- Michael Marra
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Michael Marra (born 1952) is a Scottish musician from Dundee.
Jenny Marra, the Labour MSP, is his niece.
Contents
History
Michael Marra was brought up in the Lochee district of Dundee. His first public performance was at an NCR (formerly a large factory and major employer in Dundee) Christmas party in the 1950s. Although predominantly known as a songwriter, Marra has worked extensively in theatre, radio and television. To most he is a solo performer touring the length and breadth of Britain, performing in arts centres, theatres, folk clubs and village halls. He has opened for such diverse performers as Van Morrison, The Proclaimers, Loudon Wainwright III, Barbara Dickson and Deacon Blue.[1]
Michael played in the band Skeets Boliver in the mid '70's alongside his brother Chris, drummer Donny and saxman Pete McGlone. Signed to Warners at just the wrong time when punk was breaking out, they released two singles, "Streethouse Door" and "Moonlight In Jeopardy" to critical success. They also featured on a BBC documentary with a religious slant, entitled "I have seen the light."
Michael also had a guiding hand in the career of St. Andrew and the Woolen Mill.
Recent years
In April 2006, having his fingerprints routinely taken by Customs in Washington D.C. – where he was performing as part of the Tartan Week – Marra was inspired to write a protest song about Shirley McKie. Former police officer Ms McKie had been wrongly accused of leaving her thumbprint at a murder scene in 1997. When she denied the print was hers, she was arrested and charged with perjury but was acquitted in 1999. In February 2006, Ms McKie received an out-of-court settlement of £750,000 from the Scottish Executive which first minister Jack McConnell described as a result of an honest mistake. In the song, Marra writes:
- "We lecture children if they're telling lies/They will not prosper and they will not thrive.../And even the First Minister must sometimes stand naked." [2]
In September 2007, he released a CD titled Quintet featuring five songs about five musicians - Peerie Willie Johnson, Peter McGlone, Thomas Fraser, Martin Carthy and Dr. John.
In November 2007, Marra appeared in a new production of The Demon Barber at Perth Theatre in Scotland where he performed all his music live on stage. Marra also created the opera Nan Garland, which was performed at Dundee Rep in 2004.[3]
Marra's children, Alice Marra and Matthew Marra, are also musicians and songwriters. They are members of the Dundee based group, The Hazey Janes.
Michael Marra has a new CD due for release in August 2010 on Delphian Records.[dated info] Recorded on Tour In 2010 has Michael Marra backed by Mr McFall's Chamber.
Influences
Marra derives his musical influences from the rock and roll canon that includes Tom Waits, Randy Newman and Bob Dylan, however the subject matter remains eccentrically Scottish with a focus on Dundee.
Marra, a big football fan, wrote a song about his favourite footballer, ex-Dundee United goalkeeper, Hamish McAlpine called Hamish the Goalie. The song has been covered by Leo Sayer, which makes it quite an unusual Dundee United related musical event. Another song tells the story of an occasion when a fox ran onto the pitch at Parkhead during a Celtic versus Aberdeen game.
References
External links
Categories:- 1952 births
- Scottish pop musicians
- People from Dundee
- Living people
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