http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wiltshire/4206071.stm
Folk hero letter found in archive
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A 40-year-old letter from singer-songwriter Paul Simon asking for work at a folk club in Swindon has been donated to the region's records office.

The letter, which reveals Simon's fee was seven pounds, was part of the Swindon Folk Singers Club archive.

The club, founded by Ted and Ivy Poole, grew out of the protest movement of the 50s and started out in a cellar beneath the Communist Party's Swindon branch.

In the letter, dated 12 June 1964, Simon asks for a gig.

But Simon never played at the club because of its Communist connection.

Mr Poole, 79, told the BBC: "He felt it might label him. But it was about traditional music and song, and celebrating working people's culture."

'Comprehensive archive'

In the letter, Simon declares: "I record for Columbia Records in the States and will cut my first LP for Topic Records over here.

"I would appreciate any work that you could give me between the first week of August and the first week of September."

The letter can be seen in Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.

Steve Hobbs, archivist for Wiltshire County Council, said: "It is rare to find such a comprehensive archive from a provincial folk club.

"The archive is a fascinating piece of social history, which shows the links between folk music and protest.

"For example, the club staged benefits for both CND and the Support the Miners campaign in the 1980s."

The archive also contains a 1966 letter from Adge Cutler, whose backing band was West Country favourites, The Wurzels.