Michael Marra

Michael Marra (17 February 1952 – 23 October 2012) was a singer-songwriter and musician from Dundee, Scotland. Known as the Bard of Dundee, Marra was a solo performer who toured the UK and performed in arts centres, theatres, folk clubs and village halls. While mainly known as a songwriter, he also worked extensively in theatre, radio and television. His songwriting was rooted in Scottish life and he found an audience within and beyond the folk music scene, which led to him work as a support musician for such performers as Van Morrison, The Proclaimers, Barbara Dickson and Deacon Blue.^[1] His song "Hermless" was jokingly suggested as a potential Scottish national anthem.^[2]

Origins

Marra was brought up in the Lochee district of Dundee, the son of a printer and a schoolteacher. His first public performance, in the 1950s, was at a Christmas party given by NCR, formerly a large factory and major employer in the city.

Musical career

He attended Lawside Academy,^[3] leaving school at 15 and trying a variety of trades – electrician, baker and builder – before heading for the folk clubs of London. There he played in the band Hen's Teeth with fellow Scottish songwriter Dougie MacLean, before forming the band Skeets Boliver with his brother Chris. Marra played with Skeets Boliver in the mid-1970s, alongside drummer Brian McDermott, saxman Peter McGlone, Gus Foy, Stewart Ivins, and Chris Marra. Signed to Thunderbird Records just at an inopportune time, when punk was gaining popularity, the band released two singles, "Streethouse Door" and "Moonlight in Jeopardy", to critical success. They also featured in an edition of the BBC Everyman religious programme, "I Can't See the Light."

In September 2007 Marra released the CD Quintet, featuring five songs about five musicians – Peerie Willie Johnson, Peter McGlone, Thomas Fraser, Martin Carthy and Dr. John. In November 2007, he appeared in a new production of The Demon Barber at Perth Theatre in Scotland where he performed all his music live on stage. Marra also created the opera Nan Garland, which was performed at Dundee Rep in 2004.^[4] Three years later, in September 2010, the album Michael Marra, recorded live on tour in 2010 with Mr McFall's Chamber, was released on Delphian Records.^[5]

Marra performed original songs with the Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Scottish National Orchestra, Concerto Caledonia, Mr McFall's Chamber, and his own Quintet. He sang duets with Patti Smith, Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson and Karine Polwart.

His songs have been covered by a wide range of artistes, including Sylvia Rae Tracey, Coope Boyes and Simpson and Rab Noakes. Marra's live CD, Recorded Live on Tour with Mr McFall's Chamber was released on Delphian Records in 2007. In 2012 he released Houseroom, a six-track collaboration CD with The Hazey Janes, on Tob Records.

An exhibition of his unique portraiture prints was shown at Dundee's Bank Street Gallery.^[6]

Musical theatre

Marra wrote original music and worked both as an actor and musical director in theatre. He wrote and performed in the show In Flagrant Delicht which was written in collaboration with Scottish Poet Laureate and playwright Liz Lochhead. The show was performed in Washington DC and Melbourne, Australia.

Marra's operetta If The Moon Can Be Believed was performed at the Dundee Rep to sell out audiences. He collaborated with Graham McLaren of Theatre Babel on a new production of The Demon Barber for Perth Theatre having previously worked with him on Liz Lochead's Beauty and The Beast.

His play St Catherines Day played to full houses at the Oran Mor Glasgow and the Dundee Repertory Theatre. He also collaborated with award winning choreographer Frank McConnell and his dance company Plan B on "Love and Pocket Money", parallel|parallels and A Wee Home From Home.

Songwriting

In April 2006, having his fingerprints routinely taken by Customs in Washington D.C. – where he was performing as part of Tartan Week – Marra was inspired to write a protest song about Scottish police detective Shirley McKie, who had been wrongly accused of leaving her thumbprint at a murder scene in 1997. When she denied the print was hers, she was arrested and charged with perjury but acquitted in 1999. In February 2006, McKie received an out-of-court settlement of £750,000 from the Scottish Executive, which first minister Jack McConnell described as a result of an honest mistake. In the song, Marra wrote:

"We lecture children if they're telling lies

They will not prosper and they will not thrive...

And even the First Minister must sometimes stand naked."^[7]

Personal life

Marra was married to Peggy, and their children, Alice and Matthew, are also musicians and members of the Dundee-based group, The Hazey Janes. Labour MSP Jenny Marra is his niece.^[8]

Death

Michael Marra died on 23 October 2012, aged 60, of throat cancer.^[2][9]

Awards

In 2007 Michael was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Dundee University in recognition of his contribution to the cultural profile of his home town, and in 2011 he was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Glasgow Caledonian University. He also won the Herald Angel Award in 2010 for his performance at The Acoustic Music Centre during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

References

External links

• Michael Marra official website
• Memories of Michael Marra, The Courier
• Report of death, The Courier
• Report of death, STV