Born in 1922 Duncan J. MacDonald started playing violin at age 10 and made his public appearance by age 12 at McCrimmon Hall. He and his brothers, Donald, Hughie and Elmer were taught by their mother, Margaret F (MacLeod) MacDonald and were much in demand at concerts and socials. His first orchestra experience was with John M MacCrimmon where they made $2 a night.

For his military service in WW11 he received the Dutch Commemorative Medal in 2002 for his part in the liberation of Holland.

After the war Duncan played for 50 years with various groups including The Skye Orchestra, The MacCrimmon Orchestra, and the MacDonald Brothers. He played with Bob Urquhart, Joyce (Allen) Urquhart, Bev MacQueen, James Nixon, Duncan J and Rod MacPhee and of course, his brothers (The Dougie Boys).

In the first Highland Games in 1948, there was a Scottish fiddle competition and he was coaxed by Sam McLeod to enter. He had to borrow a fiddle and half way through his performance the E string broke. He thought he was finished but a judge yelled at him to get another fiddle and continue saying, “you might not win a first but you are going to get a second at least.” And he did.

When the small halls closed Duncan joined the Glengarry Old Time Fiddlers where he and some others were featured on a CBC documentary called Heritage. In 1982 he was asked to join the Glengarry Strathspey and Reel Society. Soon after he was recruited to play with the Lochiel Strings.

Duncan averaged over 100 gigs a year for close to 70 years, sharing his gift with many happy listeners.

His contribution to Celtic Music makes him a perfect inductee to the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame.