Ivor Cutler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ivor Cutler
Background information
Birth name	Isadore Cutler
Born	(1923-01-15)15 January 1923 Govan, Glasgow, Scotland
Died	3 March 2006(2006-03-03) (aged 83) London, England
Genres	Poetry, trad jazz, comedy, spoken word
Occupation(s)	Poet, singer, musician, songwriter, humorist
Instruments	Harmonium, piano
Years active	1959–2006
Labels	Decca, Virgin, Harvest, Rough Trade, Creation

Ivor Cutler (born Isadore Cutler, 15 January 1923 – 3 March 2006) was a Scottish poet, singer, musician, songwriter, artist, and humorist. He was known for his unique style and often played the harmonium or piano.

Ivor became famous through his many performances on BBC radio. He was a regular guest on John Peel's popular late-night radio show. Later, he also appeared on Andy Kershaw's programme.

In 1967, he was in the Beatles' film Magical Mystery Tour. He also appeared on Neil Innes' TV shows. Cutler wrote books for both children and adults. He was also a teacher at A. S. Neill's Summerhill School. For 30 years, he taught in schools in London.

When Ivor performed live, he often played his harmonium. Phyllis King joined him on some records and at concerts. She would read short phrases or stories. They even had their own BBC radio show called King Cutler. Ivor also worked with other musicians like Neil Ardley, Robert Wyatt, Fred Frith, David Toop, and Steve Beresford.

Early Life of Ivor Cutler

Ivor Cutler was born on 15 January 1923 in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. His family was Jewish and came from Eastern Europe. His father, Jack Moris Cutler, owned a shop selling fabric and jewelry.

Ivor felt that his childhood shaped his artistic side. He remembered feeling a bit out of place when his younger brother was born. He said this feeling made him more creative. He went to school at Shawlands Academy.

In 1939, Ivor was sent away from the city for safety during the war. He went to Annan. In 1942, he joined the Royal Air Force as a navigator. But he soon stopped flying because he was "dreamy." He then worked as a storeman.

Later, he moved to London. There, he taught music, dance, drama, and poetry to children aged 7 to 11. Ivor strongly believed in kindness. He disliked corporal punishment (physical discipline). When he left a teaching job in the 1950s, he cut up his tawse (a leather strap used for punishment) and gave the pieces to his class. This showed he was against hitting children.

Ivor Cutler's Music Career

Cutler at his flat in Gospel Oak, North London, in 1973

Ivor Cutler started writing songs and poems in the late 1950s. He first appeared on BBC radio's Monday Night at Home show. He was on this program 38 times between 1959 and 1963.

He became popular by playing songs while accompanying himself on a piano or his harmonium. This led to his first record, an EP called Ivor Cutler of Y'Hup, released in 1959.

In 1964, Cutler appeared in the pop musical film It's All Over Town. He continued to be on BBC shows in the 1960s. After being on the TV show Late Night Line-Up, Paul McCartney noticed him. McCartney invited Cutler to be in The Beatles' film Magical Mystery Tour. In the film, Cutler played Buster Bloodvessel, a courier who likes Ringo Starr's Aunt Jessie.

After the film, Cutler recorded an LP called Ludo in 1967. The Beatles' producer, George Martin, produced it. The album featured Cutler with bassist Gill Lyons and drummer Trevor Tomkins. On this album, Cutler played the piano more, along with his usual harmonium. It is seen as his most traditional music album.

After Ludo, Cutler kept performing for BBC radio. He recorded his first session for John Peel in 1969. Cutler's work on Peel's shows introduced him to many new fans. In the early 1990s, Cutler said that thanks to Peel, he gained a whole new audience. His older fans were surprised to see 16-to-35-year-olds at his shows.

In the 1970s, Neil Ardley had Cutler sing on his album A Symphony of Amaranths (1971). Robert Wyatt, a former drummer for Soft Machine, asked Cutler to play harmonium and sing on two songs for his album Rock Bottom (1974).

Working with Wyatt led Cutler to sign with Wyatt's record label, Virgin Records. Cutler recorded three albums for Virgin in the mid-1970s: Dandruff (1974), Velvet Donkey (1975), and Jammy Smears (1976). On these albums, Cutler's poems and songs are mixed with readings by his performing partner, Phyllis King. Wyatt later covered Cutler's song "Go and Sit upon the Grass."

During this time, Cutler used his sessions for John Peel to share episodes of his Life in a Scotch Sitting Room series. This led to the 1978 album Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 2. This album is very personal, with Cutler telling stories from his childhood. He also released this work as a book in 1984, with drawings by Martin Honeysett.

In 1980, Cutler contributed the song "Brooch Boat" to the album Miniatures. This album had 51 one-minute songs by different artists. In the 1980s, Rough Trade Records released three more of his albums: Privilege (1983), Prince Ivor (1986), and Gruts (1986). He also released the single "Women of the World" with Linda Hirst in 1983. In the 1990s, Creation Records released two new collections of his poems and spoken word: A Wet Handle (1997) and A Flat Man (1998).

Books and Poetry by Ivor Cutler

Ivor Cutler wrote many poems and books for both children and adults. Sometimes, his public performances, albums, and books shared the same name. A very popular example was Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Volume 2. This combined his book with his album.

Discography

Sources:

Compilations

• 1980 Brooch Boat Ivor's contribution to Morgan Fisher's Miniatures LP. A compilation of 51 one minute masterpieces by 51 different artists (Cherry Red)
• 2005 An Elpee and Two Epees (the Decca recordings)
• 2012 Essential Masters 1959-1961 (Comedy Classics, the Decca recordings in a different order)
• 2017 Gruts For Tea Again (Coda)

Video

• 2005 Looking for Truth with a Pin, and Cutler's Last Stand documentary and live performance (Claptrap)

DVD Video

• Looking for Truth with a Pin (BBC Four documentary, 2005) (IMDB entry)
• "I'm going in a field" - musical performance/outtake on the Magical Mystery Tour Blu-ray. (2012)

See also

In Spanish: Ivor Cutler para niños