accompanying him on the clarsach on many occasions while he was still a sweet-voiced angelic boy soprano. Her first love though is the traditional music that has surrounded her all her life and after several years in the BBC newsrooms she has returned to freelance broadcasting and performing choosing to base herself in the Highland capital city of Inverness.
One of a select number of singers to have won both Gold Medals at the National Mod, she is also twice winner of the International Celtic Harp competition in Lorient Brittany. Mary Ann was given a Saltire Award for Lasair Dhe the finale of the 1999 Highland Festival involving Cliar and Gaelic choirs from all over the Highlands and Islands. She is a member of the band Cliar hailed as ‘one of the most beautiful sounds in 21st Century Scotland’ and is a partner in the Skye-based record label Macmeanmna (Gaelic for imagination).
In 2019, Mary Ann Kennedy released an excellent album titled
Glaschu . It is a tribute to her hometown, Glasgow. Glaschu combines Gaelic vocals, Scottish and Irish folk music influences, poetry and contemporary acoustic arrangements.
Discography:
Gaelic Songs for a Modern World (ARC Music, 2017)
Glaschu – Home Town Love Song (ARC Music, 2019)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
Updated discography, biography and photos