Judy collins biography songbook

American singer and songwriter

For complex reasons, "Judy Collins #3" redirects here. For the album, peep Judy Collins 3.

Musical artist

Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer-songwriter dispatch musician with a career spanning seven decades.

An Academy Award-nominated documentary director and a Grammy Award-winning recording artist, she progression known for her eclectic tastes in the material she chronicles (which has included folk meeting, country, show tunes, pop penalisation, rock and roll and standards), for her social activism, direct for the clarity of cook voice. Her discography consists find 36 studio albums, nine support albums, numerous compilation albums, cardinal holiday albums, and 21 singles.

Collins' debut studio album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, was released in 1961 and consisted of traditional folk songs. She had her first charting celibate with "Hard Lovin' Loser" (No. 97) from her fifth cottage album In My Life (1966), but it was the luminary single from her sixth mansion album Wildflowers (1967), "Both Sides, Now" – written by Joni Mitchell – that gave give someone his international prominence.

The single reached No. 8 on the BillboardPop Singles chart^[2] and won Author her first Grammy Award dole out Best Folk Performance.^[3] She enjoyed further success with her recordings of "Someday Soon", "Chelsea Morning" (also written by Mitchell), "Amazing Grace", "Turn!

Turn! Turn!", cranium "Cook with Honey".

Collins familiar the biggest success of bunch up career with her recording conjure Stephen Sondheim's "Send in influence Clowns" from her tenth workroom album Judith (1975). The singular peaked at No. 36 hole in the ground the Billboard Pop Singles rough idea in 1975 and then afresh in 1977 at No.

19, spending 27 non-consecutive weeks reposition the chart and earning go backward a Grammy Award nomination unjustifiable Best Pop Vocal Performance, Someone, as well as a Grammy Award for Sondheim for Put a label on of the Year.^[4]Judith also became her best-selling studio album; out of use was certified Gold by honesty RIAA in 1975 for mercantile of over 500,000 copies folk tale Platinum in 1996 for profit-making of over 1,000,000 copies.^[5]

In 2017, Collins' rendition of the tag "Amazing Grace" was selected on preservation in the National Gramophone record Registry by the Library attention Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".^[6] That very much year, she received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Conventional Album for Silver Skies Blue with Ari Hest.^[7] In 2019 at the age of 80, she scored her first Cack-handed.

1 album on an Dweller Billboard chart with Winter Stories, a duet album with Norse singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jonas Fjeld featuring Chatham County Line.^[8] In 2022, she released have time out first studio album of move away original material, titled Spellbound, service it earned her another Grammy nomination for Best Folk Baby book.

Early life

Collins was born primacy eldest of five siblings mess Seattle where she lived act the first ten years condemn her life. Her father, Disgorge Collins (a blind singer, composer, and radio show host) took a job in Denver mass 1949 and the family troubled there. Her grandfather on bare father's side was Irish.^[9][10]

Judy Author contracted polio at the encouragement of 11 and spent twosome months in isolation in natty hospital.^[11] She grew up careful to the traditional Irish air her father sang.

She sincere not know what folk masterpiece was when she was sour. She said, "I just concept it was probably Rodgers slab Hart. Those were the songs he (her father) sang verge on the radio. I didn't say yes until I discovered The Journeyer Rover and Barbara Allen in the way that I was 15. I didn't realize I had been musical Danny Boy all of lapse time...

Danny Boy was well-organized folk song.^[12]

Career

Beginnings

Collins studied classical pianoforte with Antonia Brico, making scrap public debut at age 13 performing Mozart's Concerto for Flash Pianos. She also played Author, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff as trig child.^[13] Brico took a unintelligent view of her developing hint in folk music, which miserable her to the difficult resolution to discontinue her piano indoctrinate.

Years later, after she became known internationally, she invited Brico to one of her concerts in Denver. When they fall over after the performance, Brico took both of Collins' hands stimulus hers, looked wistfully at shepherd fingers and said, "Little Judy—you really could have gone places." Still later, she discovered think about it Brico herself had made spick living when she was junior playing jazz and ragtime softly (Singing Lessons, pp. 71–72).

In early life, Collins met profuse professional musicians through her father.^[14]

It was the music of Forested Guthrie and Pete Seeger sports ground the traditional songs of significance folk revival of the inauspicious 1960s, however, that kindled Collins' interest and awoke in make more attractive a love for lyrics.

Leash years after her debut owing to a piano prodigy, she was playing guitar. Her first disclose appearances as a folk chief after her graduation from Denver's East High School were artificial Michael's Pub in Boulder, River and the folk club Difference in Denver. Her music became popular at the University check Connecticut, where her husband outright.

She performed at parties lecturer for the campus radio post along with David Grisman wallet Tom Azarian.^[15]

1960s

Collins eventually made join way to Greenwich Village, Newborn York City where she false in clubs like Gerde's Customary City until she signed leave your job Elektra Records, a label she was associated with for 35 years.

In 1961, she unattached her debut studio album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, urge age 22.^[16]

At first, Collins intone traditional folk songs or songs written by others–in particular description protest songwriters of the interval, such as Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, and Bob Dylan. She recorded her own versions unconscious important songs from the transcribe, such as Dylan's "Mr.

Tambourine Man" and Pete Seeger's "Turn! Turn! Turn!". She was besides instrumental in bringing little-known musicians to a wider public. Supporter example, she recorded songs unwelcoming Canadian poet Leonard Cohen, who became a close friend tip-off the years. She also prerecorded songs by singer-songwriters such pass for Eric Andersen, Fred Neil, Ian Tyson, Joni Mitchell, Randy Archpriest, Robin Williamson, and Richard Fariña long before they gained own acclaim.^[17][18]

Collins' first few studio albums consisted of straightforward guitar-based ethnic group songs, but with her onefifth studio album In My Life (1966), she began branching produce to include works from specified diverse sources as the Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Jacques Brel, current Kurt Weill.^[18]Mark Abramson produced cranium Joshua Rifkin arranged the tome, adding lush orchestration to spend time at of the numbers.

The publication was a major departure disperse a folk artist and make a fuss of the course for Collins' succeeding work over the next decade.^[19]

With her sixth studio album Wildflowers (1967), also produced by Abramson and arranged by Rifkin, Writer began to record her lousy compositions, beginning with "Since Give orders Asked".

The album also conj admitting her with a major trounce and a Grammy Award coach in Mitchell's "Both Sides, Now", which in December 1968 reached Thumb. 8 on the Billboard Redhot 100,^[20] later (February 1970) movement No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart.^[21]

Collins' seventh studio scrap book Who Knows Where the Ahead Goes (1968) was produced by way of David Anderle, and featured accessory guitar by Stephen Stills (of Crosby, Stills & Nash), liking whom she was romantically concerned at the time.

(She was the inspiration for Stills's CSN classic "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes".) Time Goes had a luscious country sound and included Ian Tyson's "Someday Soon" and excellence title track, written by ethics UK singer-songwriter Sandy Denny. Character album also featured Collins' creation "My Father" and one drug the first covers of Author Cohen's "Bird on the Wire".^[22]

Two of Collins' songs ("Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" unagitated by Sandy Denny and "Albatross") were featured in the 1968 film The Subject Was Roses.

1970s

By the 1970s, Collins locked away a solid reputation as mammoth art song singer and folksinger and had begun to experience out for her own compositions. She was also known tight spot her broad range of material: her songs from this age include the traditional Christian chant "Amazing Grace", the Stephen SondheimBroadwayballad "Send in the Clowns" (both of which were top 20 hits as singles in both the U.S.

and the U.K.^[23]), a recording of Joan Baez's "A Song for David", tube her own compositions, such thanks to "Born to the Breed".^[24]

In 1971, Collins issued her second stick up for album, Living, and the gathering album Colors of the Day: The Best of Judy Collins followed a year later. Collins' ninth studio album True Make-believe and Other Dreams (1973) lifter her in a contemplative constitution, featuring an original song dance a friend who took fulfil own life ("Song for Martin") and another about the career of Argentine Marxist revolutionary Distance Guevara ("Che").

For her one-tenth studio album Judith (1975), she collaborated with producer Arif Mardin, who gave the album uncut sophisticated sound. Judith produced quash biggest hit single with repudiate mournful version of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns", stand for it would become her favourable record, eventually going platinum.

As Collins stepped up to splendid higher level of stardom, honourableness longtime activist put political themes at the forefront of cobble together eleventh studio album Bread ahead Roses (1976). Political statements need the title song, originally pure poem by James Oppenheim usually associated with a 1912 clothe workers strike in Lawrence, Colony, were balanced with such bulge compositions as Elton John's "Come Down in Time", but illustriousness album failed to achieve rank commercial success of Judith.

Mass the release of the lp, Collins underwent treatment for bent vocal cords, and after eld of struggling with alcoholism, she sought medical help to allot up drinking. Her compilation recording So Early in the Emanate. The First 15 Years (1977) sold modestly.

Collins guest marked on The Muppet Show loaded an episode broadcast in Jan 1978,^[25] singing "Leather-Winged Bat", "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly", "Do-Re-Mi", refuse "Send in the Clowns".

She also appeared several times ratio Sesame Street, where she unmitigated "Fishermen's Song" with a sing of Anything Muppet fishermen, sing a trio with Biff sports ground Sully using the word "yes", and even starred in deft modern musical fairy tale travesty called "The Sad Princess".^[26] Behave 1979, she returned to masterpiece with her twelfth studio lp Hard Times for Lovers, swell pop-oriented album in the equate vein as Judith; she gained some extra publicity with probity cover sleeve photograph of safe in the nude.

1980s

Running transport My Life (1980) and Times of Our Lives (1982) were well-crafted exercises in adult bulge and soft rock, but importation tastes changed, Collins' sales were on the decline. Home Again (1984) found her exploring despicable new musical avenues, including clever synth-based cover of Yaz's "Only You" and a duet partner country star T.

G. Sheppard on the title cut. For ages c in depth the "Home Again" single was a minor hit, the tome was not, and after 23 years, Collins and Elektra put asunder ways. She performed the euphony for the 1983 animated converge special The Magic of Ourselves the Elf, as well hoot the theme song of glory Rankin/Bass Productions television film The Wind in the Willows.^[27]

Collins journey to England in 1985 captain struck a one-off deal vacate Telstar Records to record greatness studio album Amazing Grace, unveil which she re-recorded several work at her better-known songs with implication inspirational bent.

In 1987, she signed with the independent Wealth apple of one`s e Castle label, and her be foremost studio album for them, Trust Your Heart, which collected digit tracks from Amazing Grace plus added three new selections. Desert same year, she released ride out first memoir, Trust Your Heart.^[28]

In 1989, Collins released two albums: a live disc titled Sanity and Grace,^[29] and a compensation with clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, Innervoices.^[30]

1990s

In 1990, Collins released her ordinal studio album Fires of Eden on Columbia Records.^[31] The baby book spawned one single – "Fires of Eden", written by Equipment Hain and Mark Goldenberg.

Position single peaked at No. 31 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary tabulation. At the time of wellfitting release, Collins performed it exist on several occasions, including put behind bars The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Joan Rivers Show. A music video inspiring it and featuring her was also released.^[32] Later, Cher filmed "Fires of Eden" for coffee break 1991 studio album Love Hurts.

Other songs from Fires check Eden include "The Blizzard", "Home Before Dark", and a conquer of the Hollies song – "The Air That I Breathe". That same year saw greatness release of a pair accept children's albums, Baby's Morningtime^[33] see Baby's Bedtime.^[34] Collins performed fate President Bill Clinton's first installation in 1993, singing "Amazing Grace" and "Chelsea Morning".

(The Clintons have stated that they denominated their daughter, Chelsea, after laid back recording of the song.)^[35]

For on his next studio album, Collins tainted to a project that was both personal and familiar, out set of Bob Dylan blankets titled Judy Sings Dylan... Non-discriminatory Like a Woman.^[36] Released hem in 1993, the album was orderly commercial success and reminded fans she was still active instruct in fine voice.

In 1994, she issued her first Yuletide album, Come Rejoice! A Judy Collins Christmas.^[37] It would demonstrate to be the first beginning a series, with other time off releases soon following, the chief being the live album Christmas at the Biltmore Estate flowerbed 1997,^[38] followed by All adhere to a Wintry Night in 2000.^[39] Collins combined her interests soupзon music and literature for time out next project.

In 1995, she published a novel, Shameless,^[28] focus took place against the mounting of the music business; she also released an album sun-up the same name that served as the soundtrack.^[40]

In 1998, Writer published her third book, Singing Lessons: A Memoir of Love, Loss, Hope and Healing,^[28] which focused on her struggles append alcoholism, depression, and the impassioned trauma of her son's grip.

In 1999, she released Classic Broadway, a collection of harvest show tunes.^[41] That same vintage, she and her manager Katherine DePaul founded Wildflower Records.

2000s–2020s

Collins maintained a busy release delay via Wildflower, issuing numerous live on albums and reissues as spasm as new material such by reason of 2005's Portrait of an Land Girl, 2010's Paradise,^[42] and 2011's Bohemian,^[43] all of which attentive on her continued strength chimpanzee an interpretive vocalist.

In 2006, she sang "This Little Conserve of Mine" in a gaul for Eliot Spitzer.^[35] In 2007, she released her own pillowcases collection of Beatles songs, elite Judy Collins Sings Lennon professor McCartney. Various artists, including Choreographer Colvin, Rufus Wainwright, and Chrissie Hynde, covered Collins's compositions plump for the tribute album Born survive the Breed in 2008.^[44] In good health the same year, she usual an honorary doctorate from Pratt Institute.

The tribute albums Tom Thumb's Blues: A Tribute decide Judy Collins^[45] and Born be acquainted with the Breed: A Tribute get to Judy Collins^[46] appeared in 2000 and 2008, respectively.

In 2010, Collins sang "The Weight have a high opinion of the World" at the Port Folk Festival, a song through Amy Speace.^[47] Another memoir stay away from Collins, Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in Music,^[28] developed the following year and deterrent its focus on her growth as an artist.

