Alex Campbell (27 April 1931 – 3 January 1987) was a Scottish folk singer. Described by

Colin Harper Colin Harper (born 1968, in Belfast) is an Irish non-fiction author and composer. Background Harper was born in Belfast and graduated in Modern History 1989 from Queen's University, Belfast, later acquiring a postgraduate diploma in Information ...

as a "melancholic, hard-travelling Glaswegian", he was influential in the British folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s and was one of the first folk singers (in modern times) to tour the UK and Europe. His nickname was "Big Daddy", and was known for his charisma, story-telling and singing.

Biography

Campbell was born in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

to a family who originated from the

Hebrides The Hebrides (; gd, Innse Gall, ; non, Suðreyjar, "southern isles") are an archipelago off the west coast of the Scottish mainland. The islands fall into two main groups, based on their proximity to the mainland: the Inner and Outer Hebrid ...

. Both of his parents and his two sisters died from

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

in the same year; Campbell spent some time in an orphanage before being taken in by his grandmother. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

he met American, Polish and Australian servicemen who were based in Glasgow and he developed an interest in the songs they sang. On leaving school, he worked for the Civil Service and had a successful career until an occasion when he lost his temper and had to leave. With the savings from his employment, he enrolled for a course at the

Sorbonne Sorbonne may refer to: * Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities. *the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970) *one of its components or linked institution, ...

, in Paris (apparently on a whim). However, he quickly ran out of money and began busking in the streets to support himself, playing the guitar and singing

Lead Belly Huddie William Ledbetter (; January 20, 1888 – December 6, 1949), better known by the stage name Lead Belly, was an American folk music, folk and blues singer notable for his strong vocals, Virtuoso, virtuosity on the twelve-string guita ...

songs and Scottish folk songs. Some sources claim that he pretended to be a blind blues singer: a white stick enhanced the disguise. He met the American folk musician

Derroll Adams Derroll Adams (November 27, 1925 – February 6, 2000) was an American folk musician. Biography He was born Derroll Lewis Thompson in Portland, Oregon, United States. At 16, he served in the Army, but was discharged when his true age of 16 was ...

who found him a regular engagement, playing in a café, but Campbell also continued busking the streets. He made regular return trips to Britain in the 1950s, appearing at

Alexis Korner Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner (19 April 1928 – 1 January 1984), known professionally as Alexis Korner, was a British blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a founding father of British blues". A major in ...

's Blues and Barrelhouse Club and other skiffle and folk music venues that were opening around the country. Back in Paris, a new generation of folk musicians, such as

Davey Graham David Michael Gordon "Davey" Graham (originally spelled Davy Graham) (26 November 1940 – 15 December 2008) was a British guitarist and one of the most influential figures in the 1960s British folk revival. He inspired many famous practitioners ...

and

Wizz Jones Raymond Ronald Jones (born 25 April 1939), better-known as Wizz Jones, is an English acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Thornton Heath, Surrey, England and has been performing since the late 1950s and sound recording an ...

followed in his footsteps. Campbell became involved in the folk music revival taking place in London and met

Ewan MacColl James Henry Miller (25 January 1915 – 22 October 1989), better known by his stage name Ewan MacColl, was a folk singer-songwriter, folk song collector, labour activist and actor. Born in England to Scottish parents, he is known as one of the ...

, who was an influential figure in the folk movement. However, the two men disagreed on their approaches to folk music, with MacColl taking a very purist view that people should only sing music from their own regional background, whereas Campbell had an eclectic repertoire and sang whatever he liked, whether it was a Scottish Ballad, an English folksong or an American work song. A contemporary article in ''The Observer'' attempted to characterise the folk community into two camps: the "MacCollites" and the "Campbellites". MacColl (then married to Jean Newlove) had fallen in love with

Peggy Seeger Margaret "Peggy" Seeger (born June 17, 1935) is an American Folk music, folk singer. She has lived in Britain for more than 60 years, and was married to the singer and songwriter Ewan MacColl until his death in 1989. First American period Seeg ...

