Matt McGinn (Scottish songwriter) facts for kids
Matthew McGinn (born 17 January 1928 – died 5 January 1977) was a Scottish folk singer, songwriter, actor, author, and poet. He was born in Glasgow in 1928. McGinn wrote many songs and was an important person in the British folk music revival during the late 1950s and early 1960s. This was a time when traditional folk music became popular again.
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About Matt McGinn
Matt McGinn was born in Calton, a part of Glasgow, on 17 January 1928. He was the eighth of nine children. His school education stopped when he was 12 years old. He went to a special school for young people who had difficulties or got into trouble.
Even though his formal schooling ended early, Matt became very good at discussing ideas. By his early twenties, he was known for his strong beliefs about fairness and workers' rights. After leaving the special school, he worked in a factory. In his free time, he went to evening classes and read a lot.
When he was 31, he won a scholarship from a trade union. This allowed him to study economics and politics at Ruskin College in Oxford. After graduating, he trained to be a teacher. He taught in Lanarkshire for three years. Later, he became the organizer of the Gorbals Adventure Playground.
His Music Career
Matt McGinn started his music career after winning a song contest. The song was called "The Foreman O'Rourke." In 1961, he met the famous American folk singer Pete Seeger. Seeger was touring the British Isles. Pete Seeger really liked Matt's music. He helped Matt perform at Carnegie Hall in the United States. There, Matt met a young Bob Dylan.
Matt's music career really took off in the 1960s during the folk revival. While many others focused on traditional music, Matt created his own unique style. He was a humorist and a playwright, as well as a singer and songwriter. He wrote a huge number of songs. Many of his songs were about his experiences growing up in Glasgow.
He strongly believed in equal rights for everyone. He was also a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain and supported workers' unions. His performances in clubs and concert halls were very popular.
Matt's first recording was in 1962. He was featured on an album called Revival in Britain, Vol. 1. This collection was put together by Ewan MacColl. He also appeared on Broadside Ballads Vol. 1 in 1963, alongside Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger. In 2000, he was included in The Best of Broadside 1962–1988. This album was nominated for a Grammy award in 2001.
Matt McGinn used his talents as a poet and his humor in his folk songs. He shared his knowledge and experiences of everyday people in Glasgow and West Scotland. He didn't just want to be a singer. He saw his songs as a way to share his beliefs and ideas. Some people describe him as a "people's historian." He used his music, humor, and experiences to tell the story of Scottish people, especially those from Glasgow.
Songs for Children
Matt McGinn also wrote songs for children. One of his songs, "Little Ticks of Time," was often used in the BBC children's TV show Play School. This song was also featured in the 2011 movie Goodbye First Love.
Some of his well-known songs include "Loch Lomond", "The Rolling Hills of the Border", "I Have Seen the Highlands", "The Jeely Piece Song", "The Big Effen Bee", "Skinny Malinky Longlegs", "The Red Yo Yo", "Gallowgate Calypso", "The Ibrox Disaster", and "The Wee Kirkcudbright Centipede".
His Writings and Legacy
Matt McGinn wrote a novel about his time at the special school. It was called Fry the Little Fishes and was first published in 1975.
You can find a lot of information about Matt McGinn in the book McGinn of the Calton. This book was put together by Janette McGinn.
Matt McGinn's songs are still performed today by folk musicians. Many artists have recorded his songs. These include Pete Seeger, The Weavers, Theodore Bikel, The Corries, Luke Kelly, and Rachel Unthank and the Winterset.
In the 2018 movie An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn, actors Craig Robinson and Matt Berry sing Matt McGinn's songs "Little Ticks of Time" and "Why Did I Ever Become a Football Referee?".
His Passing
Matt McGinn passed away on 5 January 1977, at the age of 48. He died from breathing in smoke after accidentally falling asleep with a lit cigarette. A medical check showed there was no alcohol in his system.
In January 2019, a blue plaque was put up for Matt McGinn in the Calton area of Glasgow. This plaque honors important people and places.
Matt McGinn's Music Albums
Here is a list of some of his musical recordings:
- The Iron Muse (A Panorama of Industrial Folk Song) (1963)
- This album featured Matt McGinn as one of the singers and a songwriter.
- Matt McGinn (1966)
- Matt McGinn Again (1967)
- Honesty Is Out of The Fashion (1968)
- Little Ticks of Time (1969)
- The Matt McGinn Sampler (1969)
- Take Me Back to the Jungle (1971)
- Tinny Can on My Tail (1972)
- The Two Heided Man (1972)
- The Two Heided Man Strikes Again (1974)
- Screwtops Are Falling on My Head (1975)
- Ma Wee Auntie Sarah & Granda (1975)
CDs You Can Find Today
- Revival in Britain Volume 1 (This CD features Matt McGinn on one side, and other artists on the other.)
- The Best of Matt McGinn (This CD has many of his songs from 1966–1969.)
- The Best of Matt McGinn Volume Two (This CD includes his albums Take Me Back to the Jungle and Tinny Can on My Tail, plus one song from an EP.)
- The Return of the Two Heided Man (This CD has most of the songs from his live albums The Two Heided Man and The Two Heided Man Strikes Again.)
- On The Road From Aldermaston: Complete Transatlantic Recordings (1966-1969) (Released in 2017, this CD set has all his recordings from 1966 to 1969.)
