Eric Bogle

Biography

1944, Peebles, Scotland. Bogle’s musical career started at the age of 16 when he played in a pop group in his home town of Peebles. As a singer-songwriter, he became a household name after 1976, when his song ‘And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ achieved success and was covered and recorded by many artists. The song was written after Bogle had watched the annual Anzac Day parade of Australian ex-soldiers who had survived the Gallipolli campaign in World War I. After an indifferent response to the song initially, Bogle dropped it from his live set. It re-emerged after winning third place in a song competition in Brisbane, Australia. The result caused a near-riot as many believed he should have won. The attendant publicity helped to put the song in the Australian charts. Another of his well-known songs, ‘Green Fields Of France’, was frequently played in the folk clubs by many aspiring performers. Bogle is resident in Australia after...

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