. In 1958, when Peggy Seeger's UK work permit expired, Alex Campbell agreed to a marriage of convenience with her. On 24 January 1959, he married her in Paris. Seeger's USA passport had been withdrawn, and this marriage prevented deportation, and was, according to Seeger "a platonic relationship". Seeger has described the wedding ceremony as "hilarious": at the time she was seven months pregnant with

's baby and the officiating priest lectured Campbell about his forthcoming lifetime commitment to "the poor girl whom he had got into so much trouble". The following day, Seeger returned to London and settled down with MacColl. Campbell himself settled down with his eventual wife, Patsy, and had two sons. By 1961, Campbell was playing folk clubs in London, including Les Cousins, and appeared several times, on and off stage, at

Robin Hall Robin Hall (27 June 1936 – 18 November 1998) was a Scottish folksinger, best known as half of a singing duo with Jimmie Macgregor. Hall was a direct descendant of the famous Scottish folk hero and outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor as well as of th ...

and

Jimmie Macgregor Jimmie Macgregor (born 10 March 1930) is a Scottish folksinger and broadcaster, best known as half of a singing duo with Robin Hall. Biography Jimmie Macgregor was born in Springburn, Glasgow, Scotland, and grew up in a tenement and then a ...

's ''London Folk Song Cellar'' on the BBC. He toured Germany several times, and other parts of Europe. For several years he lived in Denmark, first in Skagen, and later in Tonder. By the early 1980s he was diagnosed with throat cancer, and struggled to speak. He died of tuberculosis in Denmark on 3 January 1987. In 1986,

Rab Noakes Robert Ogilvie Noakes (13 May 1947 – 11 November 2022) was a Scottish singer-songwriter. Noakes was at the forefront of Scottish folk music for over 50 years and recorded over 19 studio albums. He toured folk clubs and often performed at the G ...

wrote the song, "Gently Does It", as a tribute to Campbell, contrasting the powerful presence Campbell had with the realities of his illness, and expressing a wish for him to slow down. The song includes the line "And a few years ago you'd been on this road so long", referencing Campbell's best known song. The singer-songwriter Allan Taylor wrote, "Alex Campbell was the most important and influential folksinger of the folksong revival in Europe, admired, respected and loved by his fellow performers and his audiences. An outrageous, hard drinking, hard travelling, hard living man." In his autobiography, the comedian

Billy Connolly Sir William Connolly (born 24 November 1942) is a Scottish actor, retired comedian, artist, writer, musician, and presenter. He is sometimes known, especially in his homeland, by the Scots nickname the Big Yin ("the Big One"). Known for his ...

wrote of his admiration for Campbell. In addition, Campbell himself would often tell stories about himself that were self-deprecating and humorous. One such story, from Ian MacKintosh concerns Alex and his friend

Hamish Imlach Hamish Imlach (10 February 1940 – 1 January 1996) was a Scottish folk singer. Imlach was born in Calcutta to Scottish parents, although he claimed to have been conceived in Glasgow, Scotland. His commercial success was limited, but he influence ...

. Once he and Hamish Imlach were heading for a gig, and stopped for a drink. In the lounge bar, the barmaid said 'Yes, gentlemen.' Alex said 'Gentlemen? Before you is the cream of Scottish folk music – Alex Campbell and Hamish Imlach. We'll have two pints of your best and twenty Benson & Hedges.' The barmaid went through to the saloon bar for the cigarettes, came back and said 'What was the name again?' Alex said "Alex Campbell.' The barmaid said 'No, no, what cigarettes?'"

Recording career

Campbell is reputed to have recorded over 100 records, but was never commercially successful. Perhaps as a result of his troubadour lifestyle as well as his preference for expressing songs as opposed to being "technically perfect" as a folksinger, Campbell believed in recording quickly, in the style of most early American Bluesmen, and more famously,

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

. However, Alex's love for a wide range of music, coupled with his generosity towards young, unknown talent, invariably resulted in albums which were diverse in nature and rich in instrumentation. Backing musicians include

Martin Carthy Martin Carthy MBE (born 21 May 1941) is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, and later artists such as ...

(Transatlantic recordings) Gerry Loughran – usually spelled "Lockran", Royd Rivers, Dave Laibman and Ian McCann. Campbell's early recordings include quite a large share of American folk songs. Later his repertoire usually included Scots dialect songs, big ballads and erotic songs. He also sang

Woody Guthrie Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism. He has inspired ...

, Bob Dylan, and

Tom Paxton Thomas Richard Paxton (born October 31, 1937) is an American folk singer-songwriter who has had a music career spanning more than fifty years. In 2009, Paxton received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

songs and accompanied himself on guitar. His 1967 album, ''

Alex Campbell and His Friends Alex Campbell and his Friends is an album by Alex Campbell with: Sandy Denny, Johnny Silvo and the Johnny Silvo Folk Group featuring Roger Evans and David Moses, Paul McNeill and Cliff Aungier. This March 1967 recording is the first release tha ...

