Billy Connolly
b. 24 November 1942, Glasgow, Scotland. Connolly left school for a variety of contrasting occupations before joining Tam Harvey in the Scottish folk group the Humblebums. The duo completed one album before Harvey was replaced by Gerry Rafferty in 1969. Although the new combination was responsible for two critically-acclaimed selections, the contrast between Connolly's lighter, whimsical songs and Rafferty's studious pop became too great to hold within one unit. While the latter formed Stealers Wheel, his ex-partner returned to the folk circuit as a solo performer. Connolly's repertoire was initially music-based, but between-songs banter quickly became the focal point until his act consisted of often ribald monologues. SOLO CONCERT, which included The Cruxifiction and Glasgow Accents, established his irreverent humour before a highly successful appearance on BBC television's MICHAEL PARKINSON SHOW transformed his career from parochial to international fame. Further albums, including COP YER WHACK FOR THIS and RAW MEAT FROM THE BALCONY, suggested the flavour of Connolly's work without fully capturing its infectiousness, and although D.I.V.O.R.C.E, a parody of the Tammy Wynette hit, topped the UK singles chart, his talent requires an in-person setting to truly flourish. Now fêted by Royalty, Connolly has become an established figure in British and American entertainment and has pursued a successful film career as a character actor. His humour nonetheless retains the knack of capturing the Scottish and particularly Glaswegian psyche without condescension.