Waterson at the 2009 Sidmouth Folk Week

Michael Waterson (17 January 1941 – 22 June 2011)[1][2] was an English writer, songwriter and folk singer.

Biography

Waterson was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. After being orphaned at an early age, he was brought up there, with his sisters Norma and Lal, by their maternal grandmother, Eliza Ward, who ran a second-hand shop during the second world war, and who was of Irish Gypsy descent.[3][4] He is best known as a member of The Watersons, with his sisters Lal Waterson and Norma Waterson and originally with their cousin John Harrison and later with his brother-in-law Martin Carthy.[5] In the 1968–1972 interval between the two incarnations of The Watersons, he and his sister Lal recorded the album Bright Phoebus.[6] He and Lal were also part of the original Albion Country Band on the album No Roses with Shirley Collins.

He also released a solo album, simply called Mike Waterson, in 1977. "Tamlyn" from the album is track eight on the first CD of the Topic Records 70 year anniversary boxed set Three Score and Ten.

He was a member of Blue Murder.[7] Mike also appeared in the original recording of Peter Bellamy's The Transports. In 2008, Mike made a guest appearance alongside Norma Waterson on Scottish musician James Yorkston's album When the Haar Rolls In, singing his sister Lal Waterson's song, "Midnight Feast".

He has three daughters, one son, and five grandchildren. His daughter Rachel sang with the Watersons group in the late 80s, and his wife and two daughters sang with others of the family in the concert The Waterson Family: A Mighty River of Song

He died on 22 June 2011, aged 70, at Scarborough, North Yorkshire.[8][6][9]

References

  1. ↑ Gallacher, Alex (22 June 2011). "Folk Radio UK Obituary". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  2. ↑ SOFI (22 June 2011). "Mike Waterson RIP". Properganda online magazine obituary. Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Biographies of the Watersons". mainlynorfolk.info.
  4. ↑ Denselow, Robin (31 October 2010). "Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy – review". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  5. ↑ Harris, Craig. "Biography: The Watersons". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  6. 1 2 Fox, Margarlit (25 June 2011). "Mike Waterson, Member of British Folk Troupe, Dies at 70". New York Times. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  7. ↑ Torreano, Bradley. "Biography: Blue Murder". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  8. ↑ RIP Mike Waterson | Folk Radio UK
  9. ↑ "Mike Waterson: Singer and songwriter with the Watersons, luminaries of the English folk scene - Obituaries - News". The Independent. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
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