Neil Gow
(Niel Gow)

1727 - 1807

Musician and composer. Born in Inver, Strath Braan, to the west of Dunkeld (Perth and Kinross), Gow was the son of a weaver. He became a fine fiddler and regarded as the father of Strathspey and Reel music, composing many popular tunes. Successive Dukes of Atholl became his patron. Although Gow was based throughout his life in Inver, he did give performances as far afield as Edinburgh. Gow had his portrait painted twice by Henry Raeburn (1756 - 1823) and these are now in Blair Castle and the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.

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