Blues legend hails Scottish roots

Sherman Robertson has Aberdeen connections

A Louisiana-born blues guitarist has been describing the role traditional Scottish music played in inspiring gospel, blues and jazz music.

Sherman Robertson's great-great grandfather left Aberdeen for Canada and then Louisiana in the 19th century.

Now the blues legend, who played on Paul Simon's Graceland album, is using performances in Scotland to celebrate his ancestral and musical heritage.

To mark his visit, the Clan Robertson has granted him honorary membership.

Sherman said: "Over the years, the family moved south down the rivers and lakes, following the fur-trapping trade - settling in Louisiana, the state where I was born, and the state which provided me with Cajun and black blood and culture alongside my Scottish ancestry.

'Clear link'

"Only the other night, I was being played some Scottish music...traditional music...and I was tapping my feet along to it, and one of the road crew said that he was surprised that I would enjoy music like that, but I told him that I could hear a clear link between blues and Scottish song."

The guitarist was born in Beaux Bridges, Louisiana, in 1948, and after taking up music he became an accomplished performer of Loutex - a fusion of Louisiana swamp and Texas blues.

Scotland's links with southern bluegrass and gospel have also come to light recently with claims of Aberdonian ancestry for Elvis Presley and the theory that the roots of gospel come from the Gaelic psalms of Presbyterian Scotland.

Sherman's tour involves a set for BBC Radio 2 and 35 gigs across the UK and Europe, including dates in Aberdeen and Kinloss on Friday and Saturday.