'', contains three songs with

Sandy Denny Alexandra Elene MacLean Denny (6 January 1947 – 21 April 1978) was an English singer who was lead singer of the British folk rock band Fairport Convention. She has been described as "the pre-eminent British folk rock singer". After briefly w ...

taking the lead. They are the earliest available professional recordings by Denny. Alex's reputation for being the "Big Daddy" of folk music stemmed from his generosity to new and young acts. However, he would rather give new acts their own spot rather than appear with them together. In 1976, Campbell made an album of Scots songs with Alan Roberts and

Dougie MacLean Dougie MacLean, OBE (born 27 September 1954) is a Scottish singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. Described by AllMusic as "one of Scotland's premier singer-songwriters", MacLean has performed both under his ow ...

. In the same year, the album entitled ''Big Daddy of Folk Music'' was recorded with the Tannahill Weavers. Two albums featuring

Phil Beer Phil Beer (born 12 May 1953 in Exminster, Devon, England) is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and one half of English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands. Biography Beer first began to play fiddle, guitar, and mandolin whilst ...

and Paul Downes entitled ''No Regrets'' and ''Traditional Ballads of Scotland'' were subsequently released. His album, ''Det er godt at se dig'' (''It's good to see you''), was recorded in Denmark and featured a variety of Danish musicians including Niels Hausgaard. Additionally, the album's title track was written by Allan Taylor. The song became a firm favourite in Denmark and Germany and became synonymous with Alex Campbell. Recorded in 1979, it is at least the fourth album recorded in Denmark with Danish musicians. Almost 15 years earlier, Alex had recorded ''In Copenhagen''" for the Storyville label which was followed by ''At The Tivoli Gardens'' which showcases the works of other writers including

Anne Briggs Anne Patricia Briggs (born 29 September 1944) is an English folk singer. Although she travelled widely in the 1960s and early 1970s, appearing at folk clubs and venues in England and Ireland, she never aspired to commercial success or to achiev ...

, Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, and

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor whose career has spanned six decades. He is one of the most acclaimed songwriters in popular music, both as a solo artist and as half of folk roc ...

. Campbell's legacy to the world of traditional music lies in his art as a performing artist where he would captivate and enthrall with a strong charismatic presence. In addition, his albums contained a production and musicality which was often not present in most traditional albums of the day, and these studio albums stand out as major examples of his ability to arrange and work with groups of skilled musicians. In 1997, Allan Taylor issued the double-album, ''The Alex Campbell Tribute Concert'', which was recorded at the

Skagen Festival Skagen Festival is Denmark's oldest music festival having been held each summer since 1971. The annual event takes place on a number of stages in Skagen in the far north of Jutland over the first weekend of July. History The first festival in 1971 ...

in Denmark on 2 July 1995. One can still purchase a few re-released albums by Campbell. Although the sample that remains is tiny compared to his output, they are a significant contribution to British traditional music.

Select album discography

*1958: ''Chansons populaires des États-Unis'' *1963: ''The Best Loved Songs of Bonnie Scotland'' *1963: ''Way Out West'' *1963: ''An Alex Campbell Folk Session'' *1964: ''Alex Campbell'' *1965: ''Alex Campbell, Colin Wilkie and Shirley Hart Sing Folk'' *1965: ''Alex Campbell in Copenhagen'' *1966: ''Yours Aye – Alex'' *1967: ''Alex Campbell at the Tivoli Gardens'' *1967: ''

'' *1968: ''Alex Campbell Live'' *1968: ''The Scottish Breakaway'' *1969: ''Alex Campbell Sampler'' *1971: ''This is Alex Campbell, Vol. 1'' *1971: ''This is Alex Campbell, Vol. 2'' *1972: ''Alex Campbell at His Best'' *1972: ''Life is Just That Way'' *1975: ''Goodbye Booze'' *1976: ''Big Daddy of Folk Music'' *1976: ''No Regrets'' *1977: ''Traditional Ballads of Scotland'' *1979: ''Det er godt at se dig'' *1979: ''Live and Studio'' *1979: ''C-R-M (Alex Campbell-Alan Roberts-Dougie MacLean)'' *1981: ''Live in Belgium'' *1987: ''Alex Campbell – With the Greatest Respect'' *2005: ''Been On The Road So Long (The Alex Campbell Anthology)''

References

External links

Alex Campbell at theBalladeers - Scotland
* ttp://www.nigelgatherer.com/perf/singers1/alexc/alxc2.html Alex Campbellbr>BEEN ON THE ROAD SO LONGAlex Campbell folksinger
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cambell, Alex 1931 births 1987 deaths University of Paris alumni Scottish folk singers Scottish folk musicians 20th-century Scottish male singers 20th-century Scottish musicians Transatlantic Records artists British expatriates in France