Kirsty MacColl

Bio

Kirsty MacColl (1959–2000) was an English singer-songwriter whose literate, melodic pop songs blended folk, punk, and world-music influences. The daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl, she first gained attention in the late 1970s with the UK hit “They Don’t Know,” later a hit for Tracey Ullman, and went on to release a string of critically acclaimed albums including “Kite” (1989) and “Titanic Days” (1993). Beyond her solo work, MacColl was a sought-after backing vocalist and collaborator, appearing on recordings by The Smiths, Talking Heads, and Billy Bragg. Her 1987 duet with The Pogues, “Fairytale of New York,” remains a perennial Christmas classic. She died in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico in 2000; her posthumous releases and the annual “Days” festival in London keep her catalogue and songwriting legacy alive.