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Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor are remembered as one of Scotland's most popular folk duos. Robin was born in Edinburgh in 1936, but spent most of his early years in Glasgow. His mother had been an opera singer and Robin was raised listening to classical music and music hall songs.He contracted polio as a child and during his lengthy convalescence his interest in all types of music flourished. As a teenager, he played with a traditional jazz group, studied the piano, and spent his spare time digging up American folk songs and investigating the folk material of his native Scotland. He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and worked briefly as in actor in repertory theatres. Robin Hall went to London in 1957, armed with a large repertoire of folk songs and a guitar. Jimmie MacGregor came from a working class family in Glasgow. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art, and worked as an art teacher and studio potter. His interest in folk music began in the mid 50's. His first musical influences included Burl Ives, Josh White and Ewan MacColl. Starting in 1956, he often hitchhiked to London to visit the folk clubs, eventually settling there around 1958. Jimmie briefly joined the Chas McDevvitt Skiffle Group, made a number of solo appearances, and was a member of the Steve Benbow Folk Four and The City Ramblers before meeting up with Robin Hall in January 1960.
After making their first appearance on BBC's 'Tonight' programme, they subsequently appeared five nights weekly for the next 14 years. For a few years in the early1960s they joined with Leon Rosselson and Jimmy's wife Shirley to form the folk group The Galliards performing mainly Scottish traditional material. Robin and Jimmie became well known broadcasters hosting the popular White Heather Club for five years as well as touring the world and recording more than twenty albums.
The duo split up in 1981. Robin and Jimmie both enjoyed successful careers in broadcasting. Robin won two national radio awards, for best presenter and best documentary, for Radio Clyde’s The Sing Song Streets, a program about Glasgow told through songs, stories and children's games. Jimmie wrote three folk song books, did some solo work, and become very prolific in television with shows that include The West Highland Way, MacGregor’s Gathering and Macgregor Across Scotland.
Robin Hall died in 1998.
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