1947:
Barbara Ruth Dickson is born in Dunfermline, Scotland on September 27th.
1952:
Barbara attends Camdean Primary School in Rosyth.
1956:
The Dickson family move to Ochil Terrace in Dunfermline where Barbara attends Pitcorthie Primary School.
1958:
Barbara moves to Woodmill Junior High School. Her music teacher is Sandy Saddler, who becomes a great influence.
1964:
Barbara leaves school. Her friends encourage her to sing on stage at the Howff folk club in Dunfermline. She forms a musical partnership with guitarist Jack Beck - they play three weeks at the Aberdeen summer music festival.
Aged 17, Barbara moves to Edinburgh and works in the Registrar General's office.
1965:
A civil servant by day, Barbara performs in folk clubs by night and at weekends. She contributes a song, 'The Waters of Tyne', to the privately-pressed LP 'Folksong '65'.
1966:
Barbara continues to play live locally - venues include the Kinema Ballroom, The Green Tree and the Belleville Hotel in Dunfermline plus a residency at the Rosyth Hotel.
1967:
Another privately-issued album, "Folk Song '67" is released via Scottish folk clubs and includes Barbara's live recording of 'The Dreadnought'.
1968:
Resigning from the Civil Service, Barbara turns professional. She travels to Denmark for a six week engagement at the Tivoli in Copenhagen.
Back in Scotland she contributes 4 tracks to the double folk LP, The Golden Bird."
1969:
"The Fate O' Charlie" LP recorded with Archie Fisher and John MacKinnon is released by Trailer Records.
Barbara and Archie appear at the Thurso Folk Festival alongside Hamish Imlach.
YEAR BY YEAR
1970:
Hamish sets up gigs for Barbara in the folk clubs of the north of England.
Barbara gets her first recording contract when she is signed to Decca Records. Her first release is the LP "Thro' The Recent Years - The Folk Experiences of Archie Fisher & Barbara Dickson".
Later in the year "Do Right Woman", Barbara's first solo LP is released.
Barbara joins 'The Great Fife Road Show' and tours Scotland with artists including Rab Noakes, Davey Stewart and Cilla Fisher.
1971:
She appears in two Scottish TV music series, 'Silver City Folk'and 'Once Upon A Song'.
1972:
The album "From The Beggar's Mantle" is released in June.
1973:
Barbara leaves Scotland and moves to England where she is increasingly finding more work.
She continues touring the folk scene, playing at the Stainsby Brighouse, Hexham, Cleethorpes and Bromyard Folk Festivals.
During October and November Barbara tours Belgium with 'The Boys of the Lough'.
1974:
She gets her big break when she is offered the part of the singer and pianist in Willy Russell's play "John Paul George Ringo... and Bert" - it opens at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre in May. The show is a smash hit and transfers to the Lyric Theatre in London in August.
Barbara's first ever single, "Here Comes The Sun" is released from the play's soundtrack album.
1975:
Barbara continues her run in "John Paul George Ringo...and Bert" which runs for a year in London's West End.
Robert Stigwood, boss of RSO Records, co-produces the show and offers Barbara a recording deal.
1976:
Barbara's third single for the label, "Answer Me," provides her first hit, reaching # 9 on the UK chart.
Her debut album for RSO Records, "Answer Me" is released in April.
Barbara appears as the musical guest in 8 episodes of the BBC's "The Two Ronnies", seen weekly by 20 million viewers.
In September she supports the Flying Burrito Brothers on their European tour.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice invite her to sing on the studio recording of their new musical, "Evita".
In December Barbara supports David Essex for a week of concerts at the London Palladium.
1977:
Barbara flies to Nashville in January to record her second RSO album, "Morning Comes Quickly".
She flies home to Britain to promote her second hit, "Another Suitcase In Another Hall," from "Evita," which reaches UK # 18.
During May and June Barbara plays her first UK tour of 17 dates.
She scores her first hit album when "Morning Comes Quickly"charts in June.
November sees Barbara in the USA again - she films a walk-on role in "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in Los Angeles.
1978:
She signs a new deal with CBS Records and records "Sweet Oasis", her debut album for the label in Los Angeles.
