He paints with Words' - I have heard Marra twice at the
Mugdock theatre, which with the grand piano off to the left is simply the
perfect venue for him, and I list his concerts there as some of my favourite
small venue gigs. The first thing that I noticed at his gigs there was how
frail he looked, but then when he performed he surprised me with this deep
gravelly voice. With endearing heart and ironic dry wit, Marra sang his
medley of songs which are brim full of unforgettable characters and crafted
images of place and time.
Kelly's Visit to
Dundee,' 'Muggie Shaw', 'Freda Kohl's Visit to the Tay
Bridge Bar', and 'Lonesome Death of Francis Clarke'. In 'Schenectady Calling',
Marra paid tribute to Peerie Willie Johnson, a noted folk musician from
Shetland. He finished his set with a Burns song ' Green Grow the Rashes
O' and an encore song 'Mary Skeffington' by the late Gerry Rafferty of Paisley.
Marra's songs often mix
Scottish places with a fantasy of American celebrity. He writes songs about
such diverse topics as football, ladies choirs, and American idols!
At times his stories and songs are highly amusing, while other songs are
thoughtful and touching.
He derives his musical
influences from the likes of Tom Waits, Randy Newman and Bob Dylan. His
music has grown out of both his Dundee Scottish roots and his American musical
tastes and he calls his sound 'groovy traditional music.'
Although predominantly
known as a songwriter, Marra has worked extensively in theatre, radio and
television. Marra's
children, Alice Marra Clark and Matthew Marra, are are members of The Hazy
Janes. Marra was in a band called Skeets Boliver in the late seventies.
'There's Love in this
world for everyone, Every precious smile you make, Be sure love is out there
looking for you.' Michael Marra
