Michael Marra - Telegraph His songs were often funny, frequently political, sometimes satirical, and usually strikingly original. They could also be beautiful, even when they addressed seemingly mundane topics. One of his best-loved songs, Hamish (The Goalie), is about a football match between Dundee Utd and Monaco, which Marra remembered fondly both for a star performance by goalkeeper Hamish McAlpine and an appearance at the game by Grace Kelly. The son of a printer and a schoolteacher, Michael Marra was born in Dundee in 1952 and attended Lawside Academy until being expelled aged 14. He then had a series of jobs, including apprentice electrician, apprentice baker, builder's labourer and messenger, before in 1971 forming his first band, Hen's Teeth with, among others, Dougie McLean. In the 1970s he became a professional musician with Skeets Boliver, a band which included his brother Chris. They released two well-received singles - Streethouse Door and Moonlight In Jeopardy - before the punk revolution effectively obliterated them. Marra then tried his luck as a solo act, getting a job as a songwriter with a London publishing company - some of his early efforts were recorded by Frankie Miller, Kiki Dee and Leo Sayer - and going on to release his first solo album, The Midas Touch, in 1980. However, his insistence on including strong parochial references (with songs like General Grant's Visit To Dundee) brought him into conflict with the commercial demands of the music industry. He reacted angrily, turned his back on the mainstream and returned to Scotland. In 1985 he formed his own label, Mink Records, to release his second album, Gaels Blue, going for pointedly anti-commercial songs such as Mincing Wi" Chairlhi , The Altar Boys and Black Babies. He also toured, supporting the likes of Van Morrison, Deacon Blue, The Proclaimers and Barbara Dickson . Marra subsequently carved out a niche as a songwriter. While others (Rab Noakes, Sylvia Rae Tracey and Coope, Boyes & Simpson) recorded his songs, Marra himself became heavily involved in theatrical work. He wrote an operetta, If The Moon Can Be Believed, performed at Dundee Rep; devised a show, In Flagrant Delicht, with the poet and playwright Liz Lochhead; and saw his play St Catherine's Day performed in Dundee and Glasgow. He was also musical director for the BBC TV series Your Cheatin" Heart and collaborated on song lyrics with Bjorn Ulvaeus of Abba. In 2010 he undertook one of his most ambitious tours, performing with the eclectic classical orchestra McFall's Chamber, the full majesty of his songwriting emerging through ambitious string arrangements; it was recorded in a live album. Earlier this year he toured with the rock band the Hazey Janes, whose line-up includes his own children Alice and Matthew. He is also survived by his wife, Peggy . Michael Marra, born 1952, died October 23 2012