Born March 1959, Purley, Greater London, United Kingdom. MacColl's family is a virtual who's who of the 20th Century folk music revival. His father was Ewan MacColl and his mother, Peggy Seeger (for whom Ewan wrote the song The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face), is also a noted singer, but her half-brother Pete Seeger is somewhat better known. Neill's half-sister is the late Kirsty MacColl.