Judy Collins
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Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer-songwriter and musician with a career spanning seven decades. An
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
-nominated documentary director and a
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
-winning recording artist, she is known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records (which has included
folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
,
country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while ...
,
show tunes A show tune is a song originally written as part of the score of a work of musical theatre or musical film, especially if the piece in question has become a standard, more or less detached in most people's minds from the original context. T ...
,
pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former descri ...
,
rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm a ...
and standards), for her social activism, and for the clarity of her voice. Her discography consists of 36 studio albums, nine live albums, numerous compilation albums, four holiday albums, and 21
singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...
. Collins' debut album, '' A Maid of Constant Sorrow'', was released in 1961 and consisted of traditional
folk songs Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has be ...
. She had her first charting single with "Hard Lovin' Loser" (No. 97) from her 1966 album ''In My Life'', but it was the lead single from her 1967 album '' Wildflowers,'' "
Both Sides, Now "Both Sides, Now" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. First recorded by Judy Collins, it appeared on the US singles chart during the fall of 1968. The next year it was included on Mitchell's album ''Clouds'', and became one of ...
" – written by Joni Mitchell – that gave her international prominence. The single reached No. 8 on the ''Billboard''
Pop Singles chart The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streaming in ...
and won Collins her first
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
for Best Folk Performance. She enjoyed further success with her recordings of " Someday Soon", "
Chelsea Morning "Chelsea Morning" is a song written and composed by Joni Mitchell and recorded for the singer's second album, ''Clouds'', which she released in 1969. Background The song was inspired by Mitchell's room in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City ...
" (also written by Mitchell), "
Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...
", "
Turn! Turn! Turn! "Turn! Turn! Turn!", or "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)", is a song written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s and first recorded in 1959. The lyrics – except for the title, which is repeated throughout the song, and the fin ...
", and "Cook with Honey". Collins experienced the biggest success of her career with her recording of Stephen Sondheim's " Send in the Clowns" from her 1975 album '' Judith''. The single peaked at No. 36 on the ''Billboard'' Pop Singles chart in 1975 and then again in 1977 at No. 19, spending 27 non-consecutive weeks on the chart and earning her a Grammy Award nomination for
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance was a Grammy Award recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959. It was discontinued after the 2011 Grammy season. The awar ...
, as well as a Grammy Award for Sondheim for Song of the Year. ''Judith'' would also become her best-selling studio album; it was certified
Gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile me ...
by the RIAA in 1975 for sales of over 500,000 copies and
Platinum Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver". Pla ...
in 1996 for sales of over 1,000,000 copies. In 2017, Collins's rendition of the song "
Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...
" was selected for preservation in the
National Recording Registry The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States." The registry was established by the National Recording Preservati ...
by the
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library ...
as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant". That same year, she received a Grammy Award nomination for
Best Folk Album The Grammy Award for Best Folk Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for releasing albums in the folk genre. Honors in several ...
for ''
Silver Skies Blue ''Silver Skies Blue'' is an album by Judy Collins and Ari Hest. It earned them a Grammy Award nomination for Best Folk Album The Grammy Award for Best Folk Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 19 ...
'' with
Ari Hest Ari Hest (born 16 June 1979) is an American singer-songwriter from the Bronx borough of New York. Biography Early life and education Hest's father is a college music professor and his mother a cantor. His older brother, Danny, is Hest's forme ...
. In 2019 at the age of 80, she scored her first No. 1 album on an American ''Billboard'' Chart with '' Winter Stories'', a duet album with
Jonas Fjeld Jonas Fjeld (born Terje Lillegård Jensen; 24 September 1952) is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known in the English-speaking world for two albums recorded by Danko/Fjeld/Andersen, a collaboration with Canadian Rick ...
featuring Chatham County Line. In 2022, she released her first album of all original material, entitled '' Spellbound''.


Early life

Collins was born the eldest of five siblings in
Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region ...
, where she spent the first ten years of her life. Her father, a blind singer, pianist and radio show host, took a job in
Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
, in 1949, and the family moved there. Her grandfather was Irish. Collins contracted polio at the age of eleven and spent two months in isolation in a hospital.


