John Burgess

Who was John Burgess?

Pipe Major John Davie Burgess MBE was one of the most eminent players of the Scots bagpipes.

Born in Aberdeen, Burgess began playing at the age of four, and gained international fame as a child prodigy before turning professional at the age of sixteen. In 1950 he became the youngest ever winner of the Gold Medals for piobaireachd at both the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban and the Northern Meeting in Inverness, and he went on to become known as the 'King Of The Highland Pipers'.