Ramblin' Boy - Little John Cameron

Tom Paxton's 1963 lament for a friend, recorded by John Barr aka "Little" John Cameron from High Blantyre, Scotland and Torbay, Newfoundland, Canada [1943-2002] from his album Sit Down, Mr. Music Man ©1967 Boot Records, Toronto. "Little" John Cameron spent his youth in High Blantyre, near Glasgow, Scotland. He attended St. John's Grammar School in Hamilton, Scotland, and started playing as a solo folk singer in local bars and clubs around 1966. His local pub was Hasties Farm where it is said he was allowed to stay after hours. He was a motorcycle fanatic back then and lived alone as his mother had re-wed and moved south to England. John moved to Toronto in 1968 when he was 25, and added "Little" to his name to distinguish it from the Maritime folksinger John Allan Cameron [1938-2006]. After a decade on the city's music circuit, Little John Cameron came to Newfoundland as a member of the Sons of Erin. When he left that group, he became a popular entertainer in the St. John's club scene and frequently toured the outports where he is still remembered along the coastal ferry routes of those small communities. During 1970, he returned to Scotland where he visited with his friend from way back who supplied GEST with much of the information in this biography. John continued on the pub circuit in Newfoundland until he retired in 1998 due to health. He kept in touch with his friend in Scotland by phone every week until he passed. His music legacy includes 4 singles and 2 albums, Sit Down, Mr. Music Man and Little Johnny Cameron. Our sincere appreciation to Jacqueline and Katy Barr, John's wife and daughter, for sharing John's original work with us so we could create this video.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ramblin'
• Boy
• Little
• John
• Cameron
• Barr
• Sit
• Down
• Mr.
• Music
• Man
• GEST
• Songs
• Newfoundland
• Labrador

[DavidCKendall]

Beautifully sung!

[MARKERIC23]

great!

[cheerydavie]

Tom Paxtons great song I wrote a song by the same name..NOT as good as Tom's OR Merle Haggard's Ramblin' boy

[keltickev27]

great version of a great song ;o)

[mountnmonkey]

What a wonderful song!!...the best new tune (new to me) I have heard in many a day. As soon as I post this comment, I will pick up my old Martin and attempt to learn it. If I can, or if I can't..I thank you very much for posting..5 stars from Almost Heaven, West Virginia

[raymondcrooke]

I agree. Beautiful song and great rendition.

[losthills]

One of my favorite all time songs. Excellent version!