Career


Beginnings

Collins studied classical piano with
Antonia Brico Antonia Louisa Brico (Rotterdam, June 26, 1902 – Denver, August 3, 1989) was a Dutch-born conductor and pianist. Early life and education Born Antonia Louisa Brico to a Dutch Catholic unmarried mother in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Brico w ...
, making her public debut at age 13 performing Mozart's Concerto for Two Pianos. Brico took a dim view of her developing interest in folk music, which led her to the difficult decision to discontinue her piano lessons. Years later, after she became known internationally, she invited Brico to one of her concerts in Denver. When they met after the performance, Brico took both of Collins' hands into hers, looked wistfully at her fingers and said, "Little Judy—you really could have gone places." Still later, she discovered that Brico herself had made a living when she was younger playing
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
and
ragtime Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott J ...
piano (''Singing Lessons'', pp. 71–72). In her early life, she met many professional musicians through her father. It was the music of
Woody Guthrie Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism. He has inspired ...
and
Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notably ...
and the
traditional A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...
songs of the
folk revival The American folk music revival began during the 1940s and peaked in popularity in the mid-1960s. Its roots went earlier, and performers like Josh White, Burl Ives, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Big Bill Broonzy, Billie Holiday, Richard Dyer-Benn ...
of the early 1960s, however, that kindled Collins' interest and awoke in her a love of
lyrics Lyrics are words that make up a song, usually consisting of verses and choruses. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist. The words to an extended musical composition such as an opera are, however, usually known as a " libretto" and their writer, ...
. Three years after her debut as a piano
prodigy Prodigy, Prodigies or The Prodigy may refer to: * Child prodigy, a child who produces meaningful output to the level of an adult expert performer ** Chess prodigy, a child who can beat experienced adult players at chess Arts, entertainment, and ...
, she was playing guitar. Her first public appearances as a folk artist after her graduation from Denver's East High School were at Michael's Pub in Boulder, Colorado and the folk club Exodus in Denver. Her music became popular at the
University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, a village in the town of Mansfield. The primary 4,400-acre (17.8 km2) campus is in Storrs, approximately a half hour's drive from H ...
, where her husband taught. She performed at parties and for the campus radio station along with David Grisman and Tom Azarian.


