# Ricky Ross (musician)
**Ricky Ross** (born 1957 in Dundee, Scotland; full name Richard Alexander Ross) is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and broadcaster, best known as the lead singer and principal songwriter of the Glasgow pop rock band [Deacon Blue](https://www.edgepedia.org/deacon-blue)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0743782/bio/) • [2](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/the-lowdown-deacon-blue/). Across more than four decades he has also recorded solo albums, written hits for other artists, and presented radio programs for BBC Radio Scotland and [BBC Radio 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-radio-2)[3](https://www.abertay.ac.uk/life/alumni-and-supporters/honorary-graduates/ricky-ross/) • [4](https://www.hachette.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Headline_Translation_Rights_Guide-Spring_2022.pdf).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1957, Dundee, Scotland; birth name Richard Alexander Ross[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0743782/bio/) |
| Band | Founder, lead singer, and main songwriter of Deacon Blue, formed in Glasgow in 1985 with drummer Dougie Vipond[5](https://www.glasgowskyline.com/articles/1989/school.htm) • [6](https://deaconblue.com/about/) |
| Peak success | *When the World Knows Your Name* (1989) reached UK No. 1 and produced five hit singles, including the Top 10 hit "Real Gone Kid"[3](https://www.abertay.ac.uk/life/alumni-and-supporters/honorary-graduates/ricky-ross/) • [2](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/the-lowdown-deacon-blue/) |
| Band totals | 12 UK Top 40 singles and two No. 1 albums before the 1994 split; reunited in 1999[7](https://rickyross.com/blog/?page_id=4240) |
| Songwriting for others | Wrote for or with James Blunt, Emma Bunton, Ronan Keating, Jamie Cullum, KT Tunstall, and Nanci Griffith[3](https://www.abertay.ac.uk/life/alumni-and-supporters/honorary-graduates/ricky-ross/) • [7](https://rickyross.com/blog/?page_id=4240) |
| Broadcasting | Presents BBC Radio Scotland's Americana show *Another Country*; two Sony awards and a CMA International Trophy in 2015[4](https://www.hachette.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Headline_Translation_Rights_Guide-Spring_2022.pdf) |
| Memoir | *Walking Back Home*, his first autobiography, published in August 2022[8](https://virginradio.co.uk/the-chris-evans-breakfast-show/71184/ricky-ross-from-deacon-blue-on-his-new-memoir-solo-album-and-tour) |
## Early life and teaching
Ross grew up in Dundee in a strict religious upbringing in the Brethren church, and trained as a teacher[9](https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/books/book-review-walking-back-home-by-ricky-ross-3801091) • [5](https://www.glasgowskyline.com/articles/1989/school.htm). Before music he worked in youth work and teaching, including teaching English to children with behavioral difficulties in Glasgow's Maryhill district[4](https://www.hachette.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Headline_Translation_Rights_Guide-Spring_2022.pdf) • [10](https://www.glasgowskyline.com/biography/the-complete-biography.html). In interviews he has said that youth work first exposed him to poverty and high unemployment in Dundee, experiences that later fed his songwriting[11](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/dundee/3907450/ricky-ross-talks-about-dundee-his-late-mum-and-his-music-career-at-courier-subscribers-event/).
His first recordings predate the band. In 1983 he recorded the album *So Long Ago* on the small independent label Sticky Music, with about 800 cassettes produced; London publishers who heard it told him to form a band, though at that stage he wanted to be a house songwriter for other artists[10](https://www.glasgowskyline.com/biography/the-complete-biography.html). He moved to Glasgow in 1985, taking a teaching job but also drawn by the city's music scene[5](https://www.glasgowskyline.com/articles/1989/school.htm).
## Deacon Blue
**Formation and name.** Deacon Blue took its name, slightly adapted, from the [Steely Dan](https://www.edgepedia.org/steely-dan) song "Deacon Blues" on the 1977 album *Aja*[5](https://www.glasgowskyline.com/articles/1989/school.htm) • [12](https://advertiser.ie/galway/article/80386/reconnecting-with-thirty-years-of-enduring-songs). Ross started the group with drummer Dougie Vipond in 1985, and the lineup coalesced in 1986 with [Lorraine McIntosh](https://www.edgepedia.org/lorraine-mcintosh) on vocals, Ewen Vernal on bass, Graeme Kelling on guitar, and Jim Prime on keyboards[5](https://www.glasgowskyline.com/articles/1989/school.htm) • [13](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Musician/1990/1991/Musician-1991-06.pdf). McIntosh, who sang with the band from 1986 or 1987, married Ross on 12 May 1990; they have three children[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0743782/bio/) • [14](https://www.contactmusic.com/story/470/3267527/interview-deacon-blue-s-ricky-ross-and-lorraine-mcintosh-reflect-on-40-years-of-the-band-and-the-happiest-marriage-in-music).
