Matt McGinn
Encyclopedia
Matt McGinn was a Scottish
folk singer-songwriter and poet.
Matthew McGinn was born in Ross Street at the corner of the Gallowgate in Calton
, Glasgow
in 1928, one of a family of nine. At the age of 12 he was sent to an approved school for two years. On his release he worked in the Hillington
factory of GKN
, spending his spare time at evening classes and reading. He gained a Trade Union scholarship to study economics and political science at Ruskin College in Oxford
when he was 31. After graduating, he trained to become a teacher at Huddersfield
Teachers' Training College and went on to work as a teacher in Lanarkshire
for three years before becoming the organiser of the Gorbals
Adventure Playground.
McGinn joined the folk scene after winning a song contest with a song entitled "The Foreman O'Rourke". He met Pete Seeger
in 1961 when Seeger was touring the British Isles. Seeger championed McGinn's music in the United States and arranged for McGinn to be part of a concert performance at Carnegie Hall
, where McGinn met a young Bob Dylan
. His career in music began during the folk revival of the 1960s but whilst others leaned towards traditional song, McGinn carved his own niche as a humourist and playwright as well as a singer/songwriter. He was a prolific songwriter, drawing on his experiences of Glasgow life for much of his material. He passionately believed in the overthrow of capitalism and supported many union disputes and always sided with the oppressed and down-trodden. His performances in clubs and concert halls were hugely popular. One song, "Coorie Doon," a lullaby
for a miner's child, was frequently performed by The Corries
.
McGinn also wrote songs for children, one of which, "Little Ticks Of Time," was frequently used in the BBC
children's programme Play School and its offshoots such as Hokey Cokey.
There is a wealth of information about McGinn, as well as the words and music of some of his songs in the book McGinn of the Calton, collated by Janette McGinn, and published by Glasgow District Libraries in 1987 (ISBN 0 906169 15 1).
McGinn's songs are still performed by folk musicians in Scotland and America at tribute concerts. A cover version of his song "Troubled Waters" appears on Rachel Unthank and the Winterset
's first album Cruel Sister
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
folk singer-songwriter and poet.
Matthew McGinn was born in Ross Street at the corner of the Gallowgate in Calton
Calton, Glasgow
Calton is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. The name Calton is derived from the Gaelic "coillduin", which means "wood on the hill". It is situated north of the River Clyde, and just to the east of the city centre...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in 1928, one of a family of nine. At the age of 12 he was sent to an approved school for two years. On his release he worked in the Hillington
Hillington, Glasgow
Hillington is a residential suburb and an industrial estate on the southwestern edge of the Scottish city of Glasgow. Whilst the residential area is wholly within Glasgow, the greater part of the industrial estate falls under the jurisdiction of neighbouring Renfrew, although for business...
factory of GKN
GKN
GKN plc is a multinational automotive and aerospace components company headquartered in Redditch, United Kingdom. The company was formerly known as Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds and can trace its origins back to 1759 and the birth of the Industrial Revolution.GKN is listed on the London Stock...
, spending his spare time at evening classes and reading. He gained a Trade Union scholarship to study economics and political science at Ruskin College in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
when he was 31. After graduating, he trained to become a teacher at Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
Teachers' Training College and went on to work as a teacher in Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
for three years before becoming the organiser of the Gorbals
Gorbals
The Gorbals is an area on the south bank of the River Clyde in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. By the late 19th century, it had become over-populated and adversely affected by local industrialisation. Many people lived here because their jobs provided this home and they could not afford their own...
Adventure Playground.
McGinn joined the folk scene after winning a song contest with a song entitled "The Foreman O'Rourke". He met Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
in 1961 when Seeger was touring the British Isles. Seeger championed McGinn's music in the United States and arranged for McGinn to be part of a concert performance at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, where McGinn met a young Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
. His career in music began during the folk revival of the 1960s but whilst others leaned towards traditional song, McGinn carved his own niche as a humourist and playwright as well as a singer/songwriter. He was a prolific songwriter, drawing on his experiences of Glasgow life for much of his material. He passionately believed in the overthrow of capitalism and supported many union disputes and always sided with the oppressed and down-trodden. His performances in clubs and concert halls were hugely popular. One song, "Coorie Doon," a lullaby
Lullaby
A lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....
for a miner's child, was frequently performed by The Corries
The Corries
The Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. Although the group was a trio in the early days, it was as the partnership of Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne that it is best known.-Early years:...
.
McGinn also wrote songs for children, one of which, "Little Ticks Of Time," was frequently used in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
children's programme Play School and its offshoots such as Hokey Cokey.
There is a wealth of information about McGinn, as well as the words and music of some of his songs in the book McGinn of the Calton, collated by Janette McGinn, and published by Glasgow District Libraries in 1987 (ISBN 0 906169 15 1).
McGinn's songs are still performed by folk musicians in Scotland and America at tribute concerts. A cover version of his song "Troubled Waters" appears on Rachel Unthank and the Winterset
Rachel Unthank and the Winterset
The Unthanks are an English folk group from Northumberland, known for their eclectic approach in combining traditional English folk with other musical genres.-Rachel Unthank and the Winterset:...
's first album Cruel Sister
Cruel Sister (Rachel Unthank and the Winterset album)
Cruel Sister, the first album by English folk group Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, was launched on 11 May 2005 at Holmfirth Folk Festival....
.
Currently available CDs
- Revival In Britain Volume 1 (first side only, other side various artists - compiled by Ewan MacCollEwan MacCollEwan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
in 1962) (download only) - The Best Of Matt McGinn (comprising around 50% of Matt's 1966-69 output on Transatlantic RecordsTransatlantic RecordsTransatlantic Records was a British independent record label. It was established in 1961. It started began primarily as an importer of American folk, blues and jazz records - by many of the artists who influenced the burgeoning British folk and blues boom. Within a couple of years, the company had...
) - The Best Of Matt McGinn Volume Two (comprising Matt's albums Take Me Back To The Jungle (1971) and Tinny Can On My Tail (1972)).
- The Return Of The Two Heided Man (comprising most of the live albums The Two Heided Man (1973) and The Two Heided Man Strikes Again (1974))