Song-writer. Born in Lochee (Dundee) of Irish stock, Marra had a stormy education beginning at St. Mary's Primary and was expelled from Lawside Academy at the age of fourteen. He formed his first band, Hen's Teeth, in 1971 and went on to great success with Skeets Boliver from the mid-1970s. He moved to London and wrote songs for a commercially, including for Barbara Dickson (b. 1948) and the Swedish band Abba. However, he quickly rebelled against the type of material he was being asked to write.
His first solo album was The Midas Touch (1980). His later songs are grounded in the working-class traditions of Dundee and the East Scotland, including General Grant's visit to Dundee, Happed in Mist, Gaels Blue, Monkey Hair and Hermless. A versatile performer, Marra has also worked in theatre, on television and toured around the world, collaborating with other Scots such as Liz Lochhead (b. 1946) and Robert Carlyle (b. 1961).
