View source for Biography:John Riddell of Ayr

'''JOHN RIDDELL''' (1718-1795) of Ayrshire, was a music teacher and is believed to have been blind from infancy. He is credited with composing the air of "[[Jenny's Bawbee]]" and several well-known dance tunes, and issued two volumes of dance music, '''Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances and Minuets''' (Edinburgh, 1766), and a second edition, '''Collection of Scots Reels, Minuets, &c., for the Violin''' (Glasgow, 1782, published by James Aird).  Riddell was associated with another Ayrshire fiddler-composer, John McGill (b. 1705), who composed the tune associated with the song "[[Come Under My Plaidie]]."