Song released in memory of Wolverhampton's Fred the Tramp
A song about a homeless Wolverhampton man who lived next to the ring road for more than 30 years has been re-released to mark the date of his passing.
Singer and songwriter Ryan Evans from Perton has released a version of "Destitution Man", an ode to the memory of Josef Stawinoga, affectionately known as Fred the Tramp.
Josef died on October 28, 2007 at the age of 86, having lived in a tent on Wolverhampton ring road for more than 30 years.
WATCH Ryan perform the song here:
The song was originally recorded by Ryan's uncle Ian Dowdeswell in 1991 and the 27-year-old said he was releasing his version to help young people know who Josef was.
He said: "My version of the track aims to help remind the youth of today who he was as I don't think a lot of them remember him now.
"My uncle and my dad actually attended his funeral and we used to collaborate together in a band, so I've been around that song a lot."
Ryan has performed the song himself throughout his solo career, playing it in the middle of his sets, and said his uncle was inspired to write it after seeing Josef sweeping up outside his tent.
He said: "My uncle is a songwriter and a Wolverhampton lad and he used to walk pass there and see Fred the Tramp cleaning up leaves.
"There's actually a very poignant line in the track where he sings 'he sweeps the leaves and sweeps the cans, he doesn't have so many plans'
"I think the song speaks of Fred and what an icon he was at the time, so I wanted to get it back into the public eye and mark the anniversary of his passing."
To find out more about the song and about Ryan, go to facebook.com/RyanEvansOfficial
