Madelaine Edith Prior
MBE Mbe may refer to:
* Mbé, a town in the Republic of the Congo
* Mbe Mountains Community Forest, in Nigeria
* Mbe language, a language of Nigeria
* Mbe' language, language of Cameroon
* ''mbe'', ISO 639 code for the extinct Molala language
Molal ...
(born 14 August 1947) is an English folk singer, best known as the lead vocalist of
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span are a British folk rock band formed in 1969 in England by Fairport Convention bass player Ashley Hutchings and established London folk club duo Tim Hart and Maddy Prior. The band were part of the 1970s British folk revival, and we ...
. She was born in Blackpool and moved to
St Albans
St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major ...
in her teens. Her father,
Allan Prior
Allan Prior (13 January 1922, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, – 1 June 2006) was an English television scriptwriter and novelist, who wrote over 300 television episodes from the 1950s onwards.
He was founder-writer of influential polic ...
, was co-creator of the police drama ''
Z-Cars
''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by the BBC, it debuted ...
''. She was married to Steeleye bass guitarist
Rick Kemp, and their daughter,
Rose Kemp, is also a singer. Their son, Alex Kemp, is, like his father, a guitarist and has deputised for his father playing bass guitar for Steeleye Span. She was part of the singing duo 'Mac & Maddy', with
Mac MacLeod
Keith MacLeod (popularly known as "Mac" MacLeod) (9 July 1941 – 16 November 2020), was an English musician who was a part of the Hertfordshire Folk music, folk and blues scene from 1959 onwards. He played in St Albans alongside Mick Softley a ...
. She then performed with
Tim Hart and recorded two albums with him, before they helped to found the group Steeleye Span, in 1969. She left Steeleye Span in 1997, but returned in 2002, and has toured with them since. With
June Tabor she was the singing duo
Silly Sisters
The Silly Sisters is an English folk music duo, formed in 1976 by Maddy Prior and June Tabor.
History
Initially they performed together under their own names, and as such released their first album, ''Silly Sisters'', later taking this name ...
. She toured with the Carnival Band, in 2007, and with
Giles Lewin
Giles Lewin is a British violinist and bagpiper. Currently a member of The Carnival Band, he was also a founding member of the folk band, Bellowhead.
Biography
He was born in Essex in 1960 or slightly earlier. At age nine, he sang the female ...
and
Hannah James, in 2012 and 2013. She has released singles and albums as a solo artist, with these bands and in several collaborations. She runs an Arts Centre called Stones Barn, in
Bewcastle
Bewcastle is a large civil parish in the City of Carlisle district of Cumbria, England. It is in the Historic counties of England, historic county of Cumberland.
According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 411, reducing to 391 at ...
, in Cumbria, which offers residential courses.
Early life
Born in
Blackpool
Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the North West England, northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the Borough of Blackpool, borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, betw ...
, Prior moved in her teens to
St Albans
St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major ...
, where she befriended the young
Donovan Leitch and
Mac MacLeod
Keith MacLeod (popularly known as "Mac" MacLeod) (9 July 1941 – 16 November 2020), was an English musician who was a part of the Hertfordshire Folk music, folk and blues scene from 1959 onwards. He played in St Albans alongside Mick Softley a ...
in ''The Cock'' pub. She later formed a duo with MacLeod called 'Mac & Maddy'. She became a
roadie for visiting American musicians, including
Reverend Gary Davis
Reverend Gary Davis, also Blind Gary Davis (born Gary D. Davis, April 30, 1896 – May 5, 1972), was a blues and gospel singer who was also proficient on the banjo, guitar and harmonica. Born in Laurens, South Carolina and blind since infancy ...
. They gave her useful advice about singing English folk songs instead of American songs. Her father,
Allan Prior
Allan Prior (13 January 1922, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, – 1 June 2006) was an English television scriptwriter and novelist, who wrote over 300 television episodes from the 1950s onwards.
He was founder-writer of influential polic ...
, was co-creator of the police drama ''
Z-Cars
''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by the BBC, it debuted ...
'', and wrote ''Stookie'', a 6-part series for television, about a boy with his arm in a sling. Maddy sang the title song, which was released as a single in 1985. It reappeared on the Steeleye Span album ''A Rare Collection 1972 – 1996''.
