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Ian Campbell

1933 – 2012

Scottish folk musician

Traditional folk singerSongwriter Painter
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About Ian Campbell

Lived 1933 – 2012 (aged 79). Ian Campbell was a British traditional folk singer, songwriter and painter.

Ian Campbell (10 June 1933 – 24 November 2012) was a Scottish folk singer. As leader of the Ian Campbell Folk Group, he was one of the most important figures of the British folk revival during the 1960s.

Born in Aberdeen, Campbell moved to Birmingham as a teenager, where he subsequently worked as an engraver in the city's Jewellery Quarter. His father, David Gunn Campbell, was a trade union leader who was originally from Shetland. He fell under the influence of the Birmingham Marxist writer George Thomson and joined the choir of the local branch of the Workers' Music Association, which was run by Thomson's wife.

After disbanding the group in 1978, Campbell worked as an editor and television presenter for TV-am and as a community arts worker in Dudley. His sons Ali Campbell, Robin Campbell and Duncan Campbell have all been members of the Birmingham reggae group UB40.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Traditional folk singer, songwriter, painter
Nationality

People in Ian Campbell's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ian Campbell's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ian Campbell?

Scottish folk musician

When was Ian Campbell born?

Ian Campbell was born on 10 June 1933 in Aberdeen.

When did Ian Campbell die?

Ian Campbell died on 24 November 2012 in Cape Town.

What was Ian Campbell's occupation?

Ian Campbell was a traditional folk singer, songwriter and painter.

What nationality was Ian Campbell?

Ian Campbell was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ian Campbell

· Wikidata: Q16019324

· DBpedia: Ian Campbell (folk musician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ian Campbell. https://biography.guide/ian-campbell-traditional-folk-singer/

MLA: "Ian Campbell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ian-campbell-traditional-folk-singer/.

Chicago: "Ian Campbell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ian-campbell-traditional-folk-singer/.

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