The Birth of Scottish Blues

Wet Biscuit McGlee was born Seamus Aonghus Padraig Fearghus McGlee on May 8, 1909 in the town of Ayr on the West coast of Scotland.

McGlee's family were poor, but what they lacked in money they made up for with music. The McGlee family sang with the choir at the Ayr Free Church through much of his childhood. McGlee's father also played the bagpipes in a local popular music band, spending many evenings performing in local pubs until the wee hours of the morning.

McGlee worked as a stable boy at the Ayr Racecourse beginning sometime around 1916 and continuing until he left Ayr in 1925. Those years spent mucking out stalls and brushing horses helped lead him to the blues. He said that the care and encouragement given him by the owners and wealthy patrons of the racecourse gave him a sense of kinship with American slaves. During this time, McGlee dreamt of visiting America to follow his dream of becoming a musician.