The debut album *Raintown*, released in May 1987, peaked at No. 14 in the UK but spent 77 weeks on the album chart, building a following on the strength of songs such as "Dignity"[15](https://glasgowskyline.com/features/raintown-making-a-masterpiece.html) • [2](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/the-lowdown-deacon-blue/). Ross has described the song "Dignity" as beginning during a 1985 holiday in Crete, inspired by a council worker he imagined dreaming of sailing away on a ship called Dignity[16](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/mar/31/deacon-blue-on-dignity-dundee-united-worker-for-the-council).
**Commercial peak.** The breakthrough came with the single "Real Gone Kid", a Top 10 hit in 1988, and the second album *When the World Knows Your Name* (1989), which displaced Madonna's *Like a Prayer* at the top of the UK chart and generated five hit singles[13](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Musician/1990/1991/Musician-1991-06.pdf) • [3](https://www.abertay.ac.uk/life/alumni-and-supporters/honorary-graduates/ricky-ross/). Further albums followed: *Fellow Hoodlums* (1991), *Whatever You Say, Say Nothing* (1993), and the double-platinum compilation *Our Town – The Greatest Hits* (1994)[7](https://rickyross.com/blog/?page_id=4240). In 1990 the band headlined the Big Day on Glasgow Green, which The Scotsman's review of Ross's memoir describes as the biggest gig audience ever in Scotland[9](https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/books/book-review-walking-back-home-by-ricky-ross-3801091).
**Split and reunion.** With 12 UK Top 40 singles and two No. 1 albums to their credit, the band split amicably in 1994[7](https://rickyross.com/blog/?page_id=4240) • [3](https://www.abertay.ac.uk/life/alumni-and-supporters/honorary-graduates/ricky-ross/). A reunion show led to the album *Walking Back Home* (1999) and *Homesick* (2001); the band then continued playing live but did not return to the studio together for 11 years[7](https://rickyross.com/blog/?page_id=4240). The 2012 album *The Hipsters*, which Ross called "my love letter to Deacon Blue", began a sustained second phase, with Radio 2 A-listing four of its singles[2](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/the-lowdown-deacon-blue/). Later albums include *A New House* (2014), *City of Love* (2020), which reached the UK top five for the first time since 1994, and *The Great Western Road* (2025), which reached No. 3 in the UK and No. 1 in Scotland[6](https://deaconblue.com/about/) • [17](https://prestigecorporateevents.com/artists/deacon-blue). Guitarist Gregor Philp, who joined in 2008, co-produced the 2025 album with Ross[18](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/entertainment/3550438/ricky-ross-life-story/) • [6](https://deaconblue.com/about/).
## Solo career and songwriting
During the 1994 to 1999 break Ross released the solo albums *What You Are* (1996) and *New Recording* (1997), and built a parallel career writing for other artists, including [James Blunt](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-blunt), Ronan Keating, Jamie Cullum, and [Nanci Griffith](https://www.edgepedia.org/nanci-griffith)[7](https://rickyross.com/blog/?page_id=4240). [Abertay University](https://www.edgepedia.org/abertay-university) adds Emma Bunton and KT Tunstall to that list[3](https://www.abertay.ac.uk/life/alumni-and-supporters/honorary-graduates/ricky-ross/). The first single from James Blunt's debut album *Back to Bedlam*, "High", was co-written by Ross[19](https://los40.com/2024/10/11/back-to-bedlam-el-album-debut-y-de-mayor-exito-de-james-blunt-cumple-20-anos-y-traera-de-regalo-un-cambio-importante/).
His solo catalog also includes *Pale Rider* (2005), which included "In The End", a tribute to the band's late guitarist Graeme Kelling, and *Trouble Came Looking* (2013)[20](https://crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/news/Rickys_New_Album/14065/p1/) • [21](https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ricky-ross-tickets/artist/783901). In 2009 he and McIntosh toured and released the album *The Great Lakes* as the duo McIntosh Ross[21](https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ricky-ross-tickets/artist/783901). The *Short Stories* series began with Vol. 1 in 2017; Vol. 2, recorded at home during the Covid lockdown and augmented with strings and brass, was his eighth solo album, released alongside his memoir in 2022[22](https://www.thequeenshall.net/whats-on/ricky-ross) • [18](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/entertainment/3550438/ricky-ross-life-story/).
