Tributes paid to Scots songwriter Bill Martin, the man behind hits Congratulations and Shang-a-lang

Sir Kenny Dalglish has paid tribute to legendary songwriter Bill Martin, who passed away on Thursday, aged 81.

Bill wrote the 1968 number one song Congratulations for Cliff Richard and the Bay City Rollers’ hit Shang-a-lang, which made number two in 1974.

Dad-of-four Bill and songwriting partner Phil Coulter also co-wrote the Scotland 1974 World Cup song Easy, Easy, which led to the pair meeting with Kenny and the national team squad.

Dalglish said: “Bill was an extremely talented man and his songs were famous worldwide. More importantly, he was a gentleman and very humble.

“When I heard that he had died it made me think of the 1974 World Cup song and the words and the tune came back to me very easily. It was great fun. He is a sad loss and my thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”

Bill was born William MacPherson in Govan, Glasgow, and went to the same local high school as Sir Alex Ferguson.

In 1965, he met Coulter and the two became a songwriting team for 20 years.