AN ALLOA blues musician is preparing to release a new song in honour of his late mother.

Iain Donald, also known as The Gator, has teamed up with talented US artist Candice Ivory to create a trans-continental record, with their rendition of See That My Grave Is Kept Clean to be released on Mother's Day, March 19.

With the help of fellow Clacks musician Martin Mullady, The Gator recorded the instrumental elements in Alloa before vocalist and artist Candice, from St Louis, Missouri, added her vocals.

The result is a beautiful rendition of the classic, originally performed by Blind Lemon Jefferson more than 90 years ago.

Iain told the Advertiser: “My mum died when she was quite young, 56, and she never got to see me play music professionally.

“She was a soldier at home, she had me and my brother to put up with.

“Ill health stopped her from being able to come and see me playing so this is like my last tribute to show her I can do it.”

Karen Ann Donald passed away in early-March 2018, but Iain admitted he does not think he grieved properly at the time.

“Making music is my therapy, you know,” the Clacks musician continued.

“It's a gospel song from 1928, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean, it's the perfect tribute.

“It's crazy how these songs are timeless, that they are now relevant to my life – Blind Lemon Jefferson has been dead a long-long time."

The Gator, 37, has been channelling his hardships into music, living and breathing the blues.

He has been raising funds to attend the Alice Mae Blues Festival in Mississippi, USA, this year, having been invited by festival organisers.

Iain added: “I think the song is a fitting tribute to the blues community as well – for a wee guy in Alloa to be steeped in it enough to appeal to people across in America.

“To be accepted, and for somebody as talented as Candice Ivory – she is known as The Queen of Avant Soul – to work with somebody of that stature, [me] being from Alloa, it's insane.”

The Gator is still raising the £5,000 needed to attend the Alice Mae Festival, which would be a dream come true for the Clacks musician.

He is past the quarter mark and is looking to earn his funds from challenges and more – visit bit.ly/3y8HZWb to support the effort.

See That My Grave Is Kept Clean will be released on Sunday, March 19, visit iamthegator.bandcamp.com to hear it before then.