1960s

Collins eventually made her way to
Greenwich Village Greenwich Village ( , , ) is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street to the north, Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. Greenwich Village ...
,
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
, where she played in clubs like Gerde's Folk City until she signed with Elektra Records, a label she was associated with for 35 years. In 1961, she released her first album, '' A Maid of Constant Sorrow'', at age 22. At first, Collins sang traditional folk songs or songs written by others – in particular the protest songwriters of the time, such as
Tom Paxton Thomas Richard Paxton (born October 31, 1937) is an American folk singer-songwriter who has had a music career spanning more than fifty years. In 2009, Paxton received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
, Phil Ochs, and
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
. She recorded her own versions of important songs from the period, such as Dylan's "
Mr. Tambourine Man "Mr. Tambourine Man" is a song written by Bob Dylan, released as the first track of the acoustic side of his March 1965 album '' Bringing It All Back Home''. The song's popularity led to Dylan recording it live many times, and it has been includ ...
" and
Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notably ...
's " Turn, Turn, Turn". She was also instrumental in bringing little-known musicians to a wider public. For example, she recorded songs by Canadian poet
Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...
, who became a close friend over the years. She also recorded songs by singer-songwriters such as
Eric Andersen Eric Andersen (born February 14, 1943) is an American folk music singer-songwriter, who has written songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Linda Ronstadt, the Grateful Dead and many others. Early in his career, in the 1960s, ...
,
Fred Neil Fred Neil (March 16, 1936 – July 7, 2001) was an American folk singer-songwriter active in the 1960s and early 1970s. He did not achieve commercial success as a performer and is mainly known through other people's recordings of his material& ...
,
Ian Tyson Ian Dawson Tyson (September 25, 1933 – December 29, 2022) was a Canadian singer-songwriter who wrote several folk songs, including " Four Strong Winds" and " Someday Soon", and performed with partner Sylvia Tyson as the duo Ian & Sylvia. Ea ...
, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman,
Robin Williamson Robin Duncan Harry Williamson (born 24 November 1943) is a Scottish multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and storyteller who was a founding member of The Incredible String Band. Career Williamson lived in the Fairmilehead area of Edinbu ...
, and
Richard Fariña Richard George Fariña ( Spanish IPA: ) (March 8, 1937 – April 30, 1966) was an American folksinger, songwriter, poet and novelist. Early years and education Fariña was born in Brooklyn, New York, United States, the son of an Irish mother, ...
long before they gained national acclaim. Collins' first few albums consisted of straightforward guitar-based folk songs, but in 1966 with ''
In My Life "In My Life" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It appeared on their 1965 album '' Rubber Soul''. Its lyrics were written primarily by John Lennon, credited to Lennon–McCartney. George Martin contributed the piano solo bridge. ...
,'' she began branching out to include works from such diverse sources as
the Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...
,
Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...
, Jacques Brel, and Kurt Weill.
Mark Abramson Mark Kerner Abramson (March 16, 1934 – May 20, 2007) was an American record producer and artist. He produced recordings of Judy Collins, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Bob Gibson, Love, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, Judy Henske, Josh White, The ...
produced and
Joshua Rifkin Joshua Rifkin (born April 22, 1944 in New York) is an American conductor, pianist, and musicologist; he is currently a professor of music at Boston University. As a performer he has recorded music by composers from Antoine Busnois to Silvestr ...
arranged the album, adding lush orchestration to many of the numbers. The album was a major departure for a folk artist and set the course for Collins' subsequent work over the next decade. With her 1967 album '' Wildflowers'', also produced by Abramson and arranged by Rifkin, Collins began to record her own compositions, beginning with "Since You Asked". The album also provided her with a major hit and a
Grammy award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
in Mitchell's "
Both Sides, Now "Both Sides, Now" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. First recorded by Judy Collins, it appeared on the US singles chart during the fall of 1968. The next year it was included on Mitchell's album ''Clouds'', and became one of ...
", which in December 1968 reached No. 8 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, later (February 1970) reaching No. 14 on the
UK singles chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
. Collins' 1968 album '' Who Knows Where the Time Goes'' was produced by
David Anderle David Anderle (July 9, 1937 – September 1, 2014) was an American A&R man, record producer, and portrait artist. He is best known for his business associations with the Beach Boys during the production of the band's unfinished album ''Smile'' a ...
, and featured back-up guitar by Stephen Stills (of
Crosby, Stills & Nash Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) were a folk rock supergroup made up of American singer-songwriters David Crosby and Stephen Stills and English singer-songwriter Graham Nash. When joined by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young as a fourth member ...
), with whom she was romantically involved at the time. (She was the inspiration for Stills's CSN classic " Suite: Judy Blue Eyes".) ''Time Goes'' had a mellow
country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while ...
sound and included
Ian Tyson Ian Dawson Tyson (September 25, 1933 – December 29, 2022) was a Canadian singer-songwriter who wrote several folk songs, including " Four Strong Winds" and " Someday Soon", and performed with partner Sylvia Tyson as the duo Ian & Sylvia. Ea ...
's " Someday Soon" and the title track, written by the UK singer-songwriter
Sandy Denny Alexandra Elene MacLean Denny (6 January 1947 – 21 April 1978) was an English singer who was lead singer of the British folk rock band Fairport Convention. She has been described as "the pre-eminent British folk rock singer". After briefly w ...
. The album also featured Collins' composition "My Father" and one of the first covers of Leonard Cohen's "
Bird on the Wire "Bird on the Wire" is one of Leonard Cohen's signature songs. It was recorded 26 September 1968 in Nashville and included on his 1969 album ''Songs from a Room''. A May 1968 recording produced by David Crosby, titled "Like a Bird", was added to ...
". Two of Collins' songs ("Who Knows Where The Time Goes" composed by Sandy Denny and "Albatross") were featured in the 1968 film ''
The Subject Was Roses ''The Subject Was Roses'' is a Pulitzer Prize-winning 1964 play written by Frank D. Gilroy, who also adapted the work in 1968 for a film with the same title. Background The play premiered on Broadway at the Royale Theatre on May 25, 1964, st ...
''.


