Jean Redpath facts for kids

Jean Redpath was a famous Scottish folk singer, teacher, and musician. She was born in 1937 and passed away in 2014. Jean was known for her beautiful voice and for sharing traditional Scottish songs with the world.

Jean's Early Life and Music Journey

Jean Redpath was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Music was a big part of her family life. Her mother knew many old Scots songs and taught them to Jean and her brother. Her father played the hammered dulcimer, which is a musical instrument.

Jean grew up in Leven, Fife, Scotland. Later, she went back to Edinburgh to study old history at the University of Edinburgh. To help pay for her studies, she sang for money and worked part-time. She even worked as a driving instructor and helped at a funeral home!

Discovering Old Songs

At the university, Jean became very interested in the School of Scottish Studies. This place had many old recordings of Scottish music and stories. She learned about 400 songs from these recordings. She also learned about the old stories and traditions that went with them.

In 1961, when she was 24, Jean traveled to the United States. She arrived with only eleven dollars in her pocket! Her first performance was in San Francisco. Later, she met other famous folk musicians like Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Bob Dylan in Greenwich Village, New York.

Becoming a Professional Singer

Jean's warm and powerful voice helped her perform at famous folk clubs. In 1963, she signed a record deal with Elektra Records. Later, in 1975, she joined the Philo record label.

From 1972 to 1976, Jean was a special guest artist at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. She taught about folklore and helped local schools learn about culture.

Recording and Performing

In 1976, Jean started a huge project. She wanted to record all the songs by the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Some of these were old folk songs, some were written by Burns, and many were a mix of both.

The Robert Burns Project

Jean planned to record 22 albums of Robert Burns's songs. Her friend, Serge Hovey, helped her with the music arrangements. Sadly, Serge passed away after they had finished seven albums. Jean felt that no one else could help her finish the project. Even though it wasn't completed, these albums were highly praised around the world.

In 1986, Jean recorded an album called Lady Nairne. This album featured songs written by Scottish women. Jean was very good at bringing old, forgotten songs back to life.

Radio Appearances and Tours

From 1974 to 1987, Jean was a regular guest on a popular radio show called "A Prairie Home Companion". She also appeared on another radio show called "Morning pro musica".

Jean traveled all over the United States and Canada to perform. She also sang in South America, Hong Kong, and Australia. She even performed at the famous Sydney Opera House! Jean often sang at the Edinburgh Folk Festival in Scotland. In 1977, she performed for Queen Elizabeth II at Edinburgh Castle.

Teaching and Awards

Starting in 1979, Jean taught at the University of Stirling in Scotland. She also made trips to teach at Wesleyan University. For ten years, she taught courses on Scottish Song at a summer school in Scotland.

Jean received many honors for her work. In 1987, she was given the MBE award. This is a special award from the British Queen. She also received honorary doctorates from several universities. In 2008, she was added to the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.

A painting of Jean Redpath hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. In 1996, she helped start the Burns International Festival.

Later Years

In 2009, Jean appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, a popular TV show. She sang a song called "Some Kind of Love."

In 2011, she returned to her old university, the University of Edinburgh. She became a special artist-in-residence there. Jean always kept her connection to Scotland and owned a house in Elie.

Jean's Legacy

Jean Redpath passed away from cancer on August 21, 2014, in Tucson, Arizona.

In the town where Jean grew up, Leven, there is a street named after her. It is called Jean Redpath Wynd. This shows how much she was loved and remembered for her contributions to Scottish music.