Temple Records have sponsored the Scots Trad Music Awards since 2003. Led by Robin Morton they have released and produced many Scottish traditional music milestone albums. Read more about them below. (Have you voted in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards yet? Do so here!)
Temple Records is based in a converted church in the village of Temple, Midlothian, 12 miles south of Edinburgh and was formed by Robin Morton in 1978 to create an outlet for the great Scottish music that was being ignored by the established record companies. Their idea was, and still is, to release albums that reflect a great, proud timeless tradition. Their first album – The Harp Key by Alison Kinnaird – marked the beginning of a revival in the status of the small harp in Scotland.
When we released the recording Aite Mo Ghaoil by Christine Primrose, many asked us why were we putting out an album of Gaelic songs. “Who is going to be interested in that?”, we were asked. Now all the record companies are putting out Gaelic song albums.
Overall, their number of our releases is small and our roster of artists select, but they cover the broad sweep of the Scottish tradition (with some Irish thrown in), performed by musicians and singers acclaimed world wide for their unique artistry.
Kinmor Music is the music publishing company. Over the years people have asked for sheet music for some of the material they have heard on the albums.
Robin Morton
The label’s founder comes from Co Armagh in Northern Ireland. While at University in Belfast he formed the Folk Music Society, played in and organised concerts, published two collections of Ulster folksongs and produced a number of albums for Topic Records.
In 1967, with Tommy Gunn and Cathal McConnell, he founded Boys Of The Lough and played at various festivals and clubs on the UK mainland, mostly Scotland. He came to Scotland in 1969 to work on a PhD (lapsed!) at Edinburgh University.
By 1971 Boys Of The Lough were back on the road – McConnell, Richardson, Bain and Morton. They made an album, toured the USA and by 1973 were a full time band touring the world. Robin played and looked after the appearances of the band until 1979. During those years he continued to produce albums for Topic and other ‘folk’ labels.
Late in 1979 Temple Records was formed, and shortly afterwards the label opened its own studio. By late 1980 Robin had taken on the management of Battlefield Band, a relationship that has flourished to this day. In the mid 1980s, he set up Temple US Records and now all US/Canadian business is co-ordinated from there.
Robin was Director of the Edinburgh Folk Festival for three years (from 1986-1988) and formed Kinmor Music publishing and a small video production company. With the help of a dedicated staff – and every Sunday off – he and the record label are still going strong.
http://www.templerecords.co.uk/