1970s

By the 1970s, Collins had a solid reputation as an art song singer and folksinger and had begun to stand out for her own compositions. She was also known for her broad range of material: her songs from this period include the traditional Christian
hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hy ...
"
Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...
", the Stephen Sondheim
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
" Send in the Clowns" (both of which were top 20 hits as singles in both the U.S. and the U.K.), a recording of
Joan Baez Joan Chandos Baez (; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing more ...
's " A Song for David", and her own compositions, such as "Born to the Breed". In 1971, Collins issued her second concert album, ''Living'', and the compilation '' Colors of the Day: The Best of Judy Collins'' followed a year later. 1973's ''
True Stories and Other Dreams ''True Stories and Other Dreams'' is the ninth studio album by American singer and songwriter Judy Collins, released by Elektra Records in 1973. It peaked at No. 27 on the ''Billboard'' Pop Albums charts. The album included Valerie Carter's " ...
'' found her in a contemplative mood, featuring an original song about a friend who took his own life ("Song for Martin") and another about the life of
Che Guevara Ernesto Che Guevara (; 14 June 1928The date of birth recorded on /upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ernesto_Guevara_Acta_de_Nacimiento.jpg his birth certificatewas 14 June 1928, although one tertiary source, (Julia Constenla, quot ...
("Che"). For 1975's '' Judith'', she collaborated with producer Arif Mardin, who gave the album a sophisticated sound. ''Judith'' produced her biggest hit single with her mournful version of Stephen Sondheim's " Send in the Clowns", and it would become her best-selling record, eventually going platinum. As Collins stepped up to a higher level of stardom, the longtime activist put political themes at the forefront of 1976's ''Bread and Roses''. Political statements like the title song, originally a poem by
James Oppenheim James Oppenheim (24 May 1882 – 4 August 1932) was an American poet, novelist, and editor. A lay analyst and early follower of Carl Jung, Oppenheim was also a founder and editor of ''The Seven Arts''. Life and work Oppenheim was born in St. ...
commonly associated with a 1912 garment workers strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, were balanced with such pop compositions as Elton John's "Come Down in Time", but the album failed to achieve the commercial success of ''Judith''. Following the release of the album, Collins underwent treatment for damaged vocal cords, and after years of struggling with alcoholism, she sought medical help to give up drinking. 1977's ''So Early in the Spring...The First 15 Years'' sold modestly. Collins guest starred on ''
The Muppet Show ''The Muppet Show'' is a sketch comedy television series created by Jim Henson and featuring the Muppets. The series originated as two pilot episodes produced by Henson for ABC in 1974 and 1975. While neither episode was moved forward as a s ...
'' in an episode broadcast in January 1978, singing "
Leather-Winged Bat "Leather-Winged Bat" is an English folk song about a collection of "birds". The song's most used cast members are usually bat, a wood pecker, a blue bird, owl and turtle dove (bats, of course, technically being mammals and not birds). However, depe ...
", " I Know An Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly", " Do Re Mi", and "Send in the Clowns". She also appeared several times on ''
Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000) ...
'', where she performed "Fishermen's Song" with a chorus of
Anything Muppet The Muppets are an ensemble group of comedic puppet characters originally created by Jim Henson. The Muppets have appeared in multiple television series, films, and other media appearances since the 1950s. The majority of the characters listed ...
fishermen, sang a trio with
Biff and Sully The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson, many for the purpose of appearing on the children's television program ''Sesame Street''. Some of the best known Muppets on ''Sesame Street'' include Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch ...
using the word "yes", and even starred in a modern musical fairy tale skit called "The Sad Princess". In 1979, she returned to music with ''Hard Times for Lovers'', a pop-oriented album in the same vein as ''Judith''; she gained some extra publicity with the cover sleeve photograph of her in the nude.


1980s

'' Running for My Life'' (1980) and '' Time of Our Lives'' (1982) were well-crafted exercises in adult pop and soft rock, but as tastes changed, Collins' sales were on the decline. '' Home Again'' (1984) found her exploring some new musical avenues, including a synth-based cover of Yaz's "Only You" and a duet with country star
T.G. Sheppard William Neal Browder (born July 20, 1944) is an American country music singer-songwriter, known professionally as T. G. Sheppard. He had 14 number-one hits on the US country charts between 1974 and 1986, including eight consecutive number ones ...
on the title cut. While the "Home Again" single was a minor hit, the album was not, and after 23 years, Collins and Elektra parted ways. She performed the music for the 1983 animated special ''
The Magic of Herself the Elf ''The Magic of Herself the Elf'' (also known by its on-screen title, ''The Special Magic of Herself the Elf'') is a 1983 American animated television special that premiered in the United States on July 30, 1983 in broadcast syndication. The specia ...
'', as well as the theme song of the
Rankin-Bass Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment (founded and formerly known as Videocraft International, Ltd. and Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc.) was an American production company located in New York City, and known for its seasonal television specials, usual ...
TV movie ''
The Wind in the Willows ''The Wind in the Willows'' is a children's novel by the British novelist Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. It details the story of Mole, Ratty, and Badger as they try to help Mr. Toad, after he becomes obsessed with motorcars and get ...
''. Collins traveled to England in 1985 and struck a one-off deal with Telstar Records to record the album ''
Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...
'', in which she re-recorded several of her better-known songs with an inspirational bent. In 1987, she signed with the independent Gold Castle label, and her first album for them, ''
Trust Your Heart ''Trust Your Heart'' is an album by Judy Collins, released in 1987 by Gold Castle. The album liner notes credit Judy Collins with "overall production". It was released simultaneously with her autobiography of the same name. It is composed of se ...
'', which collected seven tracks from ''Amazing Grace'' and added three new selections. That same year, she released her first memoir, ''Trust Your Heart''. In 1989, Collins released two albums: a live disc titled ''Sanity and Grace'', and a collaboration with clarinetist
Richard Stoltzman Richard Leslie Stoltzman (born July 12, 1942) is an American clarinetist. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he spent his early years in San Francisco, California, and Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from Woodward High School in 1960. Today, Stoltzman is part ...
, ''Innervoices''.


