Musician. He was a singer-songwriter, guitar player, best known for being a member of Britain's first family folk music group, The Watersons. In the early 1960s, with sisters Lal, Norma and his brother-in-law Martin Cathy, he formed the group and toured the country performing traditional English songs. After a successful show at the London Troubadour in 1964, they were signed to Topic Records and released the album "Voices" (1965). Dubbed "the folk Beatles", The Watersons performed on the BBC, at folk festivals and were featured on the Derrick Knight documentary "Traveling for a Living" in 1965. They continued touring and released the hit singles "Three Score and Ten", "Dido Bendigo" and "Fathom the Bow", before the group disbanded in 1968. Writing his own songs, he collaborated with his sister Lal on the album "Bright Phoebus" (1972), which included the singles "Rubber Band" and "Danny Rose". The group reunited that same year, released the album "For Pence and Spicy Ale" and appeared at the American bicentennial celebrations in 1976. They followed with the albums "Sound Your Instruments of Joy" (1977), "Green Fields" (1981) and toured until the late 1980s. As a solo artist, his many songs included "A Switch in Time", "A Working Chap", "Swansea Town" and "The Rambling Irish Man". He continued performing at folk festivals and as a session player until his death from cancer at age 70.
Musician. He was a singer-songwriter, guitar player, best known for being a member of Britain's first family folk music group, The Watersons. In the early 1960s, with sisters Lal, Norma and his brother-in-law Martin Cathy, he formed the group and toured the country performing traditional English songs. After a successful show at the London Troubadour in 1964, they were signed to Topic Records and released the album "Voices" (1965). Dubbed "the folk Beatles", The Watersons performed on the BBC, at folk festivals and were featured on the Derrick Knight documentary "Traveling for a Living" in 1965. They continued touring and released the hit singles "Three Score and Ten", "Dido Bendigo" and "Fathom the Bow", before the group disbanded in 1968. Writing his own songs, he collaborated with his sister Lal on the album "Bright Phoebus" (1972), which included the singles "Rubber Band" and "Danny Rose". The group reunited that same year, released the album "For Pence and Spicy Ale" and appeared at the American bicentennial celebrations in 1976. They followed with the albums "Sound Your Instruments of Joy" (1977), "Green Fields" (1981) and toured until the late 1980s. As a solo artist, his many songs included "A Switch in Time", "A Working Chap", "Swansea Town" and "The Rambling Irish Man". He continued performing at folk festivals and as a session player until his death from cancer at age 70.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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