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24 Oct 12 - 07:06 AM (#3425298) Subject: R.I.P. Machael Marra From: BobKnight I've just heard tha Michael Marra, the Dundee based singer/songwriter has died. I'm sure more details will follow from others who are better informed. He came and gave The Grassic Gibbon Songwriters Group a talk about 2 years ago. A lovely man - took time to talk to us afterwards - just one of the guys. |
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24 Oct 12 - 07:22 AM (#3425306) Subject: RE: R.I.P. Machael Marra From: GUEST,Blandiver Very sad to hear this. One of the true idiosyncratic talents of the revival - part Jim Eldon, part Ivor Cutler, part Kevin Coyne - but wholly & utterly (and always) himself.... If Dundee was Africa |
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24 Oct 12 - 07:59 AM (#3425319) Subject: RE: R.I.P. Machael Marra From: Ross Campbell Obit; BBC News Michael Marra's website Michael Marra played Fylde Festival a number of years back and won over the audience with his quirky songs and dry delivery. Saw him again in similar form at Southport Arts Centre a few years ago. Always wanted to hear more. Ross |
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24 Oct 12 - 08:15 AM (#3425323) Subject: RE: R.I.P. Machael Marra From: GloriaJ Sad news.I've seen him a couple of times - the last being at York Folk Club where a large crowd turned up - and someone even presented him with a painting of a fox running onto a football pitch.I said to him at half-time "You seem to be gathering a strong cult following" - and he said " Yes - at last". He seemed to me to look a lot older than his real age.An odd gravelly voice - but a deeply expressive one.When I came to sing one or two of his songs myself I realised how good a singer he was. His albums,especially "Posted Sober" are a delight,works of art, and beautifully produced and recorded - yet there are odd sections of them,like the song"Rats"(dedicated to a certain famous personage) that are almost unlistenable. Anyway, I'll sing Constable Le Clock tonight at Otley Folk Club in tribute. |
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24 Oct 12 - 08:37 AM (#3425331) Subject: RE: R.I.P. Machael Marra From: GUEST Oh Dear, never got to see him. Will go get the bouzouki out and have a run through The Lonesome Death of Francis Clarke, it brings a tear most times I do it when I'm alone. Will place a precious coal on the fire for him. Al |
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24 Oct 12 - 08:39 AM (#3425332) Subject: RE: R.I.P. Machael Marra From: Abdul The Bul Bul Edited me cookies this morning, above guest was me. Al |
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24 Oct 12 - 10:13 AM (#3425363) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: Girl Friday We saw him at Derby Folk Festival a few years ago. He was a great entertainer, and very funny. Had not heard of him before that. Another sad loss to the folk scene. |
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24 Oct 12 - 11:00 AM (#3425389) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: Zen Very sad news. I'll raise a drink to Michael and Frida at the Tay Bridge Bar. May he R.I.P. |
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24 Oct 12 - 11:06 AM (#3425394) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: GUEST a lovely composer and singer rest in peace. |
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24 Oct 12 - 12:19 PM (#3425434) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: Vic Smith This from John Barrow, Michael's agent - Hi I'm writing this message to my email address book since many of you had the good fortune to book Michael Marra to play at your events, many others no doubt had been able to get to see him perform while others had perhaps reviewed his shows. So, if you've heard on the grapevine that Michael has just died I'm unfortunately able to confirm that all the rumours swirling around about this are correct. I am very sorry indeed to have to report that Michael Marra died at about 11:30pm last night, Tuesday 23 October 2012. He had just completed a course of chemotherapy to combat lung cancer and had been in hospital recovering from a chest infection/pneumonia. The last I heard on Monday morning was that he had been much better over last weekend. The success of the chemotherapy was to be assessed soon and had been postponed as a result of the infection. Sadly that is now academic. It sounds as if, from what his wife says in a brief text message just received, he was at home with family when he died and that his death was not anticipated and quite sudden. No details about funeral yet. We have just lost one of the really great Scottish songwriters who was also a good and thoroughly decent bloke. What more can I say. Cheers jb Hearing of the death of two good friends within a few hours of one another has come very hard. Michael Marra was an outstanding songwriter and deserved even more recognition that he received. We never missed an opportunity to book him when he was making the long trip down from Tayside to perform in the south of England. Here he is concentrating on his keyboards as singing on one of many visits to play at the Royal Oak in Lewes. This was taken on 24th September 2009 |
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24 Oct 12 - 12:23 PM (#3425437) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: John MacKenzie I just heard about this. Apparewntly it was sudden and he was at home with the family. Had just completed a course of Chemo for lung cancer, and had then caught pneumonia, but was apparently on the mend. RIP Michael, you were unique. |
