Royal Musical Association 150th Anniversary Conference

The Life and Legacy of the Last Shantyman

No single figure has had a greater impact on our understanding and study of shanties than 'the last shantyman', Stan Hugill (1906-1992). Hugill's influence is seen throughout maritime cultural and heritage studies, yet little research has been undertaken giving us insight into how and why Hugill became this great figure in folk music and maritime history. This paper explores Hugill's rise to prominence on the maritime music and folk music scenes, the role of Hugill's work in the codification of a shanty canon, and wider implications with regards to our understanding of folk music revival movements and the shanty's place within folk music scholarship. The structure of this paper is divided into four sections, each pertaining to an important aspect of Hugill's career: the sailor, the author, the performer and Hugill's continuing legacy. The first section explores Hugill's early years and life…