Matt McGinn
Matt McGinn (January 17 1928 - January 5 1977) was a Scottish folk singer-songwriter and poet.
Matthew McGinn was born in Ross Street at the corner of the Gallowgate in Calton, Glasgow in 1928, one of a family of nine. At the age of twelve he was sent to an approved school for two years. On his release he worked in the Hillington factory of Guest, Keen & Nettleford, spending his spare time at evening classes and reading. He gained a Trade Union scholarship to study economics and political science at Ruskin College in Oxford when he was thirty-one. After graduating, he trained to become a teacher at Huddersfield Teachers' Training College and went on to work as a teacher in Lanarkshire for three years before becoming the organiser of the Gorbals Adventure Playground.
He found himself joining the folk scene after winning a song contest with a song entitled "The Foreman O'Rourke". He met Pete Seeger in 1961 when he was touring the British Isles. Seeger championed McGinn's music in the United States and arranged for McGinn to be part of a concert performance at the Carnegie Hall, where McGinn met a young Bob Dylan. His career in music began during the folk revival of the 1960s but whilst others leaned towards traditional song, Matt carved his own niche as a humourist and playwright as well as a singer/songwriter. He was a prolific songwriter, drawing on his experiences of Glasgow life for much of his material. He passionately believed in the overthrow of capitalism and supported many union disputes and always sided with the oppressed and down-trodden. His performances in clubs and concert halls were hugely popular, often leaving the audience in tears of laughter. Matt also wrote songs for children; one of which, Little Ticks Of Time, was frequently used in the BBC children's programme Play School and its offshoots such as Hokey Cokey.
There is a wealth of information about Matt, as well as the words and music of some of his songs in the book "McGinn of the Calton", collated by Janette McGinn, and published by Glasgow District Libraries in 1987 (ISBN 0 906169 15 1).
Matt died on January 5 1977 from the effects of smoke inhalation. He had fallen asleep with a lit cigarette in his flat which had consequently caught fire. Although brought up a Roman Catholic he abandoned religion and at his funeral the Communist anthem 'The Internationale' was movingly sung by the large congregation.
Currently available CDs
- The Best Of Matt McGinn
- The Return Of The Two Heided Man
- Revival In Britain Volume 1 (first half only)