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24 Oct 12 - 01:09 PM (#3425458) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: SylviaN I am one of the many who loved Michael's songs, singing, performances and also him as a lovely lovely person. John, please give my condolences to his family and thank them for sharing Michael with us. Sylvia |
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24 Oct 12 - 02:00 PM (#3425482) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: GUEST,DTM Thank you for all the wonderful songs and performances, Michael. You were a genius. "We were all flooded by a scarlet light ..." |
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24 Oct 12 - 02:55 PM (#3425495) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: Irene M Oh what a shame. I thought he was brillant. Only he could have come up with "the dark side of Dunoon"! ........................................................... Sorry if this appears twice. I hit submit and nuffink happened! |
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24 Oct 12 - 03:22 PM (#3425511) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: MoorleyMan How sad. The world has lost (prematurely) another great, yet undersung, songwriter and entertainer, the measure of whom was never fully revealed to me (I was still catching up on his songs!). An odd - in the sense of singular - talent, but an extremely canny one. I only saw him perform live three times, but he really captivated. Condolences to his family. |
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24 Oct 12 - 05:53 PM (#3425567) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: Tattie Bogle Saw him many times over the years, and never failed to enjoy his performances, which were unique. sang a few of his songs too, Niel Gow's Apprentice, and his own proposal for a Scottish National anthem, Hermless. RIP. |
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24 Oct 12 - 06:30 PM (#3425576) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: GUEST Lying in bed, looking out at Tay Bridge and lights of Dundee beyond, and thinking what an immense loss Michael's death is. I am grateful that I saw him several times, in venues of every size and type. It's sad that he never really gained the recognition he deserved. |
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25 Oct 12 - 05:01 AM (#3425749) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: GUEST,achmelvich very sad news - an original talent and a warm and witty man. 'posted sober' is a great album but it was always best to see him play live... |
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25 Oct 12 - 09:26 AM (#3425820) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Coope Boyes & Simpson singing Michael Marra's 'Silence' |
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26 Oct 12 - 05:10 PM (#3426556) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: GUEST Guest A sad,sad loss to the folk music scene. My favourite of MIchael's songs is always Green Grow the Rashes. Just love his rendition of it. Sincerest sympathies to all his family and friends at this very sad time. |
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26 Oct 12 - 08:08 PM (#3426621) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: GUEST,Tam, in downtown Burnbank Saw Michael 20 or so years ago in a wee venue in Bellshill. Scotland - and masel - wiz taking a battering from an alien government, but that night - I nearly missed it - was exhilarating. What a show. On his oan at the piano, then guitar, song after song.......smashing!!!!! I came away uplifted, inspired and a resolve no tae be beat. AND all through listening to this man talking and singing. So upset when I heard he had gone. Whit a loss. |
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27 Oct 12 - 02:46 PM (#3426964) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: GUEST,Bill Lovely talented man saw him every time he did his once a year Fringe concert in Edinburgh. |
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29 Oct 12 - 03:54 PM (#3427913) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: GUEST,John Foxen I saw him only once at the Cellar Upstairs in London a few years back but he made a lasting impression. I was very pleased to hear Notts Alliance doing a fine version of his Beefheart And Bones at Whitby this year. |
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02 Nov 12 - 06:38 AM (#3429808) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: Vic Smith An obituary to the wonderful MICHAEL MARRA by Derek Schofield on page 42 of today's "The Guardian" and on-line at http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/nov/01/michael-marra?INTCMP=SRCH It includes a photo that really captures the man. Thanks, Michael, for all the superb music and song on the occasions when you came to perform for us in Lewes. |
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02 Nov 12 - 06:49 AM (#3429813) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: GUEST,henryp A full page obituary - plus photo - appears in today's (2 November) Independent too. Michael Marra -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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28 Jan 13 - 08:00 PM (#3472702) Subject: RE: Obit: R.I.P. Michael Marra From: Tattie Bogle Just back from the wonderful tribute concert in memory of Michael Marra held in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall which was packed out. Coordinated and MCed by Rab Noakes with a huge line-up of musicians and singers, including Michael's daughter, son and brother. A real night to remember, and the bus back to Edinburgh full of fans still singing his songs. Proceeds from the concert to Sistema Scotland, to bring music tuition and instruments to children in Dundee as in Raploch in Stirling. |
