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Jimmy
was born in Frobost, on the island of South Uist, where he lived
until he was ten years old when his parents moved to 'The Fair Toun
o' Perth'. It is probable that it was these early years, when Jimmy
was bilingual in English and Gaelic, that influenced his later understated
singing style. When he sings a song Jimmy is telling a story with
no need to dramatise or over-emphasise. In this respect he has all
the attributes of a traditional Gaelic singer, the only difference
being that he sings in English, or to be more precise, in Scots.
Throughout his singing
career, Jimmy has chosen to sing mainly unaccompanied, allowing
greater credence to the lyrics of his songs, although, on rare occasions,
he allows himself to be accompanied by people whose musicianship
he trusts.
Early in Jimmy's singing
career there was a period when competing in the Mod would have been
a logical progression for him to make. However, after the conductor
of the Gaelic Choir he had joined in Perth asked him to stop using
grace notes as she thought they were "not suitable for Gaelic songs",
he decided against this.
One of the amazing
aspects of Jimmy's singing career, which spans over thirty-five
years, is that in spite of the lure of fame and popular acclaim
he has continued in full-time occupation as a joiner and draughtsman.
During periods when family life made demands on his time, Jimmy
readily transferred his love of song to a back burner and devoted
his attention to where he felt it belonged, i.e. to his family.
The divisions in definition
between traditional singer and revivalist are sterile when applied
to Jimmy Hutchison. All singers have to learn songs from sources
other than on their mother's knee and when presented with a good
song Jimmy will learn it, adapt it, then reproduce it as though
it has been transferred to him via his mother's milk. In the singing
of Jimmy Hutchison you may hear material previously sung by the
giants of the Scottish tradition such as Jeanie Robertson and Jimmy
McBeath, along with songs from lesser knowns such as the London
Irishman, Mike Smythe and the Canadian, Stan Rogers. All their influences
are there.
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