Biography
Born Donald Munro on 2 August 1953 in Uig on Scotland’s Isle of Skye, the vocalist and guitarist first gained recognition fronting the Scottish folk-rock band Runrig, only to exit the group at the height of its popularity in order to enter politics. Raised in a bilingual English- and Gaelic-speaking home in the Inner Hebrides, Munro initially turned down repeated invitations from his longtime friend Calum MacDonald to join the band, preferring instead to teach Art at Inverness Royal Academy. He finally agreed in 1974, remaining a part-time member until becoming full-time in 1982. Under his involvement Runrig achieved major success at home yet found even greater audiences south of the border, landing consecutive albums inside the UK Top 10 and reaching the Top 20 with the single “An Ubhal As Airde (The Highest Apple).”
While the group’s international profile was at its peak, Munro declared his departure to stand as the Labour candidate for Ross, Skye and Inverness West in the 1997 General Election. He lost by a narrow margin to the future Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, then returned at once to classroom duties and charitable work. A second narrow defeat followed when he sought a seat in the newly formed Scottish Parliament in 1999, yet the government promptly appointed him Advisor for the Arts. That same year he issued his debut solo album, On The West Side. Its successor, Across The City And The World, contained eight original Munro compositions together with the traditional Gaelic piece “Calum Sgaire” and explored his upbringing on Skye; a further album sung entirely in Gaelic appeared before the year’s end. Munro, who also paints, has shown his work at the National Gallery.
While the group’s international profile was at its peak, Munro declared his departure to stand as the Labour candidate for Ross, Skye and Inverness West in the 1997 General Election. He lost by a narrow margin to the future Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, then returned at once to classroom duties and charitable work. A second narrow defeat followed when he sought a seat in the newly formed Scottish Parliament in 1999, yet the government promptly appointed him Advisor for the Arts. That same year he issued his debut solo album, On The West Side. Its successor, Across The City And The World, contained eight original Munro compositions together with the traditional Gaelic piece “Calum Sgaire” and explored his upbringing on Skye; a further album sung entirely in Gaelic appeared before the year’s end. Munro, who also paints, has shown his work at the National Gallery.
Albums