In June Barbara takes part in the Tokyo Music Festival and wins Bronze Prize for her self-penned song, 'Second Sight.'
"Sweet Oasis" is released in October - Barbara promotes it with a 24 date, two month UK tour.
1979:
Barbara begins work on a new album with producer Alan Tarney.
She is also invited to record the title track for the movie "Caravans," produced by Mike Batt.
Released at the end of 1979, "Caravan Song" provides Barbara's third UK hit, reaching # 41.
1980:
"Caravan Song" is eclipsed by "January February" which Epic rush-release in January. The new single reaches # 11 on the charts.
The accompanying album, "The Barbara Dickson Album," is released in April, reaching # 7 and earning Barbara a gold album.
"In The Night", released in June, is Barbara's first self-penned hit.
Barbara performs at the Castlebar Song Contest in Ireland on October 6th.
Between August and December she plays a 40 date UK tour which includes the Royal Albert Hall.
1981:
In February Barbara again plays two nights at the Royal Albert Hall, headlining with Ray Charles.
In May the album "You Know It's Me" is released.
July and August see Barbara undertake a 37 date UK tour.
She then flies to Holland to begin work on a new album with Mike Batt.
1982:
The album "All For A Song" is released in February, reaches #3 in the UK album charts and goes platinum.
Between May and July Barbara embarks on a sell-out 31 date UK tour.
The show is recorded and released as a live album, "Here We Go".
From October Barbara is again on the road for a further 30 shows.
1983:
In January Barbara stars in the premiere of Willy Russell's new musical, "Blood Brothers" at the Liverpool Playhouse.
A huge success, it transfers to London's Lyric Theatre in April.
The cast album and a mini-album of the show are both released.
"Blood Brothers" wins Barbara the Society of West End Theatres award for Best Actress in a Musical.
1984:
In January, Barbara performs two weeks of shows at the Liverpool Playhouse.
Also in January she presents a new 13 week series, "The Afternoon Show", for the BBC alongside Penny Junor.
Her first TV series,"This Is Barbara Dickson,"is broadcast in Scotland.
'Gracie', a TV special for the BBC about the life of singer Gracie Fields is broadcast by the BBC in May.Between May and October Barbara tours the UK.
Barbara's final album for Epic, "Heartbeats", is released in June and reaches UK #21.
She films "Awayday" for TV in which she travels Scotland by train.
In August Barbara marries husband Oliver.
She flies to Stockholm at the end of the year to record two tracks for the studio album of "Chess".
1985:
In February the single "I Know Him So Well" with Elaine Paige reaches the top of the charts giving Barbara her first UK # 1.
Between May and June Barbara embarks on a 45 date UK tour.
'The Daily Record' awards name Barbara as Scot of the Year.
A second series of "The Afternoon Show" is filmed for the BBC.
November sees the release of Barbara's album "Gold" for K-Tel.
Reaching UK #11, the album goes platinum.
1986:
Barbara stands in for DJ David Hamilton, presenting his Radio 2 show for a week.
A UK tour of 35 shows runs from June to July.
In August, Barbara's first son, Colm, is born.
The album "The Right Moment" is released in November.
"Barbara Dickson In Concert", a specially filmed studio concert, is screened by the BBC in December.
1987:
In March Barbara is the subject of TV arts series, 'The South Bank Show'.
She tours the UK in May with a further 39 dates in October/November.
Further dates in Eire and a Middle East tour follow.
Barbara sets up her own record label, Theobald Dickson Productions.
Two singles are released, plus a live album "After Dark".
1988:
In January the BBC broadcasts Barbara's 4 part series "Barbara Dickson" n which she travels the UK and Ireland - it is her first national TV series.
From September and November Barbara tours the UK, with 37 dates.
Her second son, Gabriel, is born in November.
1989:
In May the album "Coming Alive Again" is released and reaches UK # 30.
The album is supported by UK tours in July and August and between November and December - in total Barbara plays 53 dates.
1990:
Barbara makes several visits to Holland promoting "Coming Alive Again".
In March Barbara flies to New York to play her first U.S. concert.
