To host a successful event, you must ensure your guests will remember it well. As a bagpiper for an event in Houston, I am confident that even a minor detail can transform an ordinary occasion into a memorable one. Whether it is a leadership conference, a farewell party, an awards ceremony, or a grand opening, you can be sure that… Read more →
In my time performing as a bagpiper in Houston and throughout Texas, I have played at weddings, funerals, birthday parties, formal dinners, and many other special occasions. Each event has been different, but the bagpipes always have a way of bringing people together and making the occasion memorable. I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and began learning the pipes when… Read more →
There’s something pretty timeless and romantic about bagpipes drifting through a wedding ceremony. As a wedding bagpiper in Houston, I’ve had the honor of bringing that sound to countless celebrations across Texas, from intimate backyard gatherings to grand ballroom affairs. Whether you’re aiming for a traditional ceremony or you’re doing a modern celebration with a cultural twist, the bagpipes give… Read more →
Tucked away on North Texas Avenue in Bryan, Texas, the Bryan City Cemetery is more than a resting place. It’s a window into the city’s past — a quiet expanse where stories of triumph, struggle, and community endurance are carved in stone. A Brief History Bryan City Cemetery was formally established on June 13, 1868, just a few years after… Read more →
Recently, I had the honor of playing at a funeral service at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston. As a Houston bagpiper, it is always a privilege to be part of such significant moments. As the family gathered and the casket was moved into place, I played a selection of traditional tunes, culminating in “Amazing Grace” at the end of… Read more →
Do you want to have a traditional Scottish wedding, but you can’t make it over the pond for the ceremony? What can you do to include Scottish wedding traditions into your Houston wedding? My wedding anniversary is coming up and I began to think about how we wanted to integrate our Scottish heritage into our ceremony. We only had 19… Read more →
You may have noticed that in some pipe bands the bass and tenor drummers wear animal skins. The burning question is: Why? Well, the tradition began in the British military bands in the 1700’s. They discovered that the Africans that joined the Army were really good at playing drums and keeping beats. These drummers joined the 29th Regiment of… Read more →
Join me this weekend at Newman’s Castle in Bellville, Texas for a Spring Celebration. Things kick off at 2 PM. Musical guests include Constant Billy, Sia Beaton,Don & Janet Allphin, Wenches of Wylde Meade, Ryan Claxton, and Myself. There will be light refreshments and the cost is only $20. Newman’s Castle is a great venue for all types of events;… Read more →
My family has some serious military ties. My wife is a veteran of the US Navy and my step-son is currently serving in the US Air Force. Both of my grandfathers served in the British Army during WWII. Last weekend, the Air Force Ensemble Band, Celtic Aire played at the North Texas Irish Festival. They have a bagpiper! Tech Sgt.… Read more →
When most people think about the bagpipe, they automatically think about the Great Highland Bagpipe of Scotland, but the bagpipe is a multi-cultural instrument. The bagpipe has been around for centuries in many lands. In his book,”Bagpipes, A National Collection of a National Instrument”, Hugh Cheape wrote that “In the medieval period the bagpipe was played in almost every country and… Read more →