Maritime Music History

Ken Stephens, RIP

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 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 . . .  Read More »

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 . . .  Read More »

Sir Francis Drake claims California for England

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 . . .  Read More »

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, . . .  Read More »

Sir Richard Runciman Terry Dies (1938)

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, . . .  Read More »

Stan Hugill Dies (1992)

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 . . .  Read More »