Robin Hall (27 June 1936 – 18 November 1998) was a Scottish folksinger, best known as half of a singing duo with Jimmie Macgregor. Hall was a direct descendant of the famous Scottish folk hero and outlaw

Rob Roy MacGregor Robert Roy MacGregor ( gd, Raibeart Ruadh MacGriogair; 7 March 1671 – 28 December 1734) was a Scottish outlaw, who later became a folk hero. Early life Rob Roy was born in the Kingdom of Scotland at Glengyle, at the head of Loch Katrine, a ...

as well as of the explorer Mungo Park.

Biography

Hall was born in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

but spent his childhood years in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated pop ...

and was educated at

Allan Glen's School Allan Glen's School was, for most of its existence, a local authority, selective secondary school for boys in Glasgow, Scotland, charging nominal fees for tuition. It was founded by the Allan Glen's Endowment Scholarship Trust on the death, i ...

. After studying at the

Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland ( gd, Conservatoire Rìoghail na h-Alba), formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama ( gd, Acadamaidh Rìoghail Ciùil is Dràma na h-Alba) is a conservatoire of dance, drama, music, production, and ...

, he briefly became an actor. He formed a musical partnership with Jimmie Macgregor in 1960, and they appeared extensively on BBC Television – on the '' Tonight'' programme,Tom Shields, "He’s set to celebrate his 80th birthday but Jimmie Macgregor is far from over the hill"
''The Herald'', 8 March 2010. on the '' White Heather Club'', and as the hosts of the seminal London Folk Song Cellar. During this period Hall's wearing of a CND badge on television caused some controversy. Both Hall and Macgregor also played as part of the Galliards with

Leon Rosselson Leon Rosselson (born 22 June 1934, Harrow, London, Harrow, Middlesex, England) is an English songwriter and writer of children's books. After his early involvement in the folk music revival in Britain, he came to prominence, singing his own sat ...

and Shirley Bland during the 1960s. Overall, Hall and Macgregor made over 20 albums during their partnership, which ended in 1981.Craig McQueen, "Folk legend Jimmie Macgregor: I'm still going strong at 80 with no plans to retire"
''Daily Record'', 29 November 2010. One of their most successful singles was the anthem "

Football Crazy "Football Crazy" is a song written by James Curran, originally titled as "The Dooley Fitba' Club", in the 1880s. The song is the earliest-known song that references association football, and it later became a minor hit in the 1960s for Scottish fo ...

", released in 1960 on

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American Decca's president. ...

. Hall went on to make radio programmes for

Radio Clyde Radio Clyde is a group of two Independent Local Radio stations serving Glasgow and West Central Scotland. Radio Clyde is owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK, Bauer, based at studios in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire and forms part of Baue ...

Death

His body was found by police on 18 November 1998 at his home in Queen Margaret Drive, Glasgow, where he had lived alone since the end of his second marriage.Karl Dallas, "Obituaries: Robin Hall"
''The Independent'', 23 November 1998."Folk singer Robin Hall found dead in his home"
''Herald Scotland'', 19 November 1998. He appeared to have died some days earlier.

References

External links

''The Independent'', 23 November 1998. {{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, Robin Scottish folk singers 1936 births 1998 deaths Musicians from Edinburgh Alumni of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland People educated at Allan Glen's School 20th-century Scottish male singers