AN AMERICAN singer who forged a bond with East Lothian on a visit to the county nine years ago is celebrating the launch of his new music video.

Cody Qualls is keen to share the news with local people after striking up a friendship with fellow musicians and Tomfoolery band members Madelaine Cave, of Lime Grove in North Berwick, and Tom Fairnie, originally from Musselburgh, and his wife Jane, who live at Newcraighall.

Cody, from Louisville, Colorado, said: “I flew from Colorado to Scotland for a visit nine years ago but part of me never left Scotland.

“I had no idea that spending a week in East Lothian would have such an impact on my life!

“In 2014, Madelaine Cave, who was living in North Berwick, was visiting Colorado, where she had spent almost 20 years. Madelaine was a friend of one of the members of a band I was in and she invited us to Scotland.

“The band had a hugely successful Kickstarter and we funded an EU tour, starting with Madelaine’s ability to acquire an invite for us to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

“From there we leapfrogged to performances in London, Paris, Stockholm and Reykjavik before returning home to Colorado.”

Musician Cody Qualls is hoping to return to East Lothian

Cody added: “Arriving at Edinburgh Airport, we stopped to a tremendous welcome at song-smith Tom Fairnie and his lovely wife Jane’s home in Newcraighall, where we enjoyed some music and dinner before continuing along the coast road, past Aberlady Bay and on to North Berwick.

“I spent a week singing on the Royal Mile and in The Cowshed by day, performing in the Merchants’ Hall by night and soaking up rich, mystical, musical experiences around Edinburgh and the Lothians.”

He said: “Some highlights suggested by Madelaine included guesting on her Radio Saltire show from Tranent, ice cream in Musselburgh, a drive through some of the beautiful villages in East and Midlothian, and fish and chips in Port Seton – the days flew by. I made new friends and new fans who have kept in touch.

“Following my visit, I had become interested in Scottish folk music, both traditional and contemporary, and last year Madelaine gifted a copy of the book The Lost Words to my children.

“She also introduced me to a beautiful song based on the book, The Lost Words Blessing – original song copyright Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter, Jim Molyneux and Kerry Andrew.

“My family fell in love with the song and, together, with my wife heavily pregnant, we recorded a music video which has just been released.

“Without Madelaine’s help, so many of my childhood dreams of seeing the world would not have come true.

“Now I dream of returning to Scotland with my wife and kids, and the first stop will be somewhere along the way from Edinburgh Airport to North Berwick – I’m betting on ice cream in Musselburgh.”

Madelaine, who has two grown-up daughters, grew up in Gifford and is a former pupil of Knox Academy, in Haddington.

She lived and worked in Edinburgh before managing the Edinburgh Crystal Centre. She was development officer for Scottish Visitor Attractions before marrying the US consul general and moving to the Netherlands, Barbados and America, then back to North Berwick.

She began singing in the choir at Knox before going on to record a CD of Scottish songs and performing in the Red Rocks auditorium in Colorado as part of Cody’s band choir to an audience of more than 7,000 people.

For more details, see Cody’s website at codyqualls.com

Go to youtu.be/_C-2a5lZJqE?si=-ihFgqXqaW7xOIP7 to see Cody's new music video.