Brian Dawson (folk singer) facts for kids

Brian Dawson (born 16 August 1939 – died 22 November 2013) was a British folk musician, singer, and a special kind of detective for old songs. He loved finding and keeping traditional folk songs alive.

Brian was part of many music groups and clubs. He was a member of The Meggies, who started The Grimsby Folk Club in the 1960s. He also played with The Redwings, The Higgeldy Piggeldy Band, and The Broadside. With The Broadside, he even recorded several music albums! Brian was also involved in folk dancing with The Grimsby Morris Men and The Plowgild Folk Dance Group. He knew a lot about the local language, called the Lincolnshire dialect, and the folk songs collected by an Australian composer named Percy Grainger. Brian was good friends with Ethel Rudkin, a person who studied folklore. She helped inspire his interest in collecting folk songs. He also helped organize the Cleethorpes Folk Festival, a big event for folk music lovers.

Brian Dawson's Life and Music

Brian Dawson spent his life celebrating and sharing British folk music. He was known for his deep knowledge of songs from the Lincolnshire area. He helped make sure these old songs were not forgotten.

What is a Folk Song Collector?

A folk song collector is like a historian for music. They travel around, often talking to older people, to find and write down traditional songs. These songs might tell stories about history, daily life, or special events. Brian Dawson was very good at this, especially for songs from his home county of Lincolnshire.

Brian's Musical Groups and Albums

Brian was a very active musician. He played in many different groups, each with its own style.

• The Meggies: This group helped start a folk music club in Grimsby.
• The Broadside: Brian recorded several albums with this group. These albums helped share traditional folk songs with more people.

Songs Brian Dawson Collected

Brian Dawson was passionate about finding and preserving old folk songs. While many of the songs he collected are not yet widely known, some are listed in the Roud Folk Song Index. This index is a huge list of traditional folk songs from around the world.

Songs Brian Found

Brian helped find and record these songs:

• The Barley Mow
• We're All Jolly Fellows
• Farmer Giles
• Johnny Poker

Songs Brian Performed

Brian also performed many traditional songs himself. One song he was known for performing was:

• The Derby Ram

Brian Dawson's Albums

Brian Dawson recorded several albums, mostly with his group The Broadside. These albums helped share traditional folk music with a wider audience.

• Songs from the Stocks, The Broadside (1970)
• A Collection of Catchpennies, The Broadside (1970)
• Eastern Approaches, The Residents of the Grimsby Folk Song Club (1973) – The Broadside played on three songs.
• The Moon Shone Bright, The Broadside (1973)
• To Drive The Dark Away, The Broadside (1975)
• Me 'Umble Lot, Keith Kendrick (1992) – Brian was featured on this album.

Later Life and Passing

Brian Dawson continued to perform and share his love for folk music throughout his life. He was performing at Howsham Village Hall on 9 November 2013 when he became unwell. He passed away on 22 November 2013, at the age of 74, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.