The Scottish folk music community is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved figures, Archie Fisher, who has died at the age of 86. A leading light in Scotland's folk revival from the 1960s onwards, Fisher was described by fellow musician Barbara Dickson as a "huge cultural icon in Scotland".
The Making of a Folk Legend
Born Archibald Macdonald Fisher in Glasgow on 23 October 1939, music was ingrained in his family life from the beginning. His father, John Fisher, was a police inspector and soloist with the City of Glasgow police choir, while his mother Morag, a Gaelic speaker from Vatersay in the Outer Hebrides, filled their home with traditional Gaelic songs.
Archie was the second of seven children, with five of his six sisters joining him on the 1966 Topic Records album The Fisher Family: Traditional and New Songs from Scotland. Two sisters, Ray and Priscilla (Cilla), would become nationally recognised professional folk singers in their own right.
After leaving Hyndland senior secondary school, Fisher briefly joined the merchant navy. His musical direction changed forever when he heard Lonnie Donegan's skiffle version of Rock Island Line on a New Jersey jukebox. Upon returning home, he bought his first guitar and discovered American folk music through albums by The Weavers and concerts by Pete Seeger and Josh White, which awakened both his political consciousness and appreciation for Scottish song tradition.
A Prolific Career in Performance and Broadcasting
Fisher's professional journey began in earnest when he moved to Edinburgh in 1960, becoming a regular at the celebrated Howff folk club alongside emerging talents including Hamish Imlach, Bert Jansch and Billy Connolly. With encouragement from future Labour MP Norman Buchan, Archie and his sister Ray recorded their first EP, Far Over the North, for Topic Records in 1961.
Though his recorded output wasn't extensive, Fisher created memorable work across several albums. His early solo album in 1968 and 1976's Will Ye Gang, Love focused on traditional Scottish songs, while 1970's Orfeo introduced his own compositions. His songwriting displayed remarkable storytelling qualities, with his best-known works including:
- The Final Trawl
- Men of Worth
- The epic ballad The Witch of the Westmerlands
- The Shipyard Apprentice (co-written with Norman Buchan and Bobby Campbell)
His song Dark-Eyed Molly was notably covered by both Fairport Convention and Eva Cassidy, demonstrating his cross-generational appeal.
Fisher's broadcasting career became equally significant. He began producing radio documentaries for BBC Radio Scotland before taking the helm of the beloved programme Travelling Folk in 1983, which he presented for an remarkable 27 years until 2010. The show became far more than a music programme, evolving into a magazine format with interviews, live studio performances, and special concerts featuring artists like Joan Baez.
Lasting Legacy and Personal Life
Beyond his musical achievements, Fisher was known for his deep connection to the Scottish landscape and his passion for horse riding, which he pursued both in the Scottish Borders where he lived for many years and during visits to Canada. This love profoundly influenced his songwriting, with equestrian imagery featuring prominently in poignant works like Ride Through the Rainbow, The Black Horse and Ontario Dust.
Fisher's collaborations spanned generations and genres. He produced and toured with Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem for five years, recorded Jacobite songs with Barbara Dickson (who considered him her "musical mentor"), and released his final album, The Best Times After All, in 2019 with Canadian collaborator Garnet Rogers.
In recognition of his services to Scottish traditional music, Fisher was appointed MBE in 2006. His 80th birthday was celebrated with a special concert at Glasgow's Celtic Connections festival in 2019, featuring leading figures from the folk revival he helped cultivate.
Archie Fisher died on 1 November 2025, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy. He is survived by his four daughters Cindy, Aileen, Andrea and Rebecca, son Rhys, three grandchildren, three sisters Cilla, Audrey and Joyce, and his long-term partner Stephanie Tristam.
