Burch Ray Palmer was Pipe Major of the Sierra Highlanders, of Reno, NV for 16 years. He was born and raised in Miles City, Montana and is a great grandson of Scottish immigrants, Hugh and Margaret McKay. Burch wrote "Ballad of Hugh Duncan McKay" in their honor. "Manu Forti" is the McKay clan motto. Burch showed an early aptitude for music and took up the violin at nine years old. His school system didn't have a string program, so he played tuba in the high school band in order to perform music with other musicians. When rock'n'roll came out in the fifties, Burch was drawn to the guitar. He was drawn to rockers like Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, Buddy Knox, Rick Nelson, Duane Eddy and Chan Romero, who was a friend from nearby Billings, Montana. Burch started his own band, "The Walkers." in 1961. After many recording sessions and twelve years on the road, he and wife, Linda bought a night club in Miles City, Montana. He and friends played many shows at The Alta Saloon. Burch had honed his skills on sev