A. L. Lloyd's Birthday
Albert Lancaster Lloyd, known to friends and fans as “Bert,” was born on February 29, 1908 in London. A leap day baby, Lloyd would become one of the most influential figures in the British folk revival and a tireless champion of traditional sea music. His scholarship and performances brought shanties and forebitters to audiences throughout the mid-twentieth century.
Lloyd’s path to folk music was unconventional. As a young man he worked as a sheep shearer in Australia, where he first encountered traditional songs in the mouths of working people. In 1937, he signed aboard the whaling ship Southern Empress, gaining firsthand experience of maritime life. Returning to England, he became a journalist and eventually joined the BBC, all while immersing himself in folk song research. His 1967 book Folk Song in England remains a foundational text in the field. Throughout his life, Lloyd was a staunch anti-fascist and social champion.
For shanty enthusiasts, Lloyd is perhaps best remembered for his collaborations with Ewan MacColl. Lloyd’s robust voice and deep understanding of maritime work songs made these recordings definitive. He passed away in 1982, but his recordings and scholarship continue to shape how we understand and sing the songs of the sea.