Johnny Handle

Johnny Handle is an English folk musician and singer/songwriter. Starting as a skiffle player in 1957 he soon crossed into folk music both as a soloist and as a member of The High Level Ranters. His repertoire is heavily influenced by the traditional music of North East England and, in particular, songs about the coal mines of that region. In 1958, with Louis Killen, he founded the Folksong and Ballad Club in the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle. He plays accordion, keyboards, banjo, whistle and the Northumbrian pipes. Among the songs he has written is "Farewell to the Monty", written in January 1959 on the closing of the Montague Colliery, West Denton, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Selected recordings

• The Collier Lad – 1975 (Topic 12TS270)
• She's A Big Lass – 1979 (EMI)
• Stottin Doon The Waal – 1963 -(Topic TOP78)
• Along The Coaly Tyne – (with The High Level Ranters) (Topic TSCD498)

In 2009 Dust from The Collier Lad was included in Topic Records 70 year anniversary boxed set Three Score and Ten as track sixteen on the fifth CD.