Eric Bogle

Eric Bogle è un cantautore di livello internazionale nato nel 1944 a Peebles, in Scozia, dove ha vissuto la prima parte della sua vita. Nel 1969 si è stabilito in Australia, dapprima nella capitale federale Canberra. Diplomatosi ragioniere, ha lavorato in una ditta commerciale finché, nel 1980, non si è dedicato a tempo pieno alla canzone. Attualmente vive non lontano dalla città di Adelaide, nel sud del paese.

Noto per la sua gentilezza accompagnata però da una grande schiettezza, è autore di canzoni pacifiste notissime in tutto il mondo, come "And the band played Waltzing Matilda", cantata e incista originariamente da June Tabor e, in seguito, da molti altri artisti. L'altra sua più famosa canzone è senz'altro la splendida "The green fields of France (No Man's Land)"; ma si ricordano anche "Leaving Nancy", "Nobody's Moggy Now" e "Little Gomez".

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A more detailed biography in English:

Eric is an internationally known folksinger, originally from Peebles, Scotland. Born in 1944, he spent his first twenty five years in Scotland. In 1969 he emigrated to Australia first settling in Canberra. He eventually trained, and worked as an accountant, then in 1980 became a full time folk singer. Eric currently lives near Adelaide, South Australia. A gentle man, he's also one of the most straight forward and nicest people you could ever hope to meet.

He is best known for is the award winning "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda." It was first recorded by June Tabor, and has been recorded by many other artists since. Other songs he's written include "No Man's Land (The Green Fields Of France)," "Leaving Nancy," "Nobody's Moggy Now," and "Little Gomez." His most recent release is Endangered Species on the ACMEC label. His new album, The Colour of Dreams has been released.

Perhaps the best way to get a sense of who Eric Bogle is, is to read what he has written, and hear from him in his own words. He had an extensive interview with Robert Childs, the president of SCALA in 1989. That interview was serialized in their magazine, and part of it is available on the Web, "An Interview With Eric Bogle." Also, at the 1997 Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival he gave an interview, with samples of his music, to KRCB FM, a Northern California radio station. It can be heard in Real Audio format at KRCB FM's website Roots Interviews. (Photographs of Eric and other performers at that event can be found at John Morehead's Kate Wolf Festival Photographs Collection.)