Ralph McTell is one of Britain’s most enduring and admired singer-songwriters, best known for his iconic song “Streets of London.”
Born in Kent in 1944 and raised in Croydon, he developed an early passion for American blues, folk and traditional music, influences that shaped both his intricate fingerstyle guitar style and his empathetic approach to songwriting.
Emerging from London’s vibrant 1960s folk scene, McTell quickly gained attention for his warm stage presence and narrative-driven songs. His breakthrough came in 1969 with “Streets of London,” inspired by his observations of loneliness and poverty in European cities. The song became one of the most covered tracks in British music history and earned him an Ivor Novello Award, cementing his reputation as a songwriter of rare sensitivity.
Beyond his signature hit, McTell built a substantial body of work across decades, with songs such as “From Clare to Here” and “England” reflecting themes of migration, belonging and social awareness. He has toured extensively around the world, composed music for television, and continued recording well into the 21st century.
Awarded an OBE for services to music, Ralph McTell remains a defining figure in English folk — a storyteller whose songs continue to resonate across generations.
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Hello, I’m Sandy Kaye. A freelance broadcaster, journalist and producer who has spent more than 35 years on both sides of radio and television microphones. I’ve worked with every TV network in Australia, have produced and presented for countless radio stations around the country and have hosted my own commercial radio talk-back show. I’ve even held the distinction of being Sydney’s first female newsreader on radio – way back when!
Today my passion is A Breath of Fresh Air which allows me to immerse myself in one of my favourite things – music. I just love all kinds of music and am fascinated by the people who make it. In particular, it’s the music of the '60s '70s and '80s that takes me back to my youth and means so much to me.
As a journalist, I’m all about digging deep into the classic hits of our time.
I bring you intimate, warm, fireside chats with the artists who tell us about their lives both then and now.
We learn about what makes them tick, who they are in their professional and private lives and how they went about making the soundtrack to our lives.
'A Breath of Fresh Air’ is exceptional - exceptional not because of me, but rather because of the stories that some of the best-known musical artists choose to share with me.
I created this podcast to honour them. It’s all about THEIR lives, THEIR stories, THEIR music, told now, in THEIR voices, before they’re lost forever.
I see my podcast as a personal labour of love, but also as an archival legacy for music fans and practitioners alike, both current and future, who otherwise might never know of the amazing people who helped build the industry.
I really hope you enjoy each and every episode of A Breath of Fresh Air.
