Jimmie Macgregor

For the Hong Kong official, see Jimmy McGregor.
Jimmie Macgregor
Born 10 March 1930
Glasgow, Scotland

Jimmie Macgregor (born 10 March 1930) is a Scottish folksinger and broadcaster, best known as half of a singing duo with Robin Hall.[1]

Biography

Jimmie Macgregor was born in Springburn, Glasgow, and grew up in a tenement and then a council house, about which he has said: "Our house was a focus for people to gather and make music.... I had aunties and cousins who were chorus girls."[2] After doing his national service, he studied at Glasgow School of Art, graduating in the mid-1950s and becoming a potter and teacher.

Partnership with Hall

In 1960 he formed a musical partnership with Robin Hall that would last 20 years.[3] They appeared extensively on BBC Television – both on the Tonight programme[2] and on the White Heather Club.[4] Both also played as part of The Galliards with Leon Rosselson and Shirley Bland.

Hall and Macgregor recorded over 20 albums during their partnership, which ended in 1981.[3][5] One of their most successful singles was the anthem "Football Crazy", released in 1960 on Decca Records.

Television work

Macgregor went on to make television programmes, many on long-distance walking. These included The West Highland Way, In the footsteps of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Macgregor's Gathering, a long-running show for Radio Scotland. He has been involved in various conservation organisations, among them the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland,[6] and was awarded the MBE in 1994 for services to Scottish heritage and culture.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor MBE", Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tom Shields, "He’s set to celebrate his 80th birthday but Jimmie Macgregor is far from over the hill", The Herald, 8 March 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Craig McQueen, "Folk legend Jimmie Macgregor: I'm still going strong at 80 with no plans to retire", Daily Record, 29 November 2010.
  4. ↑ Guida, Nick. "Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor". Retrieved 2007-09-19.
  5. ↑ "Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor". Retrieved 2007-09-19.
  6. ↑ "APRS". Retrieved 2007-09-19.
  7. ↑ Jimmie Macgregor biography, Shetland Folk Festival.

External links