Born in Stirling, in 1928, he started off with a trio in 1954 and followed on with long years of one-night stands.  “Supper was often a bottle of whisky and a few pies, with the hint that we might keep playing until dawn.”
He worked as a commercial traveller trying to run a band on the side.  After 12 hectic years of playing one-night stands and “living on wheels”, MacLeod and the boys jumped at the chance of becoming the Dunblane Hydro hotel’s full-time resident band.
For around ten years, from 1963, (and possibly longer) he was part of BBC Radio Scotland’s Ne’erday Radio Party.