Singing career
After a brief stint with Mac MacLeod in 'Mac & Maddy' (another act formed at ''The Cock'' pub), by 1966 she began performing with
Tim Hart, another St Albans resident, and together they recorded two albums before becoming founding members of
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span are a British folk rock band formed in 1969 in England by Fairport Convention bass player Ashley Hutchings and established London folk club duo Tim Hart and Maddy Prior. The band were part of the 1970s British folk revival, and we ...
in 1969.
They were the backbone of the group until the early 1980s when ill-health forced Hart into semi-retirement. Prior plays the
tambourine
The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though ...
,
spoons
Spoons may refer to:
* Spoon, a utensil commonly used with soup
* Spoons (card game), the card game of Donkey, but using spoons
Film and TV
* ''Spoons'' (TV series), a 2005 UK comedy sketch show
*Spoons, a minor character from ''The Sopranos''
...
and ukulele, and always gives a sprightly performance of her individual dances. In 1974
Ralph McTell
Ralph McTell (born Ralph May, 3 December 1944) is an English singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s. McTell is best known for his song " Streets of London" (19 ...
wrote "Maddy Dances" in her honour, included on his album ''Easy''.
Prior married bassist
Rick Kemp, though they have since divorced. The singer
Rose Kemp is their daughter.
Prior has recorded session work, albums of her own songs and eclectic styles from medieval (with
The Carnival Band), through
British folk rock
British folk rock is a form of folk rock which developed in the United Kingdom from the mid 1960s, and was at its most significant in the 1970s. Though the merging of folk and rock music came from several sources, it is widely regarded that the ...
— Steeleye Span and Maddy Prior appeared on television with a regular BBC 4 programme ''Electric Folk'' —
prog-rock
Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Init ...
and
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, including session work on
Mike Oldfield's ''
Incantations''. She left Steeleye Span in 1997 but returned in 2002. The 1999 album ''The Journey'' was recorded in 1995, when Maddy was still in the band, but not released until four years later. She was also one half of the duo
Silly Sisters
The Silly Sisters is an English folk music duo, formed in 1976 by Maddy Prior and June Tabor.
History
Initially they performed together under their own names, and as such released their first album, ''Silly Sisters'', later taking this name ...
, which helped to boost
June Tabor's career.
Since 2003 Prior has run and hosted an Arts Centre called Stones Barn in
Cumbria
Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England, bordering Scotland. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local government, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumb ...
. Working with fellow singers and performers like Abbie Lathe and daughter Rose Kemp, Prior has offered residential courses focusing on singing, meditation, cookery and performance. Other events, hosted by other teachers, include classical Indian dances, painting and drumming. Prior campaigns on behalf of the charity
Cancer Research UK.
In 1983, Maddy became the namesake for
Madelyne Pryor
Madelyne Jennifer Pryor is a Character (arts), fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith (comics), Paul Smith, the character first appeared in ''Uncann ...
of the
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in ...
, created by
Chris Claremont
Christopher S. Claremont (; born November 25, 1950) is a British-born American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on ''Uncanny X-Men'' from 1975 to 1991, far longer than that of any other writer,Claremont, Chris. ''Marvel ...
and
Paul Smith. The band was directly referenced five years after Pryor's first appearance in the comics in ''Uncanny X-Men'' #238 with Pryor's child self singing a line from "Gone to America", one of Steeleye Span's biggest hits. Claremont had previously named a one-shot character "Maddy Pryor" in ''Avengers Annual'' #10 (1981).
Recent tours and albums
Maddy Prior took to the road with
The Carnival Band in May 2007 for their "Music for Tavern and Chapel" tour. They celebrated the 300th anniversary of one of the key influences on their work,
Charles Wesley. She made a guest appearance with
The Levellers
The Levellers were a political movement active during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms who were committed to popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, equality before the law and religious tolerance. The hallmark of Leveller thought was its popul ...
at the
Solfest
Solfest is a music and arts festival on the Solway Coast in the North West of England. It is held annually at North Lakes Country Park on the August Bank Holiday weekend. It has grown from a 1,800 capacity event in 2004 to a 10,000 capacity f ...
Festival in Cumbria in August 2007. On recent albums
Troy Donockley has been a co-producer.
In December 2007 the album ''Ringing The Changes'' was issued. It is a collection of songs written by the band. In 2008 Maddy Prior appeared at the BBC's "Electric Proms". Steeleye Span toured the Eastern US, Australia and the UK beginning in 2009.
With Giles Lewin and Hannah James, Prior completed two successful UK tours, in the spring and autumn of 2012, with a third, in autumn 2013.
