Aberdeen singer Andrew McKelvie was just 32 when he died from a rare form of cancer, but his voice will now live on forever.
The popular performer, known as Kelv, played in several bands – latterly belting out countless classics with the 10-piece Silver City Soul Revue.
Andrew was well-known for his stunning singing and infectious personality.
He left behind heartbroken wife Michelle and 18-month-old son Harris when he died in August 2020.
Harris never got to spend much time with his dad, but a new album compiled by his old bandmates means the youngster will be able to grow up listening to his voice.
The digital release is made up of recordings Andrew left behind, remastered during lockdown. And it includes some especially meaningful tracks for friends and family.
To mark the release of the new album…
- Michelle tells us about the emotional experience of listening to Andrew’s “amazing” voice again
- Silver City Soul Revue keyboard player Hamish Mackenzie on keeping the singer’s spirit alive
- Michelle raises awareness of the cruel cancer that killed her husband in a matter of weeks
‘A great memory to have’
Michelle was lost for words when one of Andrew’s former singing partners visited recently to play her the Soul Tribute compilation.
Though listening can be a bittersweet experience, the mum feels “lucky” she and Harris have such a memento.
The 31-year-old said: “I’m delighted they made this album for him, he would be chuffed.
“It is quite special to be able to listen to it, and a great memory to have.
“Andrew was an incredible performer and his voice always captured everyone’s attention.
“The notes he could hit with ease will always amaze me, this album is truly the perfect tribute to an extremely talented man taken far too soon.”
Singing was a life-long passion
Andrew started performing when he was at school in Torry, and was with pub band The Sopranos when Michelle met him in 2009.
After many happy years together, they married at Maryculter House Hotel in Aberdeen in the summer of 2017.
Surprise song moved Michelle to tears
Hearing Andrew perform Jackie Wilson’s Reet Petite on the new album is especially poignant for Michelle, as he sang it for her at their wedding.
The showman ended up joining his bride on the dancefloor to finish the tune, while still managing to hit every note.
“I never knew he recorded that song,” Michelle added.
“That brought tears when I heard him singing that…”
The mum has now got a stuffed bear specially made for her wee boy, which plays Andrew’s music when pressed.
And Michelle says Harris, now three, is becoming a bit of a budding performer himself.
She added: “It is difficult because he doesn’t have much memory of his dad.
“But already whenever I play the album he realises that it’s daddy.
“It’s special for him to have something like that.
“He likes to perform too… He isn’t at his dad’s level yet, but he still has a few years to practice!”
Listening to the new record is a bittersweet experience for Michelle – but it invariably brings a smile to her face.
She said: “There’s a sadness there when I listen to it, but it brings back so many happy memories.
“I try to be positive… I just have to close my eyes and imagine him doing his dad dancing!”
Creating Andrew McKelvie album became Hamish’s lockdown project
Professor Hamish Mackenzie has been part of Silver City Soul Revue for 10 years.
The former teaching don at Aberdeen University’s medical school has been into music his whole life and describes the band as his “retirement hobby”.
The 72-year-old keyboardist played many gigs alongside Andrew – “a great talent and a really nice guy” – and was instrumental in creating the tribute album.
During lockdown, with the band on an enforced hiatus, he started sifting through material the group had recorded.
Hamish said: “I was keeping myself busy going through all these old songs trying to mix and master them.
“And the idea just grew…
“I thought we should put it together as an album, really to have as a public record of Kelvie’s work and so friends and family could listen to it.
“It’s a great way to remember him, and keep his spirit alive.”
Poignant memorial concert
The first time Silver City Soul Revue played after months in lockdown was a memorial show organised by Michelle.
“It was quite an emotional event,” Hamish told us.
“There were a lot of fellow musicians and it felt like he was finally getting the send-off he deserved.
“It was a cathartic night for the band, and just to be back playing again felt good.”
The band has played together on a handful of times since, with Andrew getting a special mention during a comeback show at Drummonds.
Hamish added: “He is a big miss, particularly when we are playing the songs that he sang so well.”
Andrew’s death came out of the blue
Michelle explained that Andrew’s illness began with what seemed like a harmless enough cough three to four weeks before he died.
This was in the summer of 2020, so the couple thought he had a mild form of Covid.
It persisted for two weeks, but he was otherwise “perfectly healthy”.
When he started feeling out of breath he went to the hospital, and various scans and blood tests were carried out as his condition declined.
On the night he died, shocked medical staff were so distraught that Michelle found herself consoling them.
It was only after his sudden passing that the cause of death was determined to be signet ring cell carcinoma – an extremely rare and “highly malignant” form of cancer.
What is signet ring cell carcinoma?
The disease is developed in the glands, and spreads very quickly. In Andrew’s case, he died when it reached his heart.
SRCC tumors grow in a way which makes diagnosis using standard techniques, like CT and PET scans, less effective.
It is usually diagnosed during the late stages of the disease, so the tumors generally spread more aggressively.
More information on the cancer can be found here.
Money raised from the album will be going to Cancer Research UK, to help investigate the rare condition.
The album has 11 reimagined versions of soul staples such as Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Take Me to the River and Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
