| Living each day as it comes
By Bruna Zanelli
Isla Grant is out on tour promoting her new CD When The Day Is Done
— which is pretty impressive considering her career was close to ending
in 1992. Bruna Zanelli talked to her about how she overcame
the horrific injuries — both mental and physical — sustained in a car crash
to resume her career.
This is a fairly short tour,” Isla Grant explains, “but later in November,
we have an extensive tour of Ireland booked.”
Isla is back on the road promoting her new CD which is selling well.
Things are buzzing for the Scots singer-songwriter.
She appears to have everything — a truly happy marriage, a wonderful
family of three sons and grandchildren and a star-studded career.
“Yes, I must be the luckiest woman alive,” she says.
But life was not always this good to her. In 1992, driving home with
her husband on a lonely, straight road, a car came towards them travelling
at 100mph. It veered across the road and rammed head-on into their car.
Her husband singer Al Grant (he’s the one who sounds more like Jim Reeves
than Jim Reeves) was driving.
They both suffered nasty injuries. Al had a dislocated ankle and cuts
to the face while his chest had banged against the steering column. Isla’s
injuries were far worse.
“My right hand was lying on my arm so I knew my wrist was broken,” she
recalls calmly.
At the hospital she was found to be bleeding internally. Isla had sustained
terrible internal injuries caused by the seat belt which had burst her stomach,
while saving her life.
But that was not all. Later she was hit by agoraphobia brought on by
post-traumatic stress following the accident. Bluntly the doctors told her
to forget showbusiness. She would never return to the stage.
“Agoraphobia is a terrible illness and I had it for three years,” she
says.
Al had, by comparison, lesser injuries so he was able to care and support
her over the five years it took to regain her health.
“Thank God he was given the strength to see me through it.” she recalls.
Believing the doctors’ insensitive prophesy she decided to take up flower
arranging as her new career.
“But I always felt there was something missing in my life. I knew I needed
to be somewhere else so I decided to fight back.”
She laughs: “I think it was my Highland and Irish blood that got me through.”
Since the age of 14 Isla had been singing and performing country and
folk songs but now she made herself a promise.
“If the good Lord above wanted me to get back into the business then
I would only write and record my own material — and for the past six years
I have been true to that promise.”
Grief-stricken at her mother’s passing, she wrote the classic Mother.
She never intended to release it; it was just her way of dealing with the
pain of losing her mum but her husband believed it was too good a song to
remain hidden in a desk drawer.
“It will help others like it helped you,” he told her and he was right.
Mother became a massive success, bringing Isla Grant to the public awareness.
And for this she thanks Irish singing legend Margo O’Donnell.
At the time Margo was presenting her own programme on Irish radio and
constantly played Mother — eventually inviting Isla to guest on the show.
“I did a couple of interviews and she got the albums out there for the
people to hear. Then CMR Records became interested and signed me up for
10 years, extending to 13 years. Yes, I have a lot to thank Margo for.”
Ireland is very dear to Isla. Her Irish roots are in Glengarriff in Co.
Cork and it was the Irish people who gave her the courage to get back out
there again. Today, she is a major star in her native Scotland and even
more so in her beloved Ireland where she will soon be touring again.
True to her promise she continues to pen all her material. The title
track of the new CD. When the Day Is Done is about Al.
“He is my rock,” she says. “He is my husband and my best pal. We are
together 24 hours a day and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
With her plaintive, country voice Isla paints pictures illustrating all
aspects of love and life — from the old man pining for his lost love on
Meet Her Someday to the little girl grieving for her mummy with A Daisy
For Mama. It is hard not to be moved by the lyrics. There is even a song
for her many fans: Parcel Of Dreams.
“It’s for everyone that comes along to a concert, who buys an album.”
This CD will surely add another platinum disc to the three which already
adorn her lovely home on the Scottish Borders overlooking the local golf
course where, as passionate golfers, Isla and Al regularly play 18 holes.
She says her biggest influences have always been life, her family and...
Merle Haggard! As she mentions “the Hag”, this 50-something turns into a
giggly, teenager.
Two years ago, the BBC arranged for Haggard to call her on her birthday.
She was beside herself.
“I felt such an idiot. I could not speak to him,” she recalls with embarrassment.
“I didn’t say any of the things I wanted to say.”
So while Merle enthused about her songs (many have been covered by US
artists including Dolly Parton), suggesting they record some duets in Nashville
she remained tongue-tied. “He is my second God, a wonderful, wonderful writer.”
Although she has worked in the United States she has not toured there
but meetings are scheduled for next summer and she is keeping her fingers
crossed.
Perhaps she will get to record with Merle Haggard while she is there.
She remains philosophical.
“If it’s meant to be it will be but I am just so grateful for all that
is going on for me just now. I travel to Canada, New Zealand, Australia
and, of course, my wonderful Ireland. How I adore the place. I am so lucky.”
Within this isolated contentment does she ever pause to think about the
state of the outside world?
“Oh yes! I see the things happening in the world today and it gets me
down. It’s very sad. Everytime I see a wee soul on the television looking
lost, not knowing what is going on, I feel like shaking some of these people
who are supposedly in power, telling them: ‘C’mon, look at what is happening.
Just take a look at who you are really hurting.’ I feel quite passionate
about it. I know I can’t do anything but I try. I wrote Listen To The Children
in the hope that someone would listen. I just wish the world was a happier
place.”
So what is next for Isla Grant?
“More touring. The record company have a few plans and I am going to
write my book.”
And with a wink: “And maybe someday I can meet my wonderful Merle.”
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