Known for his charismatic personality, distinctive singing style and rhinestone encrusted stage suits Sydney first achieved a measure of fame as a boy through an extraordinary ability to reproduce bird calls.

This was noticed by the tenor Robert Wilson and the young Sydneys whistling talents appeared on the recording of "Cottage By The Lea".

He went on to perform his bird whistling set in various venues including THE Hippodrome in London as part of the revue "Wild Grows The Heather".

In 1957 after entering a Daily Record sponsored competition to find "Scotland's Tommy Steele" Devine came second and toured Scotland with the winner, Alex Harvey (later of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band ) Whilst with the "White Heather Group" Sydney introduced Rock and Roll to his act and became known, for a short while, as the "Tartan Rocker".

He was told after one such performance in Germany that Elvis Presley had been in the audience but this was never verified Following Robert Wilsons debilitating road accident The White Heather franchise was taken over by Andy Stewart and latterly became the White Heather Club Devine played guitar on Andy Stewart's hit "Donald Where's Your Troosers?"