Michael Raven (author)


Michael Raven was an English author, musician, composer and poet.

Biography

Michael Raven was born to Lancastrian parents in Cardiff, Wales but moved to the West Midlands when he was 3 years old. A talented sportsman, he became Midlands Decathlon Champion in 1954 at the age of 16 whilst a boarder at Towyn Grammar School. Michael did National Service with the Cheshire Regiment and saw active service in Malaya during the 1956 Emergency. Upon leaving the Army Michael continued his education at Keele University, Staffordshire. He met Eve, a Brighton girl, in Jersey whilst playing in cabaret in 1963, and married her in Gibraltar in 1965. With his brother Jon he collected and researched the folk music of the area. He was heavily involved in the folk scene, and worked as Mary Hopkins' accompanist during a summer season in Margate in 1971. as well as collaborating with brother, Jon Raven, and other artists. Throughout his life, Raven wrote 80 books, and featured on 50 CDs. He died in 2008 at the age of 70. He was uncle to late musician Paul Raven, died one year earlier.

Writing

Raven wrote and contributed to many books, often featuring his own photography as well as research. He was in the main a music publisher/composer/arranger and some of his books relate to Black Country and West Midlands history, traditions and music.

Music

Raven was a member of folk trio The Black Country Three along with brother Jon Raven and Derek Craft, recording their self-titled debut album in 1966 for Transatlantic. Raven worked in folk-roots trio, Ravenshead.
He has performed on the following albums: