I never wanted to sing into a vacuum': Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan's fight for his lost music

"It felt to me as if the world had forgotten about the Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley of folk, or a singular figure in the mould of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash or Richard Thompson. So says Colin Harper, curator of a slew of new releases celebrating the stunning music of Scottish musician Dick Gaughan. Harper had recently reconnected with his music after several decades, and I couldn't believe the quality of it."

"His singing and guitar playing were astonishing he performed traditional songs and championed social justice so powerfully. But if you haven't heard of the 77-year-old Gaughan, it's not surprising: much of his work has been unavailable for years, the rights to it having been claimed by the label Celtic Music, who have not made it available digitally. Gaughan doesn't recall receiving a royalty statement from the company in 40 years."

"He is battling for ownership and, in turn, hopes to help other veteran folk artists regain control of their catalogues. To find that the music I made, that I put a lot of work into, is just not available it's like your life isn't available, he says. Dick Gaughan, far left, with Boys of the Lough in 1972 Born in Glasgow in 1948, and raised in Leith in an impoverished musical family, Gaughan became a jobbing musician at 22, later recording 12 solo albums."

Dick Gaughan is a Scottish folk musician born in Glasgow in 1948 and raised in Leith in an impoverished musical family. He became a jobbing musician at 22 and recorded 12 solo albums alongside multiple collaborations. His performances combine stunning delicacy with fiery spirit, leading to nine John Peel sessions and regular appearances at folk clubs. He led notable artists on the Transatlantic Sessions in 1995 and is celebrated for championing social justice. Much of his catalogue remains unavailable digitally after Celtic Music claimed rights and failed to provide royalty statements; he is now fighting for ownership to reclaim and protect veteran artists' catalogues.

Read at www.theguardian.com