1990s

In 1990, Collins released the album '' Fires of Eden'' on Columbia Records. The album spawned one single – "Fires of Eden", written by
Kit Hain Kit Hain (born 15 December 1956) is a British musician, songwriter and writer. She was a member of the rock duo Marshall Hain and had a solo career as a performer and songwriter. Musical career Hain met Julian Marshall while they were pupils ...
and
Mark Goldenberg Mark Goldenberg (born April 10, 1952) is an American guitarist and songwriter, noted for his session work and composition of successful songs for Linda Ronstadt, the Pointer Sisters, and others. Biography Early career Raised in Chicago, Illin ...
. The single peaked at No. 31 on Billboard's
Adult Contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quie ...
chart. At the time of its release, Collins performed it live on several occasions, including on ''
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' was an American late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson on NBC, the third iteration of the ''Tonight Show'' franchise. The show debuted on October 1, 1962, and aired its final episode on May 22, ...
'' and ''
The Joan Rivers Show ''The Joan Rivers Show'' is an American talk show hosted by comedian Joan Rivers that premiered on September 5, 1989, in broadcast syndication. The show aired for five seasons, and ended in December 1993. The show was nominated for numerous Emmy A ...
''. A music video promoting it and featuring her was also released. Later, Cher recorded "Fires of Eden" for her 1991 album ''
Love Hurts "Love Hurts" is a song written and composed by the American songwriter Boudleaux Bryant. First recorded by the Everly Brothers in July 1960, the song is most well known from the 1974 international hit version by Scottish hard rock band Nazare ...
''. Other songs from ''Fires of Eden'' include "The Blizzard", "Home Before Dark", and a cover of
The Hollies The Hollies are a British pop rock band, formed in 1962. One of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid-1970s, they are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Allan Clarke and Graham Nash founded the band ...
song – "
The Air That I Breathe "The Air That I Breathe" is a ballad written by British-Gibraltarian singer-songwriter Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, initially recorded by Hammond on his debut album, ''It Never Rains in Southern California'' (1972). It was a major hit for t ...
". That same year saw the release of a pair of children's albums, ''Baby's Morningtime'' and ''Baby's Bedtime''. Collins performed at President
Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
's first inauguration in 1993, singing "
Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...
" and "
Chelsea Morning "Chelsea Morning" is a song written and composed by Joni Mitchell and recorded for the singer's second album, ''Clouds'', which she released in 1969. Background The song was inspired by Mitchell's room in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City ...
". (The Clintons have stated that they named their daughter,
Chelsea Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to: Places Australia * Chelsea, Victoria Canada * Chelsea, Nova Scotia * Chelsea, Quebec United Kingdom * Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames ** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...
, after her recording of the song.) For her next album, Collins turned to a project that was both personal and familiar, a set of Bob Dylan covers titled ''Judy Collins Sings Dylan: Just Like a Woman''. Released in 1993, the album was a commercial success and reminded fans she was still active and in fine voice. In 1994, she issued her first
Christmas album Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music regularly performed or heard around the Christmas season. Music associated with Christmas may be purely instrumental, or, in the case of carols or songs, may employ lyrics whose subject ma ...
, ''Come Rejoice! A Judy Collins Christmas''. It would prove to be the first in a series, with other holiday releases soon following, the first being the live album ''Christmas at the Biltmore Estate'' in 1997, followed by ''All on a Wintry Night'' in 2000. Collins combined her interests in music and literature for her next project. In 1995, she published a novel, ''Shameless'', that took place against the backdrop of the music business; she also released an album of the same name that served as the soundtrack. In 1998, Collins published her third book, ''Singing Lessons: A Memoir of Love'', ''Loss, Hope and Healing,'' which focused on her struggles with alcoholism, depression, and the emotional trauma of her son's death. In 1999, she released ''Classic Broadway'', a collection of vintage show tunes. That same year, she and her manager Katherine DePaul founded ''Wildflower Records''.


