Tell Me About Martin Windsor [Winsor]

Subject: RE: Tell Me About Martin Windsor
From: Will Fly
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 12:14 PM

I remember that song as well - but can't recall the title...

Subject: RE: Tell Me About Martin Windsor
From: The Sandman
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 12:00 PM

,yes, he also did a rhyming slang song,which involved no hampsteads in his north and south,was it called Tottie.

Subject: RE: Tell Me About Martin Windsor
From: Will Fly
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 11:34 AM

Redd was also a force of nature. I can still see him singing "I live in Trafalgar Square, four lions to guard me...", with interesting gestures and no top front teeth. Where shall we see their like?

Subject: RE: Tell Me About Martin Windsor
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 11:32 AM

Martin Windsor was a regular guest at the clubs we ran at Catford (The Railway Tavern) ,Lee Green (The Old Tigers Head) and others in the Crystal Palace and Sydenham area and possibly Chiselhurst caves. If ever there was a man to command audience attention, it was he and woebetide anyone not having the good manners to be still while he was on. His rendition of the song containing "With a second-hand overcoat under my head ...drunk and assaulting the guard.." was memorable.

Subject: RE: Tell Me About Martin Windsor
From: Fidjit
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 10:39 AM

Thanks for that Mick.

First thing I did was to update my myspace friends.

I went to sing several times in the Trub.
Lots of memories of Redd and Martin.
Was always advised not to eat the food there.

Chas

Subject: RE: Tell Me About Martin Windsor
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 10:30 AM

Thank you for the info and the links (and the remarkably quick response!), Mick and Jim. I guess my googling would have been more successful if I'd spelled his name right! Great photos, and enjoying the songs on Myspace even as I type.

Cheers!

Subject: RE: Tell Me About Martin Windsor
From: Jim McLean
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 09:09 AM

Yes, I produced the album and you can see a picture of Martin and Redd here Martin and Redd taken by my wife Alison Chapman McLean

Subject: RE: Tell Me About Martin Windsor
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 08:27 AM

Martin and Redd used to run the Troubador in London in the days when I went along there (early 70s). They were both very involved in the London folk scene from the 50's to the 70s, both powerful singers and (to my mind) Martin in particular had a great voice.

Here are some links on them, with more information:

Martin and Redd's Myspace page

Martin's Obituary from the Independent.

There are some vinyl records of them still to be found s/h. I have one Martin Winsor and Redd Sullivan hosts of the Troubador with friends - Track listing A: Beans, Bacon and Gravy; The Queen of Hearts; The Farming Servant; The Hieland Widow's Lament; I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate. B: The Ox-Driver's Song; Jock O'Hazeldean; Firing The Mauritania; Maccaffery; Trying To Make Heaven My Home. According to the sleeve notes of this record Martin was born in Liverpool, "but made his home in London and is acknowledged as an authority on London Folk-lore and dialect". (The record was produced by Jim McLean; I don't know if that's the same person who posts here).


Mick

Subject: Tell Me About Martin Windsor
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 07:59 AM

Please, that should have said... Where are my manners!

I have a copy of Peter Bellamy's "The Transports" (no home should be without one). I know a bit about most of the people featured on the album, except a man with a most deep, rich, chocolatey voice, one Martin Windsor. From his singing he sounds like a Brummie, but that could be wishful thinking on my part. A search on Google has turned up bugger all except that he was in a duo with someone called Red Sullivan.

So who was/is he? Did he release any albums? What was his place in the UK folk pantheon? I'm sure some of Mudcat's more, erm, senior contributors could fill me in.

Thanking you kindly in advance of the deluge of facts, anecdotes and trivia...