Happy! – Jan 25 (Ewan MacColl)

Subject: Happy! – Jan 25 (Ewan MacColl)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 08:05 AM


Happy Birthday!

Ewan MacColl (Jimmie Miller)

was born Salford, Lancashire

on 1/25/1915
(d.10/22/1989)

See Peggy's biography of him.

From Dick Gaughan's comments: It would take several volumes to adequately discuss the creative contribution of Ewan MacColl - actor, playwright, Communist, singer, songwriter, polemicist, motivator, broadcaster, all these and more. Probably the most significant playwright in Britain in the 40s and 50s, highly acclaimed for his innovations in broadcasting, writer of songs which have entered the folk tradition (as well as the Pop Charts) and colossus of the 50s/60s British Folksong Revival [and American – ajs]... if you're going to sing songs which explore political issues, forget about any delusions of ever becoming successful in that business. He summed this up best in his song:

          It's legal to sing on the telly,
          But they'll make bloody sure that you don't
          If you sing about racism, fascism, creeps
          Or thieves in high places that live off the weak
  
                  "Legal/Illegal"

I didn't think all that much of him – I only have 60 of his records – couldn't bother myself with the rest.

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