Petition launched for an official Sir Harry Lauder Day
A Greenock-born musician, now living in the US, is on a mission to mark the life and legacy of a legendary Scottish entertainer.
Carl Peterson has started a petition to create an official Sir Harry Lauder Day from August 4th 2027 onwards and it is already garnering thousands of signatures.
Harry Lauder was a pioneering Scottish singer, comedian, and global music hall superstar recognized for his signature kilt and crooked walking stick. Rising from humble beginnings as a coal miner, he became the world’s highest-paid entertainer and first million-selling recording artist.
He was born in 1870 in Portobello near Edinburgh, spent much of his life in Dunoon and was laid to rest in Hamilton in 1950. His showmanship won him millions of fans around the world.
Carl explained: “Harry Lauder was the world’s first ‘pop star’ and he was loved wherever he performed. Indeed, tens of thousands of folk in Australia and north America lined the dockside whenever his boat arrived or left as part of his regular international tours.
“We will be looking to organise musical performances and talks about his life in various locations around Scotland and further afield but, first off, we want to get an idea of the sort of appetite there might be for such an initiative. Early signs are very positive!” added Carl who is a regular visitor to Dunoon where he performs live at various venues in the town.
Jamie MacDougall, a leading Scottish tenor and broadcaster who has performed globally in opera, classical and folk music is fully behind the bid: “I’ve loved Sir Harry Lauder’s songs and the story of his life since I was 10 years old, when I was taken to Glasgow’s King’s Theatre to see Jimmy Logan’s one-man production, Lauder.
“It charted Sir Harry’s extraordinary journey from singing as a boy in Arbroath and working in the pits of Lanarkshire to becoming the first music hall performer to be knighted. That honour recognised his tireless efforts to raise over £1 million for wounded servicemen returning from the First World War.
“Years later, I had the privilege of reviving Jimmy’s show with Scottish Opera, and it has been a dream come true to introduce Sir Harry’s remarkable story to new audiences. Most recently, we spent four weeks off-Broadway in New York, where the response from people who had never heard of him or his extraordinary achievements was overwhelming.
“What many people don’t realise is that Sir Harry’s legacy continues today, with royalties from his work still supporting the wonderful work of Erskine Veterans Charity. His kindness and generosity have never stopped making a difference.
“A Harry Lauder Day would be a fitting and lasting tribute to a man who gave Scotland so much and whose influence reached every corner of the world. More than seventy-five years after his passing, he is still bringing joy through his music, inspiring audiences with his remarkable story, and helping veterans through his enduring legacy. That’s surely something worth celebrating every year.”
Anyone wanting to sign the petition can do so by visiting:
