Michael Waterson was born on January 17, 1941 in Hull, East Yorkshire, England. He was married to Margaret Ann Collins. He died on June 22, 2011 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England.
He was a member of Hull folk group The Watersons, together with his sisters Norma Waterson and Elaine Waterson (Lal Waterson) and their cousin John Harrison, and latterly by Norma's husband Martin Carthy.