Biography

Joan MacKenzie [3468], Evelyn Campbell [9348], Iona MacDonald [7237], and Mary Sandeman [6773] were the four members of the The Edinburgh Singers.

Around the mid-1960s, the BBC was seeking another group for its programs, as the audience had shown great interest in The MacDonald Sisters [11382] in programmes such as 'S e Ur Beatha. Joan was asked if she would put a group together.

Joan was very knowledgeable about Gaelic songs, so she would pick and arrange the songs the group would sing with help from the head of Gaelic at the BBC, Fred MacAulay [151]. The Edinburgh Singers' first television programme was broadcast at the end of 1966. They were on the first programme in colour to come out of the BBC television studio in Glasgow.

Television programmes such as 'S e Ur Beatha and radio programmes were the mainstays of their work. These included four radio programmes in 1968, with Alasdair MacDonald backing them on guitar.

The Edinburgh Singers also performed at events such as the Edinburgh Festival and once appeared before the Queen at Holyrood Palace. Mary Sandeman remembers borrowing her mother's car and setting off with them, each wearing a beautiful dress. On the way they got a puncture and had to go to a garage to have it fixed. What a sight to see them standing around the garage in their beautiful dresses. Fortunately, they were not late for their perfomance.

The group continued for six years but by the end of 1972, Mary Sandeman had emigrated to Canada and Iona MacDonald was busy looking after her family. With that, the group disbanded.