Shirley Collins

Shirley Elizabeth Collins MBE ( born July 5, 1935 in Hastings, East Sussex ) is an English folk musician.

Life

Shirley Collins grew up with her sister Dolly at Hastings in southern England on. Traditional folk music had a place in her family, songs she learned from her grandfather and her aunt, given their musical direction.

After her schooling Collins began training as a teacher in London. In London she met in 1954 at a celebration of Ewan MacColl the American musicologist Alan Lomax, who had left the United States due to the anti-Communist hysteria of the McCarthy era. With him, Collins began a romantic relationship, together they undertook several months of travel in the southern United States after previously their first record was published with Sweet England (1959 ), where she and November accumulated 1959 folk songs of July and recordings with musicians such as Fred McDowell. These recordings were released by Atlantic Records under the title Sounds of the South and partly as a soundtrack for the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? - A Mississippi Odyssey ( 2000), the Coen brothers used. The impressions and experiences they during the recordings in religious communities, gatherings but also made prisons along with Lomax, Collins described in her book America Over the Water ( 2004).

Back in England began her career as a folk singer Collins continued and changed the English folk scene with the brought from the U.S. influences. 1964 appeared to her, together with guitarist Davy Graham album recorded Folk Roots, New Routes. In 1967 she published with her sister Dolly ( on Portative ) a collection of folk songs südenglischer The Sweet Prime Roses. In 1969, together with the folk band The Young Tradition, her album The Holly Bears the Crown.

The most important publication of Shirley Collins ' applies their album Anthems in Eden (1969 ), which dealt with the theme influenced by the First World War life in rural England and whose music was arranged by Dolly. Noteworthy was the ancient -looking instrumentation from example Rebek, sackbut, knee violin and Krummhorn that were used in addition to the usual guitar. Critics have noted that this paved the way for the entrance unusual, electric instruments as accompaniment for traditional music, such as later used by well-known folk bands like Fairport Convention or Steeleye Span.

This was followed by the plates Love, Death and the Lady ( 1970) and ( with the Albion Country Band, 1971) No Roses.

All their records bear witness to the great love and deep understanding of Collins ' for the English folk music, which, however, contemporary arranged.

Shirley Collins married her second husband Ashley Hutchings in 1971, who left Steeleye Span and Collins founded the Etchingham Steam band.

The last studio album For As Many As Will published Shirley and Dolly Collins 1978.

Today, she has lectured and read from her book and her program A Most Sunshiny Day ( about the traditional music in England and especially in Sussex ) and I'm a Romany Rai (via the " gypsy music" in the south of England ).

Services

Shirley Collins is regarded as a co-initiator of the revival of English folk music. But other areas it has significantly affected, the American rock band 10,000 Maniacs released a cover version of Collins ' piece Just as the Tide Turning what.

David Tibet of Current 93 released on his Durtro label under the title Snow Fountains of a selection of songs by Shirley and Dolly Collins from 1963 to 1978. 1998 also appeared in Durtro harking back, recordings of concerts by Collins in Dublin in 1978 and London 1979. Shirley Collins also sings a version of the title Idumea on the album Black Ships Ate the Sky ( 2006) Current 93, further they still appeared on other albums by Current 93

Billy Bragg said of her: ". Shirley Collins is without doubt one of England 's greatest cultural treasures " ( German: " Shirley Collins is without doubt one of the greatest cultural treasures of England. " )

The singer of the band The Decemberists, Colin Meloy, an EP ( Colin Meloy Sings Shirley Collins) took 2