Hamish Imlach

Hamish Imlach (10 February 1940- 1 January 1996) was a folksinger. He was born in Calcutta but claimed to have been conceived in Glasgow, Scotland. Despite being little-known in the US and outside of the folk community, he influenced many other artists, including most notably John Martyn and Billy Connolly. In Central and Northern Europe Imlach enjoyed a strong reputation as a vivid live artist. Particularly in Scandinavia his live performances were much cherished.

He had his biggest hit in the late 1960s with "Cod Liver Oil and the Orange Juice," a scurrilous and hilarious take on the American gospel standard "Virgin Mary Had a Little Baby" written by Ron Clark and Carl MacDougall. The song was banned by the BBC as it was assumed to be full of double meanings, but at one point became the most requested song on British Forces Radio.

He was described by Ewan McVicar, the Scottish storyteller and singer, as "a raconteur who taught Billy Connolly, a singer who taught Christy Moore, a blues guitarist who taught John Martyn".

References

*http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/Muze/2005/07/01/623268
* [http://www.simplyscottish.org.uk mcginn site, with lots of info on scottish folk singer inc. hamish imlach]
* [http://www.theballadeersscotland.com/HI_01.htm Hamish Imlach Biography and Discography]