2000s–2020s

Collins maintained a busy release schedule via Wildflower, issuing numerous live albums and reissues as well as new material such as 2005's ''
Portrait of an American Girl ''Portrait of an American Girl'' is an album by Judy Collins, released in 2005. Track listing #"Singing Lessons" (Collins) - 4:05 #"That Song About the Midway" ( Joni Mitchell) - 4:09 #"Can't Cry Hard Enough" (Marvin Etzioni, David Williams) - 3: ...
'', 2010's ''Paradise'', and 2011's ''Bohemian'', all of which focused on her continued strength as an interpretive vocalist. In 2006, she sang "
This Little Light of Mine "This Little Light of Mine" is a popular gospel song of unknown origin. It was often reported to be written for children in the 1920s by Harry Dixon Loes, but he never claimed credit for the original version of the song, and the Moody Bible Inst ...
" in a commercial for Eliot Spitzer. In 2007, she released her own covers collection of Beatles songs, entitled '' Judy Collins Sings Lennon and McCartney''. Various artists, including
Shawn Colvin Shawn Colvin (born Shawna Lee Colvin, January 10, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. While Colvin has been a solo recording artist for decades, she is best known for her 1998 Grammy Award-winning song " Sunny Came Home". Early ...
,
Rufus Wainwright Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright (born July 22, 1973) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and composer. He has recorded 10 studio albums and numerous tracks on compilations and film soundtracks. He has also written two classical operas and set ...
, and Chrissie Hynde, covered Collins's compositions for the tribute album '' Born to the Breed'' in 2008. In the same year, she received an honorary doctorate from Pratt Institute. The tribute albums ''Tom Thumb's Blues: A Tribute to Judy Collins'' and ''Born To the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins'' appeared in 2000 and 2008, respectively. In 2010, Collins sang "The Weight of the World" at the
Newport Folk Festival Newport Folk Festival is an annual American folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the Newport Jazz Festival. It was one of the first modern music festivals in America, and remains a foca ...
, a song by
Amy Speace Amy Speace is a Nashville-based folk/ Americana American singer-songwriter and essayist from Baltimore, Maryland. National Public Radio described her voice as "velvety and achy" and compared her to Lucinda Williams. She lives in Nashville, Tenn ...
. Another memoir from Collins, ''Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in Music'', appeared the following year and put its focus on her career as an artist. In July 2012, she appeared as a guest artist on the Australian SBS television programme '' RocKwiz''. She paid homage to some of her favorite songwriters as well as her favorite vocalists with the 2015 album ''Strangers Again'', which featured duets with
Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album '' Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of '' Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (1 ...
, Jackson Browne,
Jeff Bridges Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949) is an American actor. He has received various accolades throughout his career spanning over seven decades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Bridges comes from a prominent ac ...
, and
Glen Hansard Glen Hansard (born 21 April 1970) is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and actor. Since 1990, he has been the frontman of the Irish rock band The Frames, with whom he has released six studio albums, four of which have charted in the top te ...
. The album also included a track with singer and songwriter
Ari Hest Ari Hest (born 16 June 1979) is an American singer-songwriter from the Bronx borough of New York. Biography Early life and education Hest's father is a college music professor and his mother a cantor. His older brother, Danny, is Hest's forme ...
. Collins and Hest joined forces again in 2016 for a full album titled ''
Silver Skies Blue ''Silver Skies Blue'' is an album by Judy Collins and Ari Hest. It earned them a Grammy Award nomination for Best Folk Album The Grammy Award for Best Folk Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 19 ...
'', which later earned them a Grammy Award nomination for
Best Folk Album The Grammy Award for Best Folk Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for releasing albums in the folk genre. Honors in several ...
. In 2017, Collins returned to the work of the songwriter who gave her " Send in the Clowns" with ''A Love Letter to Stephen Sondheim'', and the same year, she and her longtime friend, Stephen Stills, collaborated on an album, '' Everybody Knows''. In addition to the two albums, she bared her soul in another book, ''Cravings: How I Conquered Food,'' where she opened up about her difficult relationship with food and her years of dealing with eating disorders. In 2019, she released the album '' Winter Stories'', a collaboration with Norwegian singer
Jonas Fjeld Jonas Fjeld (born Terje Lillegård Jensen; 24 September 1952) is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known in the English-speaking world for two albums recorded by Danko/Fjeld/Andersen, a collaboration with Canadian Rick ...
and the
North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
country-folk quartet Chatham County Line. In 2022, she released her first album of all original material, entitled '' Spellbound''. Collins joined the judging panel for the 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Annual Independent Music Awards.