She then plays live in New Zealand, at the Wellington Arts Festival, and makes a promotional visit to Australia.
Between July and August Barbara performs a 30 date UK tour.
Her third son, Archie, is born in October.
1991:
Barbara releases the single "Tears Of Rage" on Telstar Records.
During November she performs six UK concert dates.
1992:
Barbara moves home from London to Lincolnshire.
Between May and August her UK tour notches up 54 dates.
In August the album "Don't Think Twice It's All Right" is released on Columbia Records - it reaches # 32 on the UK album chart.
1993:
Barbara returns to the London production of "Blood Brothers" for five months to mark the show's 10th Anniversary.
She records the CD 'Parcel Of Rogues', marking a return to her folk roots.
In December she is invited to play two weeks of live shows at the Green Room at London's Cafe Royal.
1994:
The album 'Parcel of Rogues' is released on 21st February.
Barbara's Cafe Royal show is broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on 16th April.
A UK runs between May 1st and June 4th with 29 dates.
A further 26 date tour follows in November and December.
1995:
Barbara stars in 'Band of Gold', a new six-part ITV drama by Kay Mellor.
She also guest-stars in an episode of STV's crime drama series, 'Taggart'.
In April Barbara performs a second season at London's Cafe Royal.
A handful of UK concert dates follow in June and September.
The album 'Dark End Of The Street' is released in November.
1996:
Barbara presents 'Hearts and Hands and Voices', a 5-part series on hymns, for BBC Radio 2 between January and February.
She also stars in a second series of 'Band of Gold' for Granada TV.
A 19 date UK concert tour begins on 8 June, followed by a 'Highlands and Islands' mini-tour of Scotland in September.
A further 22 date UK tour follows in November and December.
1997:
Barbara travels to Australia in January to star in the Melbourne production of the musical "Chess".
In March she stars in the TV comedy-drama 'The Missing Postman'.
In September Barbara switches on the Blackpool Illuminations.
She records a new six-part comedy series "Dinnerladies" for BBC Radio 4 - it is transmitted during October and November.
She then tours her new stage show, 'The 7 Ages of Woman'.
The Liverpool Arts and Entertainment Awards name Barbara as Best Actress in Theatre Actress In Theatre for the show.
1998:
Barbara tours the UK in the play "Friends Like This" in February/March with Roy Hudd and Susan Penhaligon.
"The 7 Ages Of Woman" is released on CD and this is followed by another UK tour of the show between May and July.
Barbara is the subject of the long-running "This Is Your Life" show.
In November she appears in 'Memories - A Tribute to Women in the War' alongside Geraldine James and June Whitfield.
1999:
Barbara tours the UK in the musical "A Slice Of Saturday Night".
She then stars in the new Viv Nicholson musical "Spend Spend Spend" - it opens at London's Piccadilly Theatre in October.
2000:
Barbara continues to star in "Spend Spend Spend" and records the original cast album.
She wins the Best Actress in a Musical at the Olivier Awards and the Variety Club Awards for the show.
In December she reprises her role in 'Blood Brothers' in Liverpool.
2001:
Barbara's year is taken up by a UK tour of "Spend Spend Spend".
2002:
Barbara is made an OBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List - she collects the award at Buckingham Palace in March.
A new double CD "For The Record" is released by Eagle Records.
In May Barbara embarks on a 23 date UK tour with more dates in October.
2003:
In February Barbara performs live at the BBC annual Folk Awards.
In July she is honoured by the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts and collects her 'Companion' award from Sir Paul McCartney.
During September and October she plays several dates as the special guest of Peter Karrie and in also in October plays 7 UK solo concerts.
In December Barbara stars in "Fame" at the Edinburgh Playhouse.
2004:
In February she tours the UK, performing 19 concerts.
"Barbara Dickson - The Platinum Collection" CD is released in March and reaches # 35 in the UK album chart.
In May, she returns to star in "Blood Brothers"at the Liverpool Empire.
September 20th sees the release of Barbara's "Full Circle" album.
In October Barbara reprises her role in 'Fame' at the Liverpool Empire.
2005:
She returns to 'Fame' in January at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall.
A 19 date UK concert tour begins on February 23rd.
