Ken Stephens, RIP
We are sad to report that Ken Stephens passed away on Friday, 17 January, 2025.
You can read more about Stephens on his MMDI listing page.
Louisa Jo Killen Dies (9 August 2013)
Louisa Jo Killen (born Louis Killen; 10 January 1934 – 9 August 2013) was an English folk singer from Gateshead, Tyneside, who accompanied themself on the English concertina.
Killen formed one of Britain’s . . .
Louisa Jo Killen Dies 9 August 2013
Louisa Jo Killen (born Louis Killen; 10 January 1934 – 9 August 2013) was an English folk singer from Gateshead, Tyneside, who accompanied himself on the English concertina.
Killen . . .
Remembering Bob Watson
Hello,
Sadly I am writing to let you know that our Dad, Bob Watson, passed away after a short illness on Saturday 31st May.
86 good years and many happy memories, he lived . . .
Remembering Bruce Jesse Macartney Jr.
Remembering Bruce Jesse Macartney Jr. who left us on 5 Sept 2019.
Bruce Jesse Macartney Jr., 70 of Midland, died Thursday morning, September 5, 2019 at the MidMichigan . . .
Remembering Jack Forbes (30 Jan 2016)
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Southend man described as the ‘father’ of the town’s folk music scene who wrote a song known around the world with ‘Rolling Down the . . .
Remembering John Roberts (3 Feb 2025)
A Message From Lisa Preston:
“I am utterly heartbroken to have to share with you that my partner of over forty years, John Roberts, the wonderful traditional folk . . .
Remembering Johnny Collins (July 6, 2009)
Johnny Collins was one of the signature voices on the maritime music scene since his beginnings in London jazz and folk clubs in 1956. He was a sought-after performer at . . .
Remembering Ken Stephens
Ken Stephens was a remarkable maritime-themed songwriter from Southampton, whose works made an indelible mark on many a shanty group’s repertoire. Very sadly, our . . .
Remembering Mikaël Yaouank
Mikaël Yaouank passed away on the 5th June 2020 at the age of 73. He was the founder, with Michel . . .
Remembering Stan Rogers
One of Canada’s finest singer-songwriters, Stan Rogers was known for his rich baritone voice and finely crafted folk songs, often written and performed in a traditional . . .
Remembering Tony Barrand (29 Jan 2022)
Tony Barrand was a British-born American folk singer and academic. He was a Professor of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, where his courses . . .
Sir Francis Drake circumnavigates the globe (26 Sept 1580)
English seaman Francis Drake returns to Plymouth, England, in the Golden Hind, becoming the first British navigator to sail around the earth.
On December 13, 1577, Drake . . .
Sir Francis Drake claims California for England
During his circumnavigation of the world, English seaman Francis Drake anchors in a harbor just north of present-day San Francisco, California, and claims the territory . . .
Sir Richard Runciman Terry Dies (18 April 1938)
In 1921, in an obvious departure from his church music, he edited the Curwen edition of ‘The Shanty Book (Part 1)’. The foreword was written by Sir Walter Runciman, . . .
Sir Richard Runciman Terry Dies (1938)
Richard Terry was born in 1864 in Ellington, Northumberland. At the age of 11 he started playing the organ at the local church. Educated at various schools in South Shields, . . .
Stan Hugill Dies (1992)
Stan Hugill (19 November 1906 – 13 May 1992) was a British folk music performer, artist and sea music historian, known as the “Last Working Shantyman” and . . .