His career will take a bit longer to document fully but expect wee gems like; Land of polluted river, In celebration of his 60th birthday 60 CLASSIC MOMENTS TAKE
ME BACK TO GOVAN FOLK PLEASE. Take me back 
Born in Dover Street ANDERSTON on 24th November 1942.
He moved with his sister Flo, to live with his aunts in White Street, Partick and after attending St Peter's Primary School, he graduated to St Gerards. Billy (or 'The Big Yin', as he's more effectionatly known) is one of our greatest talents.
In 1957, aged 15, he left school and started work in John Smiths Bookshop, in St Vincent Street, Glasgow and then as a delivery boy with Bilslands Bread before, on turning 16, he became an apprentice welder in Stephens Shipyard.
He loved the humour in the yards and his biggest influences included Bobby Dalgleish and Jimmy Lucas. Billy never forgot them.
The famous beard was the result of a weld burn on his face where the hair never grew again, so he shaved the other side to match and created the long beard
with no sides.
One of his haunts in those days was the Scotia Bar where he met many of the 'folkey' types and played in a number of bands.
After completion of his apprenticeship he took a job on an oil-rig being built in Biafra, Nigeria, then worked for a short time in Jersey before returning to the Glasgow Shipyards.
He met and married Iris Pressagh and the marriage produced two kids, Jamie and Cara, before divorcing in 1985.
He walked out of the yards on a 'Fair Friday' night and never returned
as he settled with Tam Harvey and Gerry Rafferty in The Humblebums
He caught pleurisy and pneumonia and The Humblebums split in 1971.
After signing with Polydor he released an album, 'Solo Concert' which contained a story about the last supper, held in Gallowgate, Glasgow, and not in Galilee. Jesus was constantly referred to as 'The Big Yin' and his apostiles were all Glaswegians.
This made an enemy of among others, Pastor Jack Glass, whose subsequent
rantings ensured that Billy recieved maximum publicity.
He moved from Glasgow to Drymen, near Loch Lomond in 1974 and the following year had a number one hit with D.I.V.O.R.C.E. 
After appearing on the Parkinson Show he toured with Elton John before meeting Pamela Stephenson on 'Not the Nine O'clock News'.
They married in Fiji in 1989 and their three daughters, Daisy, Amy and Scarlett were the bridesmaids.
A succesful US comedy 'Head of the
Class' meant a further move for the family to Hollywood and was followed by another success in 'Billy'.
In 1995 he swept the boards at the Scottish BAFTA's and in 1996 BBC2 rewarded him with a complete evening of his own programmes.
A number of succesful films followed, and he now has an estate in Scotland where he has settled in the role of Laird, often inviting Hollywood pals such as Robin Williams and Steve Martin to join him at the Lonach Games. 
The
Laird and 15 bedroom Candecraig House
Bloodshot eyes and sodden liver,
Land of my heart forever,
Scotland the Brave!
