Charlie was a fine singer who I came across one night probably in summer 1967 when we were looking for 'new' traditional singers to bring as guests to the Blairgowrie Festival run by the newly formed Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland (TMSA), the festival having been started in 1966. My wife and myself toured around the local area and came across Charlie Murray and Adam Young singing one Saturday night in the Justinhaugh Hotel near Forfar where there was a regular song session. Charlie and Adam were then invited as guests at the Blair Festival that year and were regular guests at TMSA festivals from then on - and Charlie was also roped in as a judge in the traditional song and bothy ballad competitions - and in other years was a winner.

I recorded a number of songs from him at his house near Justinhaugh: The Hash o Benagoak, The Fornet, McGinnin and his Cross-Eyed Pet, Hillie's Man, My Last Farewell to Stirling. He also sang Hairst o Rettie that he had learnt from old Jimmy McBeath who he had heard singing at country fairs and markets, the Tradesman's Plooing Match at Hogmanay and the song When I Wis Just But Sweet Sixteen that I included on the first LP recorded at Kinross in 1973. He was a guest at Kinross Festival in 1972, 73, 78 and 80.

Perhaps we should look to put together an archive issue of his singing? All you out there let me know what you have.

The LP SPR 1001 is still available: Scots Songs & Music 1
Live from Kinross Festival - A historic album of songs and music recorded at the 1973 Kinross Festival.

Have a look also at Jock Duncan:
www.springthyme.co.uk/album39/39go.html
and also Gordon Easton:
www.springthyme.co.uk/ah005/ah005go.html

Both are great traditional singers with traditional songs and ballads and bothy ballads in their repertoire.

Listen to Jock here:
www.springthyme.co.uk/ah007/ah007_Pop7.html

Peter Shepheard
www.springthyme.co.uk