1 The sensational Alex Harvey was born in Kinning Park in 1935 and he had a range of jobs – from carpenter to tombstone carver, before he settled on music.

2 His career spanned more than three decades, and he was part of a number of groups, including Alex Harvey’s Big Soul Band in the late Fifties and early 60s, but he will always be best remembered for his spectacular live performances and glam rock presence in the 70s with The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

3 In 1957 he won a competition to find Scotland’s Tommy Steele: his charisma and musical talents put him miles ahead of the 600 other hopefuls. Harvey and his Big Beat Band opened for Johnny Gentle and His Group (which turned out to be the Beatles) at the Alloa Town Hall. It was a long way from the skiffle groups of the 50s to supporting the biggest band in the world.

4 In 1967, Harvey became a member of the pit band in the London stage production of the musical Hair, which he did for five years. He teamed up with a Glasgow band called Tear Gas to form The Sensational Alex Harvey Band in 1972 and went on to produce a succession of highly regarded albums and tours. He had a huge following in the US.

5 Harvey was married twice and had two sons, one from each marriage. In 1982 he was travelling to a gig in Belgium, when he died of heart failure – a day before his 47th birthday. In 2012, a rowan tree was planted in his memory on the grounds of the People’s Palace museum by his son, Alex Harvey Junior, and the remaining members of the band.

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