User:Graham Pirt

Graham Pirt was born in Jarrow-on-Tyne, County Durham, England on the 11th December 1947. Graham is an English folk singer/songwriter. Starting with an Irish style group he soon crossed into north eastern folk music both as a soloist and also with Alistair Anderson(who became a member of The High Level Ranters.) His repertoire is heavily influenced by the traditional music of North East England and, in particular, songs about the coal industry, much inspired by his time living in the Durham coalfield at Craghead. Much of his early singing took place at the Folksong and Ballad Club in the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle. He plays guitar and the Northumbrian pipes.

After a number of years performing as a solo artist he joined the unaccompanied Yorkshire harmony group Cockersdale in 1986. Rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the favourite groups on the English folk scene, the rise was brought to a temporary halt with the death of their founder Keith Marsden in 1991 after their return from Sidmouth Folk Festival. Among the songs he has written are "Jarrow Song", "Race Against Time", "Lost At 21" that appeared on a number of their Fellside Recordings.

After Keith's death the group, consisting of Graham, Val Marsden and John O'Hagan, reformed and carried on until 2013 with their final performance at Whitby Folk Week; a concert of the Songs of Keith Marsden. Since then Graham has resumed his solo performances as well as some appearances with Val Marsden. He also performs with his son Sam Pirt.