Artist Detailed Info: Bobby Eaglesham

Bobby Eaglesham (18 June 1942 – 14 October 2004) was a Scottish folk musician fondly remembered as a member of legendary electric celtic band Five Hand Reel.

Eaglesham emerged on the Scottish folk scene during the 1960s, when the music was enjoying a major resurgence. He established himself as a solo performer and played in a duo called The Other Half with Glaswegian singer and banjo player Iain MacKintosh. This became a trio with the arrival of Tam Harvey of The Humblebums-fame.

As well as playing on album sessions, for Watt Nicol among others, Eaglesham also played in a duo with Dick Gaughan and became good friends with Five Hand Reel fiddler-to-be Chuck Fleming. So when, shortly after it formed, Five Hand Reel changed personnel, he was a natural choice to join Gaughan in the front line.

After five albums, and with Gaughan already off on a solo career, the group faltered. Eaglesham went on to record the well-received solo album, Weather the Storm, with assistance from Gaughan and Fleming in 1982. Not long afterwards, looking for a more secure income, he moved into the catering business. Later he became a talented fine artist.

Some of the best examples of his musical talent were captured in 1999, on volumes seven and eight of Dr Fred Freeman's Complete Songs of Robert Burns series of CDs, for Linn Records, where he sang songs such as the bawdy My Girl She's Airy, with both great relish and fine judgment.

He died of a heart attack.

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