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My Life in Five Songs

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BBC Radio 4 Extra

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Phil Cunningham talks to a series of musicians about their lives, careers and influences.

Phil Cunningham talks to a series of musicians about their lives, careers and influences and asks them to pick five songs that were milestones on the way.

My Life in Five Songs: Series 3

My Life in Five Songs: Series 3: Episode 7: John McCusker

John McCusker

Episode 7

Episode 7: John McCusker

Series 3

BBC Radio 4 Extra - My Life in Five Songs, Series 3, John McCusker

Phil Cunningham talks to acclaimed fiddle player John McCusker about his life and music.

Nicknamed 'the fiddle' as a youngster, John McCusker is now one of Scotland's most gifted and versatile musicians. He picks his five special songs while chatting to Phil Cunningham.

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John McCusker is one of Scotland's most gifted and versatile musicians. In demand as producer and composer John's first love is his fiddle. 

Chatting to Phil he explains how he told his parents at the tender age of sixteen that he was leaving home to join the Battlefield Band. 

In the past 20 years John has shared the stage with some of the countries best known singers and musicians and has completed a world tour with Mark Knopfler. 

The programme opens with John's own composition, Leaving Friday Harbour.

John's five songs are: 

1: Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub 

2: Ossian with the song Jamie Raeburn 

3: Throwing Muses with Dizzy 

4: Piper to the End from Mark Knopfler 

5: Cage the Songbird from The Low Anthem.

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My Life in Five Songs

Series 3

Episode 7: John McCusker

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