Born in Belfast and discovered folk clubs in the ‘60s. In 1968 I decided to collect Irish and Scottish songs, with Fergus Woods a fellow folk singer, from Tommy Mc Cabe, a traditional artist we met at the Cootehill Fleagh. I recorded some of these songs on ‘Common Ground’ 2002.
Since I was 16 years old Medias took interest in me as a singer songwriter and I was regularly invited to perform on BBC Radio and Television Folk programs and receiving coverage in the local papers. Became the singer in ‘The Folk Union’ a group of excellent Belfast musicians who became pioneers to experiment mixing folk with other styles of music. This group was very successful locally. My first T.V. series ‘Free and Easy’ was with Ulster TV in Belfast 1969.
Settled in London at 21 years, Jo Lustig, manager of Pentangle and Ralph Mc Tell saw me singing in a pub and signed me to management and publishing while RCA gave me my first recording contract and the Album “Poets and painters and performers of Blues” 1971. This is now a collector’s item. SF8220 produced by Danny Thompson bass player with Pentangle. Tommy Eyre( piano), Jon Mark (guitar), Johnny Almond (sax and vibes), Bryran Spring (drums), Tony Carr and Spike Heatley (double bass), Roy Babbington( elctro bass).
Toured the British folk clubs and festivals as a solo artist also did opening act for Ralph McTell, Pentangle, Donovan, Don MaClean, Steeleye Span, The Incredible String Band and other more commercial acts Genesis, Ten Years After, Roy Wood’s Wizzard.
1975 John Reid Enterprises signed my song writing to Rocket Music Ltd as an author-composer and recorded my second Album with the engineer and producer Ken Scott. Ken recorded Elton John, David Bowie, John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Stanley Clarke, Lou Reed and many others. As soon as I wrote a song, Ken recorded it. Jack Nelson, the manager of Queen and Ken Scott where interested in developing my work. Generally speaking, the business recognised a potential. I was a young singer- composer, very lucky to know these important people however I had a lot to learn about the music industry. Publishing houses were advising me on how to write pop songs even though I didn’t want to be a pop singer…a folk pop singer maybe…They gave me free time in their studios to encourage my determination and talent. I was by now opening shows for more commercially known acts, Neil Sedaka, The Flying Pickets and playing Reading Rock Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, London Jazz Festival.
1980 I recorded the theme song for the film “Dogs of war”, United Artists, in Abbey Road Studios, music by Geoffry Burgeon. Recorded songs for“ Turtle Diary” and A fella By the Name Of” Nick Gifford 1983 and “A State Of Wonder” Martin Donovan and Kris Dillinger Productions. During the 80’s I played solo in Ronnie Scots Jazz Club in Soho with the Mingus Dynasty, Steve Goodman, Buddy de Franco, Terry Gibbs, Machito, discovering more the Jazz world.
In the 80’s, I became part of a 4 piece rock band called ‘Patrol’ playing pubs in South London and then I formed a 7 piece band to experiment with jazz, pop and rock arrangements with my songs. We toured around the clubs in London with regular radio and T.V performances.
1984 I went back briefly to Belfast to record my own T.V. series, “Gillie” for BBC with producer Harry Adair. My guest artists were Freddy White, Zoot Money, Louis Stewart and Martin Taylor.
I teamed up briefly with Alexis Korner doing a few concerts in Dublin and England before his death.
From the 4 piece rock band to a 7 piece experimental band that opened for Tal Mahal, John Prine, and I can’t remember who all we did openers for but it was a lot of fun although too expensive to keep going. Our last concert in London was with Joe Cocker at the Hammersmith Odeon 1987. We were Doug Boyle guitar, Phil Scragg bass, Chris Perry drums, Gary Hammond percussion, Nick Payne, sax harmonica and flute, Tony on trumpet.
1993 Moved to France. It didn’t take long to meet neighbourhood musicians and form a Blues-Rock band. We made some great recordings. Example” Cold Ankles” and “You sure know the blues” are from this period.
1998 I formed a folk group and recorded two albums:
1999 “Celtic Cross” part solo part trio with Paul Habourdan and Patrick Chanal.
2002. “Common Ground ” Paul Habourdan, fiddle, Patrick Chanal, bouzouki, Karim Bensala, percussions. Thierry Pigot (bodhrân) Guest musicians, Etienne Roche (double bass) Bernard Dépit ( mandoline and accordion) My husband Thierry Pigot at the moment had taken to playing the Irish bodhrân and was playing and managing this group. For several years we toured mostly France and European countries.
2006 “Our Street” this collection shows how I still blend different styles of music yet keeping my strong Irish musical inheritance in evidence.
I continue my musical path performing and composing more in the Jazz-Folk- Rock style which had attracted me in London. I hold respect for the music I was brought up with a bit like an old friend. I find music is a place where anything can happen …new acquaintances and discoveries are there to become part of my creating more music.
Today I have two formations. An electro acoustic trio which continues to play songs from the Albums in concert with Yves Perrin (guitar) and Noubba Kadouri (percussion). The duo with Patrick Galdéano (guitar) is simply acoustic with no electronic tricks. Our music is more orientated towards 70’s, 80’s, blues folk rock and gives me the opportunity to play smaller venues and perform new songs.
2008 I decided to concentrate more of my time to teaching songs with English texts and doing voice research workshops mostly in the Drôme S.W. France where I live. These groups of singers might perform in public once their repertoire is long enough and good enough! They are at present learning beautiful Irish folk songs, blues and jazz songs that bring pleasure to the singer and the listener and some of my own compositions may be added to their ever growing repertoire.
Through voice study we can discover more ways to enhance our communication with our world. I am convinced that music can have healing and relaxing qualities. I love my work. I think we are just about up to date!
« Plus encore que leurs capacités d’interprétation et d’arrangement, c’est la voix de Gillie Mc Pherson qui frappe... »
Franck Bergerot – Le Monde de la Musique
« Gillie Mc Pherson soulève des montagne quand elle chante. » Celtics
« Chanteuse à la voix puissante et chaleureuse, guitariste de talent et conteuse pleine d’humour de surcroît » Le Dauphiné Libéré
« Gillie la douce force l’attention, force l’écoute. Sa voix et son répertoire méritent le silence, voire la ferveur » Bernard Vacher – La Montagne
Ce fut un plaisir de te revoir également. C'était un très beau concert et j'ai beaucoup apprécié. Et j'adore tes CD, je ne m'en lasse pas!!!! Je t'appellerai prochainement pour discuter de divers choses avec toi. Je te souhaite de bonnes fêtes de fin d'année. Bises. Seb.
my Zoe is 4 years old...still working on three wheeled rides. LOL. thanks for the kind words. I hope you Zoe has great success and can help us all communicate a little better...:)
I'm fine, thank you. I have a lot of work at the moment in several companies. Hope you're well too. If i can the 11th December, it's with pleasure I will come to see you in Villeurbanne. See you. The best... Bises. Seb
Thanks for the ad. We make songs. We sell songs. We give songs away. All of us - We are a bunch of songwriters and artists having fun. Come join the group. Fondly, Roberta S2S
Thanks for stopping by my page Gillie. Really nice to have a friendly personal message to accompany a friend request. And especially nice because you are from Norn irelan n'all!!!! Stay in touch.
Je t'appellerai prochainement pour discuter de divers choses avec toi. Je te souhaite de bonnes fêtes de fin d'année. Bises. Seb.