In July Barbara receives an Honorary Fellowship from the Liverpool John Moores University for Services to Music and the Dramatic Arts.
In November she begins recording a new album of Beatles' songs.
2006:
On 28th January Barbara begins a 28 date UK tour.
In July she plays The Big Buzz festival, broadcast live by BBC Radio.
In August she stars in the Alan Ayckbourn play 'Whenever' for BBC Radio 4.
Barbara´s Beatles album 'Nothing's Gonna Change My World' is released in September.
In October she narrates 'Finding A Voice' for BBC Radio 4.
2007:
Between January and March Barbara undertakes a 30 date UK tour.
In November Barbara records her first full live DVD.
Also in November Barbara guests on several episodes of the long-running quiz show 'Countdown' for Channel 4.
2008:
Barbara's 'Time And Tide' album is released on 21st January.
An accompanying 32 date UK tour commences on February 1st.
The live DVD, 'Into The Light', is also released in February.
In March Barbara guest-stars in the BBC drama series 'Doctors'.
On July 13th, Barbara performs live at the Stonehaven Folk Festival, her first folk festival appearance since 1973.
September sees her return to Ireland for two concerts.
Barbara's first Christmas special, 'Joy To the World', is broadcast by BBC Radio Scotland on Christmas Day.
2009:
Between January and March, Barbara undertakes a 29 date UK tour.
April sees the releases of the live CD, "Barbara Dickson In Concert".
In July, she is invited to headline at the International Eisteddfod Festival in Wales.
Barbara's autobiography, 'A Shirt Box Full of Songs,' is published in October.
In November she performs at the Scots Trad Music Awards in Dumfries.
2010:
A 26 date UK tour begins on 19 February.
In April Barbara is invited to present the series 'Scotland On Song With Barbara Dickson' for BBC Radio Scotland.
Over the summer Barbara performs a series of outdoor concerts and festival appearances.
A second series of 'Scotland on Song' is broadcast from November.
Also during September, Barbara performs her first US concerts as part of the Big Stone Gap Festival in Virginia.
In November, she plays a small tour of Ireland.
December 8th sees the release of Barbara's 29th album, 'Winter'.
2015:
A 24 date UK tour commences on February 1st.
'In Conversation with Barbara Dickson' takes place in Kirkcaldy in April.
Barbara plays an acoustic tour with Nick Holland during September.
Also in September, Barbara moves to Edinburgh, returning to live in Scotland for the first time since 1973.
In October she plays live at the Costal Del Folk Festival in Portugal.
In November she returns to Ireland for live dates alongside Nick Holland.
Barbara sings live on BBC Scotland's 'Christmas Celebration' in December.
2016:
Barbara is honoured with the 'Outstanding Scottish Achievement' award at the 2016 Scottish Variety Awards on March 19th.
The CD box set 'Barbara Dickson - More Brecht Than Broadway: The Complete Theatre Recordings, 1974-2000,' is released in March.
A short concert tour with Nick Holland follow in April and May.
In September, Barbara guests on the TV quiz show 'Pointless Celebrities'.
She returns to the USA the same month for more live dates at the Big Stone Gap Festival in Virginia.
On October 11th, Barbara flies to Ireland for eight live shows.
2017:
Barbara plays 22 shows across the UK during February and March.
A new CD EP, 'Five Songs', is released to accompany the tour.In April Barbara narrates 'Ballads of Child Migration' at the BBC Folk Awards.
Her expanded autobiography is re-released in paperback in April.
September sees a 12 date UK tour with Nick Holland.
The live CD, 'In Good Company,' is also released in September.
A six-date tour of Ireland runs from October 23rd - 29th.
In December BBC One broadcasts 'Fern Britton Meets... Barbara Dickson', a one hour special on her life and career.
2018:
During May, Barbara performs a short UK tour with Nick Holland.
She joins Sam Lee for his 'Singing With Nightingales' show in May.
Between August and November, Barbara tours as part of 'Far Far From Ypres', the story of the Scottish war effort during WW1.
The new studio album, 'Through Line', is released in September.
'Barbara Dickson: This Is Me' is broadcast by STV in October.