Activism

Like many other
folk singer Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
s of her generation, Collins was drawn to social activism. Her political idealism also led her to compose a ballad entitled "Che" in honor of the 1960s Marxist icon
Che Guevara Ernesto Che Guevara (; 14 June 1928The date of birth recorded on /upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ernesto_Guevara_Acta_de_Nacimiento.jpg his birth certificatewas 14 June 1928, although one tertiary source, (Julia Constenla, quot ...
. Collins sympathized with the
Yippie The Youth International Party (YIP), whose members were commonly called Yippies, was an American youth-oriented radical and countercultural revolutionary offshoot of the free speech and anti-war movements of the late 1960s. It was founded on ...
movement and was friendly with its leaders, Abbie Hoffman and
Jerry Rubin Jerry Clyde Rubin (July 14, 1938 – November 28, 1994) was an American social activist, anti-war leader, and counterculture icon during the 1960s and 1970s. During the 1980s, he became a successful businessman. He is known for being one of the ...
. On March 17, 1968, she attended Hoffman's press conference at the Americana Hotel in New York to announce the party's formation. In 1969, she testified in Chicago in support of the
Chicago Seven The Chicago Seven, originally the Chicago Eight and also known as the Conspiracy Eight or Conspiracy Seven, were seven defendants—Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, John Froines, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Lee Weiner—charged by ...
; during her testimony, she began singing Pete Seeger's "
Where Have All the Flowers Gone? "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" is a modern folk-style song. Inspired lyrically by the traditional Cossack folk song "Koloda-Duda", Pete Seeger borrowed an Irish melody and the first three verses in 1955 and published it in '' Sing Out!'' mag ...
" and was admonished by prosecutor
Tom Foran Thomas Aquinas Foran (January 11, 1924 – August 6, 2000) was a United States Attorney best known as the chief prosecutor in the Chicago Seven conspiracy trial in which seven defendants, including Jerry Rubin, Abbie Hoffman, David Dellinger, ...
and judge Julius Hoffman. In 1971, Collins signed her name to a '' Ms''. campaign, "We Have Had Abortions", which called for an end to "archaic laws" regarding abortion rights; the campaign encouraged women to share their stories and take action. In 1982, she wrote the song "Mama Mama" about a mother of five and her ambivalence over her decision to abort an unintended pregnancy. In the late 1990s, she was a representative for
UNICEF UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to ...
and campaigns on behalf of the abolition of landmines. Later songs include "River of Gold" about the environment and "My Name is Maria" about DREAM Act, dreamers.


Personal life

Collins has been married twice. Her first marriage in 1958 to Peter Taylor produced her only child, Clark C. Taylor, born the same year. The marriage ended in divorce in 1965. In April 1996, she married designer Louis Nelson (artist), Louis Nelson, whom she had been seeing since April 1978. They lived in New York City. In 1962, shortly after her debut at Carnegie Hall, Collins was diagnosed with tuberculosis and spent six months recuperating in a sanatorium. Collins is the subject of the Stephen Stills composition " Suite: Judy Blue Eyes", which appeared on the 1969 Crosby, Stills & Nash (album), eponymous debut album of
Crosby, Stills & Nash Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) were a folk rock supergroup made up of American singer-songwriters David Crosby and Stephen Stills and English singer-songwriter Graham Nash. When joined by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young as a fourth member ...
. Collins suffered from bulimia after she quit smoking in the 1970s. "I went straight from the cigarettes into an eating disorder", she told ''People (magazine), People'' magazine in 1992. "I started throwing up. I didn't know anything about bulimia, certainly not that it is an addiction or that it would get worse. My feelings about myself, even though I had been able to give up smoking and lose 20 lbs., were of increasing despair." She has written at length of her years of addiction to alcohol, the damage it did to her personal and musical life and how it contributed to her feelings of depression. She admits that although she tried other drugs in the 1960s, alcohol had always been her drug of first choice, just as it had been for her father. She entered a rehabilitation program in Pennsylvania in 1978 and has maintained her sobriety ever since, even through such traumatic events as the death of her only child, Clark, by suicide in 1992 at age 33 after a long bout with clinical depression and substance abuse. Since then, she has also become an activist for suicide prevention.


Awards and recognition


Academy Awards

*In 2003, ''Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman'' was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library ...
and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.


Grammy Awards

* Stephen Sondheim won the 1976 Grammy Award for Song of the Year based on the popularity of Collins' performance of " Send in the Clowns" on her album '' Judith''.


Other awards

* For her activism and musical abilities, the Americana Music Association presented Collins with the "Spirit of Americana"/Free Speech Lifetime Achievement Award at their 2005 Americana Music Honors & Awards, Honors & Awards ceremony. * She was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2006 * She was received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree from Pratt Institute in May 2009 * In 2009, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. * Her rendition of "
Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...
" was selected for preservation in the
National Recording Registry The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States." The registry was established by the National Recording Preservati ...
by the
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library ...
as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant" in 2017. * She received the Golden Plate Award of the Academy of Achievement, American Academy of Achievement in 2019. * Collins received the International Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Americana Music Honors & Awards#UK_Americana_Music_Association_Awards, UK Americana Awards.


