Billy Bragg

From Discogs:

Born: December 20, 1957 in Barking, Essex, United Kingdom

From Lastfm:

Stephen William Bragg (born December 20, 1957), known as Billy Bragg, is an English musician known for his blend of folk, punk-rock, and protest music. He has been active for over 30 years since his early career as a regular contributor to anarchic UK live rock show The Tube. His music is a combination of poetry and political comment, with a dash of romance. He has collaborated with many other musicians, including Johnny Marr of The Smiths, protest folk singer Leon Rosselson, R.E.M., Less Than Jake, Kirsty MacColl, Kate Nash, Milburn and Wilco. He obtained a top-twenty hit with the song 'We Laughed' in a band called The Rosetta Life band (with Billy Bragg, Helena, Robbie McIntosh, Ady Milward and Chris Lonergan). It was a cancer-based charity song written by Billy himself and Maxine Edgington. Bragg was influenced by his brief experience in the British Army as a trooper in the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars of the Royal Armoured Corps. He, along with Paul Weller and others, was a leading member of UK left-wing musicians pressure group Red Wedge in the Thatcher-dominated 80s.

In recent years he has broadened his audience thanks to his involvement with Wilco on the album Mermaid Avenue and its follow-up Mermaid Avenue Vol II.

From Wikipedia:

Stephen William Bragg (born 20 December 1957), known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left wing activist who blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes. His music career has lasted more than 30 years, and he has collaborated with Natalie Merchant, Johnny Marr, Hank Wangford, Florence and the Machine, Kate Nash, Leon Rosselson, members of R.E.M., Michelle Shocked, Less Than Jake, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Kirsty MacColl, and Wilco. Bragg often plays and speaks at the Tolpuddle Martyrs festival. Bragg Close, a street in Dagenham, is named in his honour, and he currently lives in Dorset.