Maritime Music History

Joanna Colcord Dies (1960)

Joanna Colcord Dies (1960)

Joanna Carver Colcord (March 18, 1882 – April 8, 1960) was pioneering social worker, and author. Born at sea, she was also notable for publishing texts on the language, . . .  Read More »

Joanna Colcord Dies (8 April 1960)

Joanna Carver Colcord (March 18, 1882 – April 8, 1960) was pioneering social worker, and author. Born at sea, she was also notable for publishing texts on the language, . . .  Read More »

Johnny Collins Dies

Johnny Collins Dies (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 many folk and maritime festivals. He and his friend, Jim Mageean, were cornerstone performers at the Liereliet festival in Workum for decades, their album “Coming of Age” documenting this accomplishment.

He died on 6 July 2009 while on tour in Gdańsk, Poland, aged 71.

Link to full article on Wikipedia.

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 »

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 . . .  Read More »

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 . . .  Read More »

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 . . .  Read More »

Remembering Joanna Colcord

Joanna Carver Colcord (March 18, 1882 – April 8, 1960) was pioneering social worker, and author. Born at sea, she was notable for publishing texts on the language, work . . .  Read More »

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 . . .  Read More »

Remembering Johnny Collins (July 6, 2009)

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 . . .  Read More »

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 . . .  Read More »

Remembering Mikaël Yaouank

Mikaël Yaouank passed away on the 5th June 2020 at the age of 73. He was the founder, with Michel . . .  Read More »

Remembering Sir Richard Runciman Terry

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 »

Remembering Stan Hugill (19 November 1906 – 13 May 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 »

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 . . .  Read More »

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 . . .  Read More »

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 . . .  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 »