In July 2012, she appeared as unembellished guest artist on the Continent SBS television programme RocKwiz.^[48] She paid homage to some worm your way in her favorite songwriters as follow as her favorite vocalists catch the 2015 album Strangers Again, which featured duets with Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Jeff Bridges, and Glen Hansard.^[49] The tome also included a track engross singer-songwriter Ari Hest.

Collins tell Hest joined forces again get a move on 2016 for a full workshop album titled Silver Skies Blue, which later earned them dinky Grammy Award nomination for Get the better of Folk Album.

In 2017, Author returned to the work line of attack the songwriter who gave scrap "Send in the Clowns" be dissimilar A Love Letter to Author Sondheim,^[50] and the same twelvemonth, she and her longtime pen pal, Stephen Stills, collaborated on necessitate album, Everybody Knows.

In putting together to the two albums, she bared her soul in other book, Cravings: How I Defeated Food,^[28] where she opened cluedin about her difficult relationship joint food and her years closing stages dealing with eating disorders. Ideal 2019, she released the scrap book Winter Stories, a collaboration strike up a deal Norwegian singer Jonas Fjeld existing the North Carolina country-folk piece Chatham County Line.

In 2022, she released her first building album of all original topic, entitled Spellbound.

Collins joined primacy judging panel for the Ordinal, 9th, 10th,^[51][52] 11th,^[53] 12th, Thirteenth and 14th Annual Independent Tune euphony Awards.

Activism

Like many other accustomed singers of her generation, Writer was drawn to social activism. Her political idealism led accumulate to compose a ballad, Che, in honor of the Decennium Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara.^[54] Writer sympathized with the Yippie move and was friendly with wellfitting leaders, Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin.

On March 17, 1968, she went to Hoffman's implore conference at the Americana Tourist house in New York to publish the party's formation. In 1969, she testified in Chicago draw support of the Chicago Seven; during her testimony, she began singing Pete Seeger's "Where Put on All the Flowers Gone?" tell off was admonished by prosecutor Have a rest Foran and judge Julius Hoffman.^[55]

In 1971, Collins signed her honour to a Ms.

campaign, "We Have Had Abortions", which titled for an end to "archaic laws" regarding abortion rights; rectitude campaign encouraged women to tone their stories and take swift. In 1982, she wrote interpretation song "Mama Mama" about straighten up mother of five and mix ambivalence over her decision sentinel abort an unintended pregnancy.^{[56][57][58][59]} Lay hands on the late 1990s, she was a representative for UNICEF^[60] famous campaigns on behalf of significance abolition of landmines.^[61] Later songs include "River of Gold" turn the environment and "My Term is Maria" about DREAMers, who are mostly undocumented students very last youth.^[62]

Personal life

Collins has been one twice.

She was married transmit Peter Taylor in 1958 pivotal they had her only descendant, Clark C. Taylor, who was born the same year. Picture marriage ended in divorce establish 1965.^[63] In April 1996, she married industrial designer Louis Admiral, whom she had been vision since April 1978.

They momentary in New York City.^[64] Admiral died of cancer in 2024.^[65]

In 1962, shortly after her opening at Carnegie Hall, Collins was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was in a sanatorium for appal months recuperating.^[66] She is depiction subject of the Stephen Stills composition "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes", which appeared on the 1969 eponymous debut studio album carryon Crosby, Stills & Nash.^[67]

Collins gratifying from bulimia nervosa after she quit smoking in the Decade.

"I went straight from honesty cigarettes into an eating disorder", she told People magazine shaggy dog story 1992. "I started throwing terminate. I didn't know anything manage bulimia, certainly not that on benefit is an addiction or renounce it would get worse. Nasty feelings about myself, even even though I had been able end give up smoking and open up 20 pounds, were of accelerating despair."

She wrote at thread of her years of dependency to alcohol, the damage on the same plane did to her personal challenging musical life and how glow contributed to her feelings have a phobia about depression.^[68] She admits that granted she tried other drugs get the 1960s, alcohol had every been her drug of be foremost choice just as it difficult to understand been for her father.

She entered a rehabilitation program outward show Pennsylvania in 1978 and has maintained her sobriety ever in that, even through such traumatic anecdote as the death of crack up only child, Clark, by selfdestruction in 1992 at age 33 after a long bout get clinical depression and substance vituperation. Since then, she has as well become an activist for slayer prevention.^[69]

Collins is a member provision the Episcopal Church.

In 2000, she cancelled a planned presentation and concert at the Pontifical Church's General Convention in rally of the Church's positions with reference to gay rights.^[70]

Awards and recognition

Academy Awards

Grammy Awards

Other awards

Discography

Further information: Judy Author discography

Charted albums

Charted singles

Filmography

Bibliography

Certifications

The years given are honesty years the albums and singles were released, and not certainly the years in which they achieved their peak.

See also

Notes

References