Sydney Devine


Sydney Devine was a Scottish singer. He sold 15 million albums during his career, reached the UK's top 20 albums chart and was part of the White Heather Club troupe.

Life and career

Devine was born in Bellside, a settlement near the village of Cleland, North Lanarkshire, in January 1940.
Known for his charismatic personality, distinctive singing style and rhinestone-encrusted stage suits, Sydney first achieved a measure of fame as a boy through an extraordinary ability to reproduce bird calls. This was noticed by the tenor Robert Wilson, who invited Devine to whistle during the recording of "Cottage By The Lea".
He went on to perform his bird whistling set in various venues, including the London Hippodrome as part of the revue "Wild Grows The Heather".
When the theatre run of Wild Grows The Heather finished, he reunited with Wilson in his "White Heather Group" troupe.
In 1957, after entering a Daily Record-sponsored competition to find "Scotland's Tommy Steele" Devine finished second and toured Scotland with the winner, Alex Harvey, later the frontman of Alex Harvey Band|his own band].
Whilst with the "White Heather Group" Sydney introduced Rock and Roll to his act and became known, for a short while, as the "Tartan Rocker".
He was told after one such performance in Germany that Elvis Presley had been in the audience but this was never verified
Following Robert Wilsons debilitating road accident The White Heather franchise was taken over by Andy Stewart and latterly became the White Heather Club
Devine played guitar on Andy Stewart's hit "Donald Where's Your Troosers?", and while touring with Stewart in South Africa, Devine recorded his first two albums with RPM who then sold them to Emerald Gem thus beginning Sydney's recording career that would see him sell over 15 million albums worldwide.
In the 1970s, he had his own show on STV, Devine Time. It featured star guests such as Peters and Lee and Lena Zavaroni.
Devine worked with many major musicians including Roy Orbison, Box-Car Willie and Dolly Parton.
In the 1970s, Sydney had his own weekly shows on Radio Clyde where he coined the catchphrase: "get the kettle on, Shirley". After leaving the station, he presented popular shows on West Sound Radio in Ayr.

Personal life

In 2003, Devine became a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to entertainment in Scotland.
2019 saw Devine listed in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest retuning stage show to a theatre following 43 years at Glasgow's Pavilion Theatre.
Devine was a Freemason and was a member of Masonic Lodge 571 Dramatic Glasgow.
Other famous members of this lodge include Sir Harry Lauder, Izzy Bonn PM, Ben Gunn PM, Andy Stewart, Tom and Jack Alexander and Arthur J Jefferson.
His grandson, Adam Devine, is a professional footballer.

Death

Devine died at University Hospital Ayr on 13 February 2021, at the age of 81.

Albums

  1. Your Favourite Country Songs
  2. Country
  3. Encores
  4. Crying Time
  5. The Very Best Of
  6. Absolutely Devine
  7. Live At The City Hall, Glasgow
  8. Live At The City Hall, Glasgow
  9. Doubly Devine
  10. This Song is Just for You
  11. Devine Time
  12. The Collection
  13. Greatest Hits
  14. Almost Persuaded
  15. Nashville Album
  16. My World of Music
  17. 20 Golden Greats
  18. 25th Anniversary Album
  19. The Pride of Bonnie Scotland
  20. Heartaches
  21. Take My Hand, Precious Lord
  22. Favourite Memories of Mine
  23. By Request
  24. From Scotland With Love
  25. Hits Jackpot
  26. Always & Forever
  27. Green Green Grass of Home
  28. The Very Best Of
  29. Norfolk Country
  30. Crying Time
  31. Crying Time
  32. 50 Country Winners
  33. Line Dance Party
  34. Line Dance Party 2
  35. Crying Time
  36. Simply Devine
  37. Dance Party
  38. Big Country Line Dance Party
  39. 40 Greatest Hits
  40. The Best Of
  41. Crying Time
  42. You Can Dance
  43. When I Stop Dreaming
  44. Line Dance Party
  45. Skiffle Country
  46. Tiny Bubbles and the Signature Songs
  47. Nashville Country
  48. Love Songs
  49. It Is No Secret
  50. I'm Back
  51. ‘’I’ll Remember You ‘’