Tunnock's teacakes honoured in new song by Glasgow musician

Glasgow Times

11-05-2025

Award-nominated musician Kenneth I MacKenzie has supported huge artists like The Waterboys during his time in a Glasgow pipe band and even wrote a song about Oor Willie.
Now, the award-nominated trad music fanatic has released a song dedicated to Scotland's best-known biscuits and cakes - Tunnock's.
The song, Tunnock's The Legend, was inspired by 'everyone having cupboards full of the stuff' and a chance meeting with Boyd Tunnock, the idea then "snowballed" from there.
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Speaking about the song's inspiration, Kenneth, 63, said, "I had the idea years ago and never did much with it.
"I met Mr Tunnock a few years ago at a business-type lunch, and I bounced the song off him.
"He thought it sounded like a great idea, and it just 'snowballed' from there.
"He's quite a character, actually."
The man who invented the Tunnock's Teacake Boyd Tunnock with his Tunnock Teacakes (Image: PA) Kenneth explained he was then prompted to finish the song by Tunnock's decision to sponsor Celtic Music Radio's broadcasts from Glasgow's Celtic Connections.
He "tried to write a verse for every product" in the song and used it as a theme throughout.
However, the Glasgow Times always asks the difficult questions, and we got Kenneth to pick his favourite.
He said: "I just discovered it last night... I've just decided the Caramel Log is my favourite.
"It really is something else, you know."
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Kenneth's career has seen him play all around the world, and he's graced the Barrowland Ballroom to support The Waterboys as part of The City of Glasgow Pipe Band.
Speaking about that time, Kenneth said: "What an experience that was! Oh, it was great fun."
The song was produced by musical arranger and musician Will Marshall, who arranged Kenneth's last album.
Will is also the musical director for the pantomime season at the Eden Court Theatre and has started writing film scores.
Sir Boyd Tunnock with Martin Walker and a vintage bus (Image: Jane Barrie) Kenneth has been involved in Scottish traditional music since the age of 14, and often frequents Glasgow's trad music hub, the Park Bar.
Kenneth, who stays in Scotstoun, said: "I'm in the Park quite often on Thursdays for the session.
"I've got a lot of connections up north and up in the West Coast. Ardnamurchan is like a second home, and I write and sing about it a lot.
"That's where the passion for traditional music comes from."
He's no stranger to honouring Scottish icons with his music, having put together a tune about Oor Willie - Scotland's Oldest Wee Boy - which was produced by Stuart 'Woody' Wood from the Bay City Rollers.
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Kenneth also keeps a secret with the song, he explained: "I've brought in a well-known Scottish singer, but no one has revealed their name yet.
"So, it's top secret adds to the mystique of the whole thing.
"They're very well known in the Scottish folk scene and said 'I'm going to do it, but don't tell anybody it's me'."
Producer, Will Marshall (left) and Kenneth Mackenzie (right) (Image: Supplied) Tunnock's director, Fergus Loudon, said: "Without exception, we all thought Kenny's song was very catchy.
"We don't have any use for it at the moment, but we'll certainly keep it on file for any future marketing initiatives we are running."
The song was first aired by Andy Hood on Celtic Music Radio at the start of Celtic Connections this year and has been played many times since.
It's now available on Spotify here.