Composer and multi-instrumentalist from Cambuslang, Scotland, who started out on piano and gravitated to the bass during his teens. He would go on to add the flute, harp, tinwhistle bouzoui and uillean pipes to his arsenal of instruments.
He founded Contraband in 1969 and they released a self-titled album in 1974 but then dissolved in 1975.
In 1976, he co-founded Ossian, and they enjoyed success for over a decade, releasing a string of albums, including Borders, Dove Across the Water, Light on a Distant Shore, Seal Song, and St. Kilda Wedding.
By 1989, Ossian was no more. William struck out on his own, releasing several solo albums, such as The Ancient Harp of Scotland, Heart Music, Inchcolm, and The Wellpark Suite.
He furthered his education at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 1992, when he trained to be a music therapist. This led to him eventually becoming the head of the Music Therapy Department at Mission Children’s Hospital, which is located in Asheville, North Carolina.
He won the Song for Scotland competition for “Land of Light”, which he penned in 1999. On 27th July 2000, it received a royal audience when it was played at Edinburgh Castle in honour of the Queen Mother’s centenary.
In the new millennium, he has toured extensively with fellow multi-instrumentalist, Grainne Hambly. One of their many stops was the Somerset Folk Harp Festival, where they played “Eily Gheal Chiun” on 22nd July 2007.
He and the Asheville Symphony gave the world premiere of his composition, “Scottish Fantasia” in November 2007.
In addition to his busy performing and recording schedule, he has also written music for the BBC and Scottish TV, and performed on the soundtracks of The Battle of the Clans on the History Channel and the theatrical release, A Shot at Glory.
The Celtic Tenors recordings
Still By Your Side (Jimmy MacCarthy/Feargal Murray)
Telarc 80667 (CD: Remember Me)
Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Jackson_%28Scottish_composer%29
- http://www.wjharp.com/about.html
- http://www.linnrecords.com/artist-william-jackson.aspx
- http://irishphiladelphia.homestead.com/ST-grainneandbill102106.html
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVVDUj6B8pg
- http://www.harpagency.com/artist1.htm