Largs songwriting and pop music legend Benny Gallagher has been praised as a 'genuine role model' after receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland.

The 79-year-old received the honour at the UWS graduation ceremony at Paisley Abbey on July 4.

Vice-chancellor James Miller praised Benny's remarkable journey from the seaside town to the top of the music industry.

Between 1998 and 2002, Benny Gallagher was the primary driving force behind the SMART school concept (Scottish Music and Recording Technology school), which he developed with South Ayrshire Council and Scottish Enterprise.

The project led to UWS successfully bidding to be the initiative's academic partner and to the setting up of the university's BA (Hons) Commercial Music course, based at its campus in Ayr.

The programme has been running since 2001 and has produced more than 1,000 graduates.

Benny was hired as an in-house songwriter for the Beatles independent music company Apple Corps in the late 1960s.

He then worked Ronnie Lane, bassist with The Faces, before progressing to be a founding member of McGuinness Flint and Gallagher and Lyle with Graham Lyle. 

(Image: UWS)

Gallagher and Lyle released five albums including the gold-selling Breakaway in 1976 featuring the top 10 singles I Wanna Stay With You and Heart On My Sleeve.

The album, which also charted in the United States, included songs which went on to be number one hits for Art Garfunkel and Don Williams. 

In the 1990s Benny co-founded and served as chairman of the royalties campaigning body PAMRA, which was set up to ensure that musicians received a fair share of royalties from recordings and performances, thus protecting the rights and income of hundreds of thousands of UK musicians.

The 79-year-old continues to support education and welfare for musicians.

Benny said: “It’s fantastic to receive this honorary doctorate.

"Educating musicians is something I’m extremely passionate about and it’s been amazing to see the Commercial Music course go from strength to strength over the past 20 years.”

Professor Miller added: “Graduation is the pinnacle of the University calendar. It gives us the opportunity to both reflect on the amazing achievements of our students and to celebrate this most important of milestones with their friends and families, as well as the whole UWS community who have supported them throughout their time at university.

“We are delighted to present Benny Gallagher with this Honorary Doctorate.

"Through his work with key industry representatives, management companies and higher education, he has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the UK and wider global music industries.

"We know he is a genuine role model for aspiring Scottish music professionals, particularly those local to the Ayr campus, where the BA (Hons) Commercial Music course is based.”