Born and raised in Port Charlotte, Islay, and surrounded by music from an early age, Jamie was greatly influenced by The Corries during his years at Oban High School and Jordanhill College where he became a member of the Folk Clubs. He began playing the guitar to accompany his singing and while teaching at Douglas Academy, Milngavie he formed a Folk Group - Douglas Folk - with 9 senior students.
After achieving some success with this group Jamie then migrated to Australia where he continued to sing and play for friends at parties. The folk scene was not strong at the time but he did play in pubs and a couple of small folk clubs in Sydney and Wollongong.
Moving to Victoria was the catalyst for much more singing. At a session at the Geelong Folk Club he sang a couple of songs and was immediately joined by a mandolin player who knew the songs. So began a journey with a Celtic band, Loch Ard, which lasted around 10 years. In that time Loch Ard produced a cassette tape and 2 c.d’s which sold out. They performed at the Port Fairy Folk Festival 7 times, many other major festivals as well as supporting Battlefield Band and Capercaillie at concerts in Camperdown and Geelong.
When the band broke up Jamie then played solo or was accompanied by one or two of the Loch Ard crew or Colin MacLeod on fiddle. He produced 5 c’d’s with many musos joining him in different settings.
Festivals were always favourite events for Jamie and he performed at the Maldon Folk Festival, Beechworth, Echuca, NCF Portarlington Celtic Festivals. He played at the Kilmore Celtic Festival 7 years running!
A move to Perth provided less opportunity to perform but he still plays Folk Clubs and ceilidhs, sometimes on his own but often as the duo, Single Malt, with Iain Grassick and is sometimes joined by young Scottish singer Jane Jackson who provides amazing harmonies and Scott Wallace, champion piper, on small pipes.
Recently recorded a CD - Wild Geese, with three great friends and musicians, Fiona Davidson, Ali McKerron and John Ralph.