Aly Bain

Aly Bain MBE (born 15 May 1946 in Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland) is a reknowned Shetland fiddler, learning his instrument from the old-time master Tom Anderson. Considered one of the finest fiddlers in the Scottish tradition, he became nationally prominent as a founding member of Boys of the Lough, with whom he played for 30 years. He has worked on several international television series, regularly collaborates with prominent musicians from across the globe, and occasionally records as a solo musician. Since 1988 he toured and recorded as the duo Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham. In 1993 his autobiography "Fiddler on the Loose" was published by "Mainstream". He received an MBE in 1994 for his musical accomplishments. He also has received five honorary Doctor of Music (DMus) degrees, including ones from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and from the University of St Andrews (in 2003). In addition, on the 27th November 2007, Aly - along with Phil Cunningham - were awarded Doctor of Letters from Glasgow Caledonian University for their contributions to music and to the education and encouragement of young musicians. In 2006, he was inducted into the Scots Traditional Music Hall of Fame. In 2007, he and Phil celebrated their 20th anniversary of touring as a fiddle and accordion duo. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.