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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZTAWNEY, Cyril(b 12 October 1930, Gosport, Hampshire; d 21 April 2005) English singer and songwriter, one of the first folk revivalists to write his own material, with a West Country bias owing little to American influences; he also explored the traditional music of Devon and Cornwall. From a Royal Navy family, he joined at 16, and before leaving the Navy in 1959, he was said to have been the first serving naval officer with his own television show. He worked as part of the Centre 42 team '61, conceived to bring art and entertainment to the masses; others included Anne Briggs, Bob Davenport, Ray Fisher and Louis Killen under the leadership of A.L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl. Tawney's early recordings appeared on HMV and DTS. He appeared on the anthology Folksound Of Britain (HMV) '65 singing 'The Three Huntsmen' and 'Young Rambleaway'; on A Cold Wind Blows on Elektra '66, an anthology of 'songs in traditional styles composed and sung by Cyril Tawney, Matt McGinn, Johnny Handle and Alasdair Clayre', contributing 'Five Foot Flirt', 'Monday Morning', 'Sammy's Bar' and 'The Oggie Man'. Songs By Cyril Tawney published by Folk Directions '66 brought together 19 songs. The Outlandish Knight on Polydor '66 was followed on Argo by Children's Songs From Devon And Cornwall '69, A Mayflower Garland '69, Tawney In Port '72, 'Twas On One April Morning '73 and I Will Give My Love '73; of songs such as 'Grey Funnel Line', 'Chicken On A Raft', 'Sammy's Bar' and 'Monday Morning' several became folk club staples. Down Among The Barley Straw on Trailer '76 was a collection of songs of seduction collected by the Rev. Sabine Baring Gold recorded in the West Country. Tawney guested on Peter Bellamy's folk opera The Transports '77; wrote Grey Funnel Lines (Routledge and Kegan Paul) '87, a book about traditional songs current this century in the Royal Navy; re-recorded a selection of his songs for Sally Free And Easy on Neptune Tapes '90, accompanying himself on guitar, a good introduction to his work. Sailor's Delight '91 also on Neptune was subtitled 'Songs Of Seafarers And The Fairer Sex'; Man Of Honour '97 collected more. 'Grey Funnel Line' was covered by Mary Black, Emmylou Harris and Dolores Keane on the Irish anthology Bringing It All Back Home '91, and by the Silly Sisters in John Duigan's film Sirens '94. Navy Cuts: The Songs Of Cyril Tawney (2002) and Nautical Tawney: Songs of the Old Seafarers (2003) are CDs on the Ada label, available at www.cyriltawney.co.uk. His last public performance was at the Lancaster Maritime Festival in 2004. |