Discography


Charted albums


Charted singles


Filmography

*''The Doctors (1963 TV series), The Doctors (TV series)'' (1982) Judith Howard *''Baby's Bedtime'' (1992) *''Baby's Morningtime'' (1992) *''Junior (1994 film), Junior'' (1994), the operator of a spa for pregnant women *''Christy (TV series)'' (1994–1995), recurring role as "Aunt Hattie McHone" *''Christmas at the Biltmore Estate'' (1998) *''A Town Has Turned to Dust'' (1998), telefilm based on a 1958 Rod Serling story *''The Best of Judy Collins'' (1999) *''Intimate Portrait: Judy Collins'' (2000) *''Judy Collins Live at Wolf Trap'' (2003) *''Wildflower Festival'' (2003) (DVD with guest artists
Eric Andersen Eric Andersen (born February 14, 1943) is an American folk music singer-songwriter, who has written songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Linda Ronstadt, the Grateful Dead and many others. Early in his career, in the 1960s, ...
, Arlo Guthrie, and Tom Rush) *''Girls (TV series)'' (2013), List of Girls episodes, series 2, episode 8: "It's Back" * Danny Says (film), ''Danny Says'' (2016)


Bibliography

*''Trust Your Heart'' (1987) *''Amazing Grace'' (1991) *''Shameless'' (1995) *''Singing Lessons'' (1998) *''Sanity and Grace: A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength'' (2003) *''The Seven T's: Finding Hope and Healing in the Wake of Tragedy'' (2007) *''Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in Music'' (2011) *''Cravings: How I Conquered Food'' (2017)


Certifications

The years given are the years the albums and singles were released, and not necessarily the years in which they achieved their peak. U.S. Billboard Top 40 Albums * 1967 – '' Wildflowers'' (No. 5) * 1968 – '' Who Knows Where the Time Goes'' (No. 28) * 1969 – ''Recollections'' (No. 29) * 1970 – ''Whales & Nightingales'' (No. 15) * 1972 – ''Colors of the Day, Colors of the Day: The Best of Judy Collins'' (No. 37) * 1972 – ''
True Stories and Other Dreams ''True Stories and Other Dreams'' is the ninth studio album by American singer and songwriter Judy Collins, released by Elektra Records in 1973. It peaked at No. 27 on the ''Billboard'' Pop Albums charts. The album included Valerie Carter's " ...
'' (No. 27) * 1975 – '' Judith'' (No. 17) * 1976 – ''Bread and Roses (album), Bread and Roses'' (No. 25) U.S. Billboard Top 40 'Pop' Singles * 1968 – "
Both Sides, Now "Both Sides, Now" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. First recorded by Judy Collins, it appeared on the US singles chart during the fall of 1968. The next year it was included on Mitchell's album ''Clouds'', and became one of ...
" (No. 8) * 1971 – "
Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...
" (No. 15) * 1970 – "Cook with Honey" (No. 32) * 1975 – "Send In the Clowns" (No. 19) U.S. Billboard Top 40 'Adult Contemporary' Singles * 1968 – "
Both Sides, Now "Both Sides, Now" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. First recorded by Judy Collins, it appeared on the US singles chart during the fall of 1968. The next year it was included on Mitchell's album ''Clouds'', and became one of ...
" (No. 3) * 1969 – " Someday Soon" (No. 37) * 1969 – "
Chelsea Morning "Chelsea Morning" is a song written and composed by Joni Mitchell and recorded for the singer's second album, ''Clouds'', which she released in 1969. Background The song was inspired by Mitchell's room in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City ...
" (No. 25) * 1969 – "Turn! Turn! Turn!, Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)" (No. 28) * 1971 – "
Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...
" (No. 5) * 1971 – "Open the Door (Song for Judith)" (No. 23) * 1973 – "Cook with Honey" (No. 10) * 1975 – "Send In the Clowns" (No. 8) * 1979 – "Hard Times for Lovers" (No. 16) * 1990 – "Fires of Eden" (No. 31) Albums and singles certifications


See also

*List of peace activists


Notes


References


External links

*
Audio interview with Judy CollinsAudio interview, Minnesota Public Radio 7 April 2009
*
Judy Collins profile (#549)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, Judy Judy Collins, 1939 births Living people American acoustic guitarists American country singer-songwriters American women country singers American women singer-songwriters American folk guitarists American folk singers American sopranos American women pianists American people of Irish descent Grammy Award winners Nautilus Book Award winners American anti–Vietnam War activists Yippies Elektra Records artists Geffen Records artists MCA Records artists Atlantic Records artists Cleopatra Records artists People with polio Singers from Denver Singer-songwriters from Washington (state) Musicians from Seattle Guitarists from Colorado Guitarists from Washington (state) 20th-century American women guitarists 20th-century American guitarists 21st-century American women guitarists 21st-century American guitarists 20th-century American composers 21st-century American composers 20th-century American pianists 21st-century American pianists 20th-century American women singers 21st-century American women singers 20th-century women composers 21st-century women composers 20th-century American singers 21st-century American singers Singer-songwriters from Colorado