Jimmie Macgregor
Jimmie Macgregor is an ex-potter and teacher of Art and it was during his term of study at the Glasgow School of Art that he first became interested in traditional music. At a festival of Folk Music in Vienna he met Robin Hall, and on their return to London they decided to arrange a small repertoire of songs for use in the folk clubs which were then beginning to appear in the London area. That repertoire is now numbered in thousands, and their partnership, after more than ten years is more successful than ever. Jimmie and Robin are undoubtedly Britain's best-known singers of folk-song, and after countless television, radio and concert appearances, their popularity shows no sign of diminishing.
Their work involves them in thousands of miles of travel all over Britain every year, and they have taken their songs to many countries, including Hungary, Germany, France, Russia, Belgium, Israel, New Zealand, Australia and Holland. No wonder, then, that this little book has been put together in trains, planes and dressing rooms. However, Jimmie is very interested in collecting and writing, and as, and when the pressure of his professional life decreases, we may expect to see some further editions of "Singing our Own"
Introduction
In more than ten years as a professional singer of folk-songs, I have, with my partner Robin Hall, answered countless letters from young people all over Britain. So many of these letters contained requests for the words and tunes of our songs, that I was forced to the decision to present this selection from our repertoire. This little book, therefore, is not really my idea — it is yours.
Some of the songs here have survived generations of singers, while others have been created very recently by young people like yourselves; people who are interested in the world around them, and who have enjoyed putting their thoughts to music.
These songs are ours. They are the songs of our people and our country. You asked for them, and I hope that you will enjoy, "Singing our Own".
Jimmie Macgregor