Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

January 25, 1915 in Salford, Manchester, England

Death

:

October 22, 1989 in England

 

Ewan MacColl was a Scottish folk singer, songwriter, and composer who was born on January 25, 1915, in Salford, England. His birth name was James Henry Miller, but he later changed it to Ewan MacColl. His parents were both Scottish, and his father was a socialist activist who instilled in him a love for politics and social justice. MacColl grew up in a working-class family and left school at the age of 14 to work in a factory. However, he was always interested in music and began performing in local clubs and pubs in his spare time. He was heavily influenced by the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland, as well as the political songs of the Spanish Civil War. In the 1940s, MacColl became involved in the British folk revival and began writing and performing his own songs. He was a prolific songwriter and wrote over 300 songs during his career. Many of his songs were inspired by his political beliefs and his experiences as a working-class man. One of MacColl's most famous songs is "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," which he wrote for his future wife, Peggy Seeger. The song became a hit in the 1960s when it was covered by Roberta Flack and won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1973. MacColl was also a composer of classical music and wrote several operas and other works. One of his most famous classical works is "The Ballad of John Axon," which he wrote in collaboration with composer Peggy Seeger. The work is a tribute to a railway driver who died in a train crash in 1957 and is considered a masterpiece of British music. MacColl was also a prolific writer and wrote several books on folk music and politics. He was a committed socialist and believed that music could be a powerful tool for social change. He was a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain and was involved in various political campaigns throughout his life. MacColl died on October 22, 1989, at the age of 74. He left behind a legacy of music and activism that continues to inspire people today. His songs and compositions are still performed and recorded by musicians around the world, and his influence on the British folk revival and the wider music scene cannot be overstated.

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