In November she narrates 'The Ballads of Child Migration' UK tour.
2019:
In February/March, Barbara and her band play a 28 date UK tour.
In June, Barbara plays live at the Portsoy Boat Festival with Rab Noakes - a series of live shows with Rab follow in October.
On August 12th, Barbara is among the artists appearing at the 'Music of Sandy Bells' concert at Edinburgh's Queens Hall.
Barbara tours with Nick Holland during November and December.
Also in December, she headlines three 'Christmas at the Cathedral' concerts in Belfast.
2020:
In January, Barbara returns to Ireland to headline at Dublin's Tradfest.
She completes a six-date mini-tour of the UK with Nick Holland in March.
From April she stars in the BBC series 'The Real Marigold Hotel'.
The album 'Time Is Going Faster' is released on October 30th.
Barbara and partner, 'Spend Spend Spend' writer Steve Brown, win TV quiz show 'Pointless Celebrities'' music special on November 14th.
Also in November, Barbara plays live at The Quay Sessions for BBC Scotland.
2021:
Barbara's autobiography is released as an audiobook in February.
Her first online show, 'Ballads and Blether' streams on March 20th.
'Ballads and Blether' is released on CD and DVD on April 28th.
May 12th sees the start of the weekly podcast series, 'Answer Me Ten With Barbara Dickson'.
Barbara performs 5 live dates in October, her first post-COVID shows for 18 months.
In November, she embarks on a series of book talks based on her autobiography.
2022:
In March, Barbara embarks on the 'Time Is Going Faster' tour with her full band.
Also in March she stars in Val McDermid's 'The Road and the Miles to Dundee' for BBC Radio 4.
In November, she embarks on a ten date UK tour alongside Nick Holland.
At the 'Commemorations at Christmas Carol Service' in London on December 8th, Barbara performs 'MacCrimmon's Lament'.
2023:
March sees Barbara return to Ireland for two shows in Belfast and Ratoath.
She appears at the Boswell Book Festival on May 12th.
Also between May and August, Barbara plays a handful of summer shows alongside Nick Holland.
In November, she wins the SWG3 Outstanding Achievement Award at the Scottish Music Awards.
The new album, 'My Own Adventure,' is released on December 1st.
2024:
In February, Barbara performs a sold-out ten date 'Farewell Band Tour'.
In September, the tour is released on CD as '47 Years Later'.
October sees a further UK tour alongside Nick Holland.
In December, Barbara is the musical guest on 'Songs of Praise'.
2011:
In January, Barbara's album, 'Words Unspoken', is released.
A 26 date tour of the UK and Ireland follows in February and March. Also in February, Barbara presents the BBC Folk Awards with Mike Harding.
From May, Barbara presents a new six-part series for BBC Radio Scotland, 'Scotland In Tune'.
She headlines at the Dunfermline Folk Weekend on 29th October.
In December she plays at the 'Carols of Light' at Durham Cathedral.
2012:
Barbara joins the line-up of 'Far Far From Ypres,' part of Celtic Connections 2012.
She performs at the celebratory concert,'Bring It All Home - Gerry Rafferty Remembered,' at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall.
In July, Barbara is invested with a Doctorate of Music (honoris causa) at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
In October, she performs on the 'Mayan Adventure' South American cruise.
Barbara receives the Sir Reo Stakis Pride of Scotland lifetime achievement Award at the Tartan Clef Awards in November.
BBC Alba screen a new TV documentary about her career in December.
2013:
In January the album'B4 74 - The Folkclub Tapes' is released.
Barbara performs live at the BBC Folk Awards on January 30th.
In August Barbara stars in The Bargee's Wife opera at Gloucester Cathedral.
The album 'The Songs of Gerry Rafferty' is released in September.
A 24 date UK tour runs from October to November.
2014:
Barbara appears at 'Far, Far From Ypres' in Glasgow on January 17th.
On April 8th, she releases a new EP, 'Reunited', with Rab Noakes.April also sees the first of 18 UK live dates with Rab.
In May, Barbara performs live on the British Isles Discovery Cruise.
She is awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree by the University of Lincoln in September.