## Broadcasting and recognition
Ross presents BBC Radio Scotland's Americana music show *Another Country*, for which he has won two Sony awards and a CMA International Trophy in 2015, along with *Sunday Morning With* and programming for BBC Radio 2[4](https://www.hachette.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Headline_Translation_Rights_Guide-Spring_2022.pdf) • [3](https://www.abertay.ac.uk/life/alumni-and-supporters/honorary-graduates/ricky-ross/). In March 2024 the [Country Music Association](https://www.edgepedia.org/country-music-association) named him International Broadcaster of the Year[10](https://www.glasgowskyline.com/biography/the-complete-biography.html).
Abertay University awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Arts in 2014, nominated by lecturer Dr Mhairi Thurston, a childhood bandmate[3](https://www.abertay.ac.uk/life/alumni-and-supporters/honorary-graduates/ricky-ross/). [Glasgow Caledonian University](https://www.edgepedia.org/glasgow-caledonian-university) awarded him an honorary [Doctor of Letters](https://www.edgepedia.org/doctor-of-letters) in 2021 for his contribution to Scottish music and culture[18](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/entertainment/3550438/ricky-ross-life-story/). IMDb lists him as a prominent celebrity supporter of [Scottish independence](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-independence)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0743782/bio/).
## References
1. [Ricky Ross – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0743782/bio/)
2. [The Lowdown: Deacon Blue, Classic Pop Magazine](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/the-lowdown-deacon-blue/)
3. [Ricky Ross, Honorary Graduates, Abertay University](https://www.abertay.ac.uk/life/alumni-and-supporters/honorary-graduates/ricky-ross/)
4. [Walking Back Home rights guide, Headline (Hachette)](https://www.hachette.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Headline_Translation_Rights_Guide-Spring_2022.pdf)
5. [Deacon Blue: Back To The Old School?, CD Review, July 1989 (Glasgow Skyline archive)](https://www.glasgowskyline.com/articles/1989/school.htm)
6. [About – Deacon Blue, official site](https://deaconblue.com/about/)
7. [Biography – Ricky's Radio Blog, rickyross.com](https://rickyross.com/blog/?page_id=4240)
8. [Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue on his new memoir, solo album and tour, Virgin Radio UK](https://virginradio.co.uk/the-chris-evans-breakfast-show/71184/ricky-ross-from-deacon-blue-on-his-new-memoir-solo-album-and-tour)
9. [Book review: Walking Back Home, by Ricky Ross, The Scotsman](https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/books/book-review-walking-back-home-by-ricky-ross-3801091)
10. [The Complete Biography, Glasgow Skyline](https://www.glasgowskyline.com/biography/the-complete-biography.html)
11. [Ricky Ross talks about Dundee, his late mum and his music career, The Courier](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/dundee/3907450/ricky-ross-talks-about-dundee-his-late-mum-and-his-music-career-at-courier-subscribers-event/)
12. [Reconnecting with thirty years of enduring songs, Advertiser.ie](https://advertiser.ie/galway/article/80386/reconnecting-with-thirty-years-of-enduring-songs)
13. [Musician magazine, June 1991 (WorldRadioHistory archive)](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Musician/1990/1991/Musician-1991-06.pdf)
14. [Interview: Deacon Blue's Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, Contactmusic.com](https://www.contactmusic.com/story/470/3267527/interview-deacon-blue-s-ricky-ross-and-lorraine-mcintosh-reflect-on-40-years-of-the-band-and-the-happiest-marriage-in-music)
15. [Raintown: Making A Masterpiece, Glasgow Skyline](https://glasgowskyline.com/features/raintown-making-a-masterpiece.html)
16. [Deacon Blue on how they made Dignity, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/mar/31/deacon-blue-on-dignity-dundee-united-worker-for-the-council)
17. [Deacon Blue: Band Members, Songs and Albums, Prestige](https://prestigecorporateevents.com/artists/deacon-blue)
18. [Ricky Ross tells the story of his life, The Courier](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/entertainment/3550438/ricky-ross-life-story/)
19. [Back to Bedlam cumple 20 años, Los40](https://los40.com/2024/10/11/back-to-bedlam-el-album-debut-y-de-mayor-exito-de-james-blunt-cumple-20-anos-y-traera-de-regalo-un-cambio-importante/)
20. [Ricky's New Album, Cross Rhythms](https://crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/news/Rickys_New_Album/14065/p1/)
21. [Ricky Ross Tickets – About, Ticketmaster UK](https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ricky-ross-tickets/artist/783901)
22. [Ricky Ross, The Queen's Hall](https://www.thequeenshall.net/whats-on/ricky-ross)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Pop rock and power pop › Classic pop rock era, 1960s–1980s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license