Ewan MacColl's origins

Subject: Ewan MacColl's origins
From: Willie-O
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 09:01 AM

Just heard the CBC's musicologist Adrian Shuman claim that Ewan MacColl was "born Jimmy Miller in Salisbury Massachusetts". Most of that I believe, but...Massachusetts? I thought he was English by birth. Who knows, really?

Since this musicologist has previously informed his rapt listeners that Doc Watson's real name is Merle and he wrote "Dark As A Dungeon", and that Connie Dover is Scottish, I am skeptical of his depth of knowledge in folk music. Ah well, at least he had the good sense to play "Moving-On Song" instead of the obvious popular choice, "The First Time Ever..."

W-O

Subject: RE: Ewan McColl's origins
From: Metchosin
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 09:38 AM

Peggy Seeger might. This is from her Website

Subject: RE: Ewan McColl's origins
From: Metchosin
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 09:41 AM

pretty shoddy research on behalf of the CBC.

Subject: RE: Ewan McColl's origins
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 11:35 AM

25th. January 1915, in Salford, England, according to MacColl (né James Miller) himself.  This one comes up regularly; Adrian Shuman is clearly not a historian, whether or not he is entitled to describe himself as a musicologist!

Subject: RE: Ewan McColl's origins
From: Rana who SHOULD be working
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 12:19 PM

Yep,

Adrian did say Massachussets - it is Salford according to Peggy Seeger's web page.

To be fair to Adrian, he covers a lot of musical bases and the occassional mistake will creep through. His part of the show is still fascinating.

Rana

Subject: RE: Ewan McColl's origins
From: Metchosin
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 12:24 PM

Malcolm considering Ewan is dead, what's wrong with the info provided by the mother of three of his children. BG

Subject: RE: Ewan McColl's origins
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 01:31 PM

Nothing, of course.  A case of me supplying superfluous information, I guess!

Subject: RE: Ewan McColl's origins
From: Bernard
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 01:38 PM

'Ere, can I have a case of that? Sound's like good stuff!

I live within five miles of Salford, and he was definitely from there!

'Dirty Old Town' even mentions Salford, if you have the original words...

'Smelt the smoke on a Salford wind'!

Subject: RE: Ewan McColl's origins
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 08:23 PM

So scrambled that they were never the same twice!!

I listened to a couple of interviews he did, and read a biog, and all three said something different.....

Ho hum, that's what fame does for you. You make up songs about how hard it is growing up poor and working class, and have to change your name, and disguise your origins, so you don't get lynched.....

Subject: RE: Ewan McColl's origins
From: Bugsy
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 09:44 PM

Mrs McColl.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Ewan McColl's origins
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 06:43 AM

I live in Salford and Mr Mc. (or Miller) is definitely from hereabouts. The gasworks is still there BTW - I drive past it twice a day!

Subject: RE: Ewan McColl's origins
From: Willie-O
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 08:44 AM

OK, just as I thought, English by birth, Scots by heritage. Peggy's detailed bio info is fascinating--do any of his plays get produced anymore? Sounds like a project.

On another matter, Rana, didn't realize you were on the Cat. Thanks for sending me Owen McBride's e-mail, (I'm that Bill Cameron guy) we have booked him for our festival next spring!

W-O