The family and friends of Graeme Ross have paid tribute to the “larger than life” Dingwall music promoter better known as Rossie.
The 55-year-old, who focused on music after losing his sight, died after accidentally falling down stairs.
Early years
Graeme Ross, known to everyone as Rossie, was born on July 1 1967 in Dingwall.
One of three boys for home help Irene and Highland Council employee Dougal Ross he attended Conon Primary School and then Dingwall Academy.
From a young age music was important to Rossie. He left school at 16 in 1983 and trained to be an electrician working with Nicky Jack and James McDonald.
Though he loved his job, issues with his sight in his early 30s would mean a change of career. Diagnosed with advancing glaucoma he instead found work in a care home.
Supporting young people in Ferintosh House, for 13 years, he found a lot of joy in his job. Further sight deterioration forced him into early retirement, however.
Music man
Never deterred by his condition, which resulted in him almost complete blindness, Rossie focused on his passion: music.
He began promoting bands in Inverness and the Highlands and what began as him helping one or two bands get a gig resulted in more than 30 artists recruiting Rossie as their promotor.
Among the cohort of those he promoted was Inverness band Schiehallion and musician Luke Jackson.
Luke said: “Rossie organised, booked, ran and promoted events all over Scotland for many, many Scottish artists. Too many to name
“He did so much for live music. It was an absolute passion project for him, it was all about keeping live music live.”
Always supportive
Rossie, who was proudly spoke and wrote in his Highland dialect, approached Luke he was just 18 and a fledgling musician.
“He called asking me if I wanted to come and do a three week tour around the Highlands. I spent hours picking apart his emails as he always wrote in his Scottish dialect.
“‘Aye me loon,’ he wrote, ‘the wee tour is gonna be braw!'”
Rossie would go on to organise nine tours for Luke, each bigger and better than the one before.
“My favourite part of it all was seeing Rossie,” said Luke. “The man could talk!
“He had incredible one liners for any situation. Over the years he gave me a lot of amazing advice on both my career and also my personal life. He was a man whose opinion I genuinely really cared about.
“Rossie supported me more than anyone, constantly digging into his own pocket to make shows the best they could be. Constantly coming up with new ideas to create a buzz in Scotland and constantly believing in me and music.”
‘Terrible shock’
Despite the challenges his visual impairment caused him, Rossie maintained an active lifestyle.
Sister-in-law Brellin Ross said: “He swam every day and was so fit and healthy, which is why his death has come as such a shock.
“We don’t believe he suffered, and that’s bringing us some comfort, but it really is awfully tragic.”
On April 1 Rossie died after falling down the stairs outside his flat.
“He was so full of life, always smiling, always joking. He loved kids – so doted on the children of both of his brothers. He was like an adopted uncle to the kids of his friends as well.
“Losing Rossie, especially in the way we did, has come as a terrible shock to us all,” added Brellin. “He was so looking forward to a gig that night, one of the biggest he had planned. It’s just devastating really.”
Touching gesture
A private celebration of his life took place in Inverness where donations went to Mikeysline.
An online tribute from the charity reads: “We are so sorry to learn of the sudden loss of Rossie. He was a wonderful and generous supporter of Mikeysline, often getting us into gigs for fundraising and offering exclusive tickets to events he helped organise as treats for our volunteers and service users.
“We are so touched that funds for us are now also being raised in his memory. The whole wee team at Mikeysline sends our very best wishes to his family and many friends at this time.”
Loved and missed
Offering one last tribute to his friend, Luke added:
“I will be sure to raise a dram in his name and with it, his favourite toast: ‘Never above ya, never below ya, always besides ya.’ RIP big man, I’m gonna miss you.”
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