In November and December 2013 Prior toured with
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span are a British folk rock band formed in 1969 in England by Fairport Convention bass player Ashley Hutchings and established London folk club duo Tim Hart and Maddy Prior. The band were part of the 1970s British folk revival, and we ...
, on the Wintersmith Tour, following the release in October of their album
Wintersmith
''Wintersmith'' is a comic fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, set in the Discworld and written with younger readers in mind. It is labelled a "Story of Discworld" to indicate its status as children's or young adult fiction, unlike ...
, a collaborative project based on the novel of the same name by
Terry Pratchett.
A short tour with
The Carnival Band in November and December, featuring carols and seasonal music, has become a regular fixture for Prior in recent years.
Awards
In 2001 Maddy Prior was awarded the
MBE Mbe may refer to:
* Mbé, a town in the Republic of the Congo
* Mbe Mountains Community Forest, in Nigeria
* Mbe language, a language of Nigeria
* Mbe' language, language of Cameroon
* ''mbe'', ISO 639 code for the extinct Molala language
Molal ...
for services to folk music.
In 2014 she received an
Honorary Fellowship
Honorary titles (professor, reader, lecturer) in academia may be conferred on persons in recognition of contributions by a non-employee or by an employee beyond regular duties. This practice primarily exists in the UK and Germany, as well as in m ...
from the
University of Cumbria.
Discography
With Steeleye Span
Prior was on all the Steeleye Span albums from ''Hark! The Village Wait'' (1970) to ''Time'' (1996). She then returned for ''
Present – The Very Best of Steeleye Span
''Present – The Very Best of Steeleye Span'' is the 17th studio album by Steeleye Span, released in 2002. The album contains new recordings of previously released songs.
The project began with a poll on Peter Knight's website, asking fans ...
'' (2002) and subsequent albums.
Solo albums
*''
Woman in the Wings
''Woman in the Wings '' is the debut solo studio album by English singer Maddy Prior, the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span. The album was released in May 1978 by Chrysalis Records. It was produced by Ian Anderson, Dee Palmer and Robin Black. All ...
'' (1978) — with
Jethro Tull
*''Changing Winds'' (1978)
*''
Hooked on Winning
''Hooked on Winning'' is a 1982 album by the Maddy Prior band.
Subsequent to its original release on vinyl on Kempire Records KMPA001 and then Plant Life, the album was unavailable for many years, until its 2011 re-release on CD on the Park Rec ...
'' (1982)
*''
Going for Glory Going may refer to:
*Go (verb)
** ''Going- to'' future, a construction in English grammar
* Going (horse racing), the condition of a horse racing track surface.
*Going (surname)
*"Going!", a song by KAT-TUN
*Way of going, a reference to the quality ...
'' (1983)
*''
Happy Families'' (as 'Maddy Prior and
Rick Kemp') (1990)
*''
Year
A year or annus is the orbital period of a planetary body, for example, the Earth, moving in its orbit around the Sun. Due to the Earth's axial tilt, the course of a year sees the passing of the seasons, marked by change in weather, the hou ...
'' (1993)
*''
Memento'' (best of) (1995)
*''
Flesh and Blood'' (1997)
*''
Ravenchild'' (1999)
*''
Ballads and Candles
''Ballads and Candles'' is an album by Maddy Prior.
It was recorded from concert performances during a tour of Cambridge, London and Warwick in 1999/2000 and released on CD in 2000.
The songs are drawn from all of Maddy's career. June Tabor jo ...
'' (2000)
*''
Arthur the King
''Arthur the King'' is an upcoming American adventure film directed by Simon Cellan Jones, written by Michael Brandt, and starring Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, and Juliet Rylance. It is based on the 2016 non-fiction book '' Arthur - The Dog Who Cros ...
'' (2001)
*''
Bib and Tuck'' (2002) — as 'Maddy Prior and the Girls' with
Abbie Lathe and
Rose Kemp
*''
Lionhearts'' (2003)
*''
Under the Covers'' (2005) — as 'Maddy + Girls' with
Abbie Lathe and
Claudia Gibson Claudia may refer to:
People Ancient Romans
*Any woman from the Roman Claudia gens
*Claudia (vestal), a Vestal Virgin who protected her father Appius Claudius Pulcher in 143 BC
* Claudia Augusta (63–63 AD), infant daughter of Nero by his secon ...
