Stanley Robertson (folk singer)
Encyclopedia
Stanley Robertson was a Scottish
storyteller
and ballad
singer.
He was born in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
in 1940 into a traveller
family which had settled there. His family background was rich in tradition, and from his aunt, folk singer Jeannie Robertson
, he inherited a huge repertoire of north east ballads. He was the keyworker for the Heritage Lottery
funded "Oral and Cultural Traditions of Scottish Travellers" project, from April 2002 until April 2005.
As an acknowledged expert and member of the Traveller community, Robertson documented his own lore and that of other members of this group, and promoted the cultural traditions of Scottish Travellers among young people, in schools and community groups, including young Travellers. Stanley's storytelling, however, was affected by the different trades at which he has worked, including his long years spent filleting in the Aberdeen
fish houses, where he gathered many contemporary stories.
In June 2006, he represented Aberdeen University and Scotland at the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington D.C.
He published three successful plays and seven books, some written in his local Scots
dialect. He was featured in more than 100 radio programmes and 50 television appearances and made numerous personal appearances on stage and in theatres, schools and colleges.
On 27 November 2008, at age 68, Stanley Robertson, who was an Honorary Research Associate at the Aberdeen University's Elphinstone Institute, which studies human traditions, was conferred an honorary degree of Master of the University (MUniv), in recognition for the work he had done.
He was a frequent broadcaster and appeared regularly at storytelling festivals. He was an Honorary Founder of the Scottish Storytelling Forum. Stanley died at home in Aberdeen on Sunday, 2 August 2009.
A musical about Robertson's life by Kyle Jarrow
and Bright Lights, Big City
composer Paul Scott Goodman tentatively titled Reek Roon is currently under development, reportedly commissioned by Fela!
producer Steve Hendel.
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...
storyteller
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
and ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
singer.
He was born in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
in 1940 into a traveller
Scottish Travellers
Scottish Travellers, or the people termed loosely Gypsies and Tinkers in Scotland, consist of a number of diverse, unrelated communities, with groups speaking a variety of different languages and holding to distinct customs, histories, and traditions...
family which had settled there. His family background was rich in tradition, and from his aunt, folk singer Jeannie Robertson
Jeannie Robertson
Jeannie Robertson was a Scottish folk singer.-Hamish Henderson and Alan Lomax:It is not known where Jeannie Robertson was born but she did live at 90, Hilton Street in Aberdeen, where a plaque now commemorates her. Like many of the Scottish Travellers from Aberdeen, Glasgow and Ayrshire, she went...
, he inherited a huge repertoire of north east ballads. He was the keyworker for the Heritage Lottery
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
funded "Oral and Cultural Traditions of Scottish Travellers" project, from April 2002 until April 2005.
As an acknowledged expert and member of the Traveller community, Robertson documented his own lore and that of other members of this group, and promoted the cultural traditions of Scottish Travellers among young people, in schools and community groups, including young Travellers. Stanley's storytelling, however, was affected by the different trades at which he has worked, including his long years spent filleting in the Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
fish houses, where he gathered many contemporary stories.
In June 2006, he represented Aberdeen University and Scotland at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in Washington D.C.
He published three successful plays and seven books, some written in his local Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
dialect. He was featured in more than 100 radio programmes and 50 television appearances and made numerous personal appearances on stage and in theatres, schools and colleges.
On 27 November 2008, at age 68, Stanley Robertson, who was an Honorary Research Associate at the Aberdeen University's Elphinstone Institute, which studies human traditions, was conferred an honorary degree of Master of the University (MUniv), in recognition for the work he had done.
He was a frequent broadcaster and appeared regularly at storytelling festivals. He was an Honorary Founder of the Scottish Storytelling Forum. Stanley died at home in Aberdeen on Sunday, 2 August 2009.
A musical about Robertson's life by Kyle Jarrow
Kyle Jarrow
Kyle Jarrow is a New York City-based writer and rock musician. His plays include A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, Gorilla Man, Whisper House , Hypochondria, Trigger, Hostage Song and Love Kills...
and Bright Lights, Big City
Bright Lights, Big City (musical)
Bright Lights, Big City is a musical with music lyrics and book written by Paul Scott Goodman and is based on the novel by Jay McInerney. It follows a week in the life of Jamie, an aspiring writer in his mid 20s who loses himself in the chaos of 1980s New York City.-Plot:Jamie, a...
composer Paul Scott Goodman tentatively titled Reek Roon is currently under development, reportedly commissioned by Fela!
Fela!
Fela! is a musical with a book by Bill T. Jones and Jim Lewis, based on music and lyrics by the late Nigerian singer Fela Kuti, with additional music by Aaron Johnson and Jordan Mclean and additional lyrics by Jim Lewis. It is based on events in the life of groundbreaking Nigerian composer and...
producer Steve Hendel.