Josh MacRae (17 July 1933 – 1977) was a Scottish

folk singer Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

. His actual name was Iain Macrae, but he called himself Josh after the blues musician

Josh White Joshua Daniel White (February 11, 1914 – September 5, 1969) was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and civil rights activist. He also recorded under the names Pinewood Tom and Tippy Barton in the 1930s. White grew up in the Sou ...

. He completed his

National Service National service is a system of compulsory or voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act ...

in the

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

and during that time recorded "The Talking Army Blues". Whilst in the army he met

Tony Hatch Anthony Peter Hatch (born 30 June 1939) is an English composer for musical theatre and television. He is also a songwriter, pianist, arranger and producer. Early life and early career Hatch was born in Pinner, Middlesex. Encouraged by his mu ...

who wrote "Messing About on the River" (under the pseudonym Mark Anthony), which MacRae later recorded. He was signed to

Pye Records PYE or Pye Records is an independent British record label. It was first established in 1955 and played a major role in shaping rock 'n' roll and pop music history. The Pye name was dropped in 1980 due to trademark issues, after which it produced ...

in 1960, and three of his singles reached a peak of no. 15 on the ''

Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper published between 1954 and 1991, aimed at pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after ''New Musical Express'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK Album ...

'' chart; "Talking Army Blues" in July 1960, "Wild Side of Life" in December 1960 and "Messing About on the River" in February 1961. MacRae committed suicide in 1977.

Discography

Albums

*''Messing About on the River'', (1965), Pye Golden Guinea GGL 0355

References

External links

Records
at theballadeers.com Scottish folk singers 1933 births 20th-century Scottish male singers Suicides in Scotland 1977 suicides 1977 deaths {{UK-singer-stub