Biography

Freddie MacKenzie, Freddie Ciorstag Freddie, was born in Leverburgh, Harris, in 1940. His mother, Ciorstag Freddie Dhòmhnaill Mhòir, was related to the renowned poet Iain Gobha na Hearadh. She herself had a gift for poetry and composed songs such as Cianalas na Hearadh, a well-known song sung by Jenna Cumming [9973].

Freddie attended Leverburgh School and, on leaving at fifteen, went to work in a hotel in Luss on the shores of Loch Lomond. He had planned to train as a hotel manager, but his early experience in the industry persuaded him to take a different path.

After some time in Luss, he moved to Bonawe in Argyll, beside Loch Etive, where he began driving for J & A Gardiner. His work took him the length and breadth of Scotland, transporting gravel from the quarry.

Freddie married Mary from Drinishader, Harris, when he was 21, and together they had three children. The family later settled in Oban.

As a schoolboy, Freddie sang at Christmas concerts and similar events, but after leaving Harris he stopped singing altogether.

That changed when, at around the age of 28, he was invited by Kenneth Campbell, who was originally from Scalpay, to perform in Taynuilt. Kenneth, a vet in Taynuilt, knew Freddie came from a family of singers and that he used to sing as a schoolboy.

Following that performance, Freddie continued to sing, though he avoided his mother's songs, finding them too emotional. In 1981 he won the Traditional Gold Medal at the Royal National Mòd in Lochaber. Freddie was a familiar voice at ceilidhs and was deeply involved in the work of An Comunn Gàidhealach.