Five things you might not know about 'the man who brought the blues to Britain'
- Text by King Adz
A new BBC Four programme – In Search of Rory McEwen – which premieres this Friday, February 13, is exploring the extraordinary backstory of ‘the man who brought the blues to Britain’.
Jools Holland narrates the tale of his father-in-law Rory McEwen – aristocrat, artist, folk singer and pioneering TV presenter – and it features rare archive footage, McEwen’s beautiful paintings and contributions from an eclectic cast including Van Morrison, David Dimbleby and Jonathan Miller.
In homage to the unsung hero, writer King Adz has curated these five things about him you might not know.
He’s Totally Self-Taught
He did it all (himself): influential Folk singer, pop artist, tv face, Laird of the lowland, journalist, and painter of killer botanical art all without any formal training.
He Influenced The Beatles
He convinced George Harrison to learn the sitar and probably changed the sound of pop/rock in the process. Spreading the DIY word, as it were.
He pioneered the ‘Road Trip Movie’
Collaborated with the great German conceptual artist Joseph Beuys and in 1970 they made a road movie depicting Beuys’ journey from Edinburgh across to Rannoch Moor. A blueprint to a DIY staple – the road trip/movie.
He impressed Leadbelly’s widow
In 1956 Rory travelled across America with his kid brother and creative partner-in-crime Alexander, search of blues legend Leadbelly’s widow, Martha along the way singing the blues as well as Scottish folk songs. When they found her she was so impressed by their understanding of, and skill at, playing her late husband’s music, that she allowed Rory to play Leadbelly’s custom-made 12-string Stella guitar, inspiring him to find his own.
He was the first person to play the 12-string guitar on British TV
Inspired by Leadbelly and his meeting with Martha, Rory brought a piece of American music history home with him.
In Search of Rory McEwen premieres on BBC Four February 13.
Latest on Huck
Subversive shots of Catholic schoolgirls in ‘80s New York
Catholic Girl — When revisiting her alma mater, Andrea Modica noticed schoolgirls finding forms of self-expression beyond the dress code. Her new photobook documents their intricate styles.
Written by: Isaac Muk
We need to talk about super gonorrhoea
Test & vaccinate — With infection rates of ‘the clap’ seemingly on the up, as well as a concerning handful of antibiotic resistant cases, Nick Levine examines what can be done to stem the STI’s rise.
Written by: Nick Levine
5 decades ago, Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel redefined photography
Evidence — Between 1975 and 1977, the two photographers sifted through thousands of images held by official institutions, condensing them into a game-changing sequence.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Warm portraits of English football fans before the Premier League
Going to the Match — In the 1991/1992 season, photographer Richard Davis set out to understand how the sport’s supporters were changing, inadvertently capturing the end of an era.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Tbilisi nightclubs to reopen for New Year’s Eve after 40-day strike
Dancefloor resistance — Georgian techno havens including BASSIANI and Left Bank have announced parties tonight, having shuttered in solidarity with protests against the country’s government.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Why did 2024 feel so unreal?
Unrest & Stagnation — With unending mind-boggling news stories, the past 12 months have felt like a spiral into insanity. Is AI to blame or a hangover from the pandemic? Newsletter columnist Emma Garland digests the mess.
Written by: Emma Garland