Surprised this hasn’t come up really. The lovely Brendan Croker passed away aged 70 from leukaemia. I only became aware of this because of an equally lovely obituary in the Guardian yesterday.
During my time as a student in Leeds he was never fashionable and to some degree ridiculed by fellow students as he ploughed a largely unfashionable furrow of folk, country and rock. He was always there gigging in the background when bigger acts were in town and in many ways he was a man with terrible timing. A few years either way and he could have ridden the crest of things like Americana. I suspect his persona and songwriting were just a little too minor key for the big time but he was a decent singer, songwriter and performer. I was never a fan but it was gratifying to see Knopfler pick him up during his Notting Hillbillies/McCartney solo period.
Used to see him around Leeds in the record shops I frequented and some of the gigs I was at too. No side or edge to him and he was also lovely to listen to when talking about those artists he loved.
Mike, thank you for raising this. I hadn’t seen the report and I am a fan of his and his Five O’clock Shadows. He will be much missed in our house. RIP Brendan and thank you for all the music.
