Eachdraidh-beatha

John MacDonald of Pitgaveny, Elgin, was a ballad singer, whistler, diddler, and melodeon player. Growing up on his father's farm, he began his career as a mole catcher at the age of thirteen, and throughout his life was known as the 'Singing Molecatcher of Morayshire'.

There are around 100 recordings of John on the Tobar an Dualchais website, which were recorded between 1953 and 1974. The vast majority of these recordings are of his music, a number of these being bothy ballads.