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Shirley Collins

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Shirley Collins is an English folk singer, born in 1935 in Hastings, East Sussex. She grew up in a family that loved traditional songs and learned a great deal from her grandfather and an aunt. At seventeen she went to a teacher training college in London, where she became involved in the early folk revival. In 1954 she met the American song collector Alan Lomax. In 1959 she travelled with him through the southern United States, where they recorded many songs. Part of those recordings was released as Sounds of the South.

Music and breakthrough

In 1958 she recorded her first albums, Sweet England and False True Lovers, on which she accompanied herself on banjo. In 1964 she made Folk Roots, New Routes with the guitarist Davey Graham, a blend of jazz and folk. After that she worked mainly with her sister Dolly, who played piano and portative organ, on albums including The Sweet Primeroses and The Power of the True Love Knot. On Anthems in Eden from 1969, David Munrow and his Early Music Consort played period instruments such as rebecs, sackbuts, fiddle and crumhorn. In 1971 she married Ashley Hutchings, with whom she formed the Albion Country Band and the Etchingham Steam Band. After a painful divorce she lost her voice to dysphonia and gave up music. In 2016 she returned with Lodestar.

Influence

Her singing has a clear, sober, almost unadorned sound, without grand gestures. She showed how old songs could sound new with modern ideas, and she became a model for later folk musicians.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Barbara Allen and notice her voice: it is simple and without ornament. Hear how the story of the song and the plain accompaniment carry each other.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: ArtistsBritish and Irish folk music