Matt McGinn

Matt McGinn (17 January 1928 – 6 January 1977) was a Scottish folk singer-songwriter and poet.^[1]

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^[2] 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.

Currently available CDs

• Revival In Britain Volume 1 (first side only, other side various artists - compiled by Ewan MacColl in 1962) (download only)
• The Best Of Matt McGinn (comprising around 50% of Matt's 1966-69 output on Transatlantic Records)
• 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))

References

1. ^ Simmonds, Jeremy (2008). The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Review Press. p. 103. ISBN 9781556527548. http://books.google.com/books?id=bMBf3TYZigQC&pg=PA103. 
2. ^ "Linlithgow Folk Festival Association". Linlithgowfolk.com. 6 March 2010. http://www.linlithgowfolk.com/matt_mcginn.htm. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 

External links

• Site compiled by McGinn's family with 101 songs.

Persondata
Name	Macginn, Matt
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	17 January 1928
Place of birth
Date of death	6 January 1977
Place of death