*''
The Quest'' (2007) (CD + DVD)
*''
Seven for Old England'' (2008)
Compilation
*''
Collections 1995 – 2005'' (2005)
Tim Hart and Maddy Prior
*''
Folk Songs of Olde England'' vol 1 (1968)
*''Folk Songs of Olde England'' vol 2 (1968)
*''
Summer Solstice
The summer solstice, also called the estival solstice or midsummer, occurs when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere ( Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the summer ...
'' (1971)
Maddy Prior and June Tabor
*''
Silly Sisters
The Silly Sisters is an English folk music duo, formed in 1976 by Maddy Prior and June Tabor.
History
Initially they performed together under their own names, and as such released their first album, ''Silly Sisters'', later taking this name ...
'' (1976)
*''
No More To The Dance'' (1988)
Maddy Prior, John Kirkpatrick and Sydney Carter
*''
Lovely in the Dances'' (1981)
Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band
*''
A Tapestry of Carols
''A Tapestry of Carols'' is an album by Maddy Prior. It is a collection of ancient carols from across Europe, played by The Carnival Band on replicas of medieval instruments. It was recorded at The Quaker Meeting House, Frenchay, near Bristol and ...
'' (1987)
*''
Sing Lustily and with Good Courage
''Sing Lustily And With Good Courage'' is an album by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band. It was recorded at Valley Recordings in March 1990 and released as a CD on the Saydisc label.
This is a collection of " Gallery Songs" from the 18th and e ...
'' (1990)
*''
Carols and Capers
A carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with Christian church worship, and sometimes accompanied by a dance. A caroller (or caroler) is someone who sings carols, and is said to be carolling (or caroling).
T ...
'' (1991)
*''
Hang Up Sorrow and Care
''Hang Up Sorrow and Care'' is an album by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band. Released in 1995, it is a loose concept album, with renditions of songs that were written hundreds of years ago.
Critical reception
''Stereo Review'' stated: "Ballads ...
'' (1995)
*''
Carols at Christmas
A carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with Christian church worship, and sometimes accompanied by a dance. A caroller (or caroler) is someone who sings carols, and is said to be carolling (or caroling).
T ...
'' (1996)
*''
Gold Frankincense and Myrrh'' (2001)
*''
An Evening of Carols and Capers
''An Evening of Carols and Capers'' is an album by Maddy Prior with The Carnival Band.
This double album is effectively an audio version of the DVD of the same name, though the tracks vary slightly. It is a collection of live recordings from co ...
'' (2005)
*''
Paradise Found'' (2007)
*''
Ringing the Changes
''Ringing the Changes'' is a 1929 British silent comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Henry Edwards, Charles Cantley, James Fenton and Margot Landa. It was based on a novel by Raleigh King. The screenplay concerns an aris ...
'' (2007)
*''
Vaughan Williams Carols Songs & Hymns'' (2010)
*''
A Christmas Caper: The Best of Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band'' (2012)
Maddy Prior and Martin Carthy
*''
Beat the Retreat
Beat, beats or beating may refer to:
Common uses
* Patrol, or beat, a group of personnel assigned to monitor a specific area
** Beat (police), the territory that a police officer patrols
** Gay beat, an area frequented by gay men
* Battery (c ...
'' (1994) Maddy Prior and Martin Carthy perform two songs, "Farewell, Farewell", and "The Great Valerio" on this Richard Thompson tribute album.
Maddy Prior, Giles Lewin and Hannah James
*''3 for Joy'' (2012)
*''Shortwinger'' (2017)
Maddy Prior singles
*"Rollercoaster" / "I Told You So" (1978)
*"Baggy Pants" / "Woman in the Wings" (1978)
*"Just the Two of Us" / "Acappella Stella" (1979)
*"Wake up England" / "Paradise" (1980)
*"The King" / "Ringing Down the Years" (1980) (with
Dave Cousins/
Strawbs
Strawbs (or The Strawbs) are an English rock band founded in 1964 as the Strawberry Hill Boys. The band started out as a bluegrass group, but eventually moved on to other styles such as folk rock and progressive rock.
They are best known fo ...
)
*"To Face" / "Half Listening" (1982)
*"Deep in the Darkest Night" / "Western Movies" (1983)
*"Stookie" / "Incidental Music From "Stookie"" (1985)
*"Happy Families" / "Who's Sorry Now?" (1990)
*"I Saw Three Ships" / "Quem Pastores" / "Monsieur Charpentier's Christmas Swing" (1991) (with the Carnival Band)
*"I Saw Three Ships (Dance Doctor's Christmas Re-Mix)" / "The Boar's Head" / "Poor Little Jesus" (1992)
*"All Around My Hat" (1996) (with Status Quo), No 47
*"Forgiveness" (2000) (with Jennifer Cutting All-Stars)
*"Gaudete" / "Greenwood Side" / "Gaudete (extended mix)" (2001) (with Keltic Fusion; Maddy's voice is sampled)
*"Stuff" (2007) (with the Carnival Band and Terry Jones)
*"Secret Garden" (2007) Excalibur II - The Celtic Ring, produced and composed by Alan Simon
DVDs
*''Ballads and Candles'' (2004)
*''An Evening of Carols and Capers'' (2005)
*''Looking For a Grail Legend'' (2007) (documentary)
As a session or guest singer
She appeared on these albums:
*
Shirley Collins: ''
No Roses
''No Roses'' is an album by Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band. It was recorded at Sound Techniques, and Air Studios in London, in the summer of 1971. It was produced by Sandy Roberton and Ashley Hutchings (Shirley Collins' husband at ...
'' (1971)
*
Jack the Lad: ''It's Jack the Lad'' (1974)
*
Ralph McTell
Ralph McTell (born Ralph May, 3 December 1944) is an English singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s. McTell is best known for his song " Streets of London" (19 ...
: ''
Streets...'' (1975), No 13
*
Jethro Tull: ''
Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!'' (1976), No 25
*
Wizz Jones
Raymond Ronald Jones (born 25 April 1939), better-known as Wizz Jones, is an English acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Thornton Heath, Surrey, England and has been performing since the late 1950s and sound recording an ...
: ''
Magical Flight'' (1977)
*
Mandalaband
Mandalaband is a progressive rock band formed in England in 1974. The band is led by David Rohl who writes, arranges, mixes and produces their material. Rohl is also a controversial Egyptologist, once featured on the London '' Sunday Times'' fro ...
: ''The Eye of Wendor: Prophecies'' (1978) on the track ''Like the Wind''
*
Mike Oldfield: ''
Incantations'' (1978), No 14
*
Mike Oldfield: ''
Exposed
Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to:
News sources
* Exposé (journalism), a form of investigative journalism
* ''The Exposé'', a British conspiracist website
Film and TV Film
* ''Exposé'' (film), a 1976 thriller film
* ''Exposed'' (1932 ...
'' (1979) No 16 - live album, re-released in 2005 on DVD-Video
*
Tim Hart and Friends: ''
My Very Favourite Nursery Rhymes'' (1981)
*
Tim Hart and Friends: ''
The Drunken Sailor and other Kids Favourites'' (1983)
*Swan Arcade: ''Diving for Pearls'' (1986)
*
Frankie Armstrong
Frankie Armstrong (born 13 January 1941) is an English singer and voice teacher. She has worked as a singer in the folk scene and the women's movement and as a trainer in social and youth work. Her repertoire ranges from traditional ballads to m ...
: ''
Till The Grass O'Ergrew The Corn'' (1996)
*
Status Quo
is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to social, political, religious or military issues. In the sociological sense, the ''status quo'' refers to the current state of social structure and/or values. W ...
: "
Don't Stop" (1996), No 2
*Rev Hammer's Freeborn John: The Story of John Lilburne-The Leader of the Levellers (1997)
*
Ayuo
Ayuo Takahashi (born October 19, 1960) is a Japanese-born American composer, poet, lyricist, singer and performer of plucked string instruments including guitar, bouzouki, Irish harp, Chinese zheng, Japanese koto, and medieval European psaltery. ...
: ''Nova Carmina'' (1986) (Maddy Prior sings two songs from the Carmina Burana)
*
Strawbs
Strawbs (or The Strawbs) are an English rock band founded in 1964 as the Strawberry Hill Boys. The band started out as a bluegrass group, but eventually moved on to other styles such as folk rock and progressive rock.
They are best known fo ...
:
Blue Angel (2003)
*
Jennifer Cutting: ''Ocean: Songs for the Night Sea Journey'' (2005)
*Rev Hammer – Freeborn John Live (2007)
Television
*
BBC Wildlife on One: Shadow of the Hare 12 April 1993
References
External links
Official websiteStones BarnPark Records Prior's Record Label
The Carnival Band*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prior, Maddy
English women singers
1947 births
Living people
Members of the Order of the British Empire
People from Blackpool
Steeleye Span members
English folk singers
British folk rock musicians
Chrysalis Records artists
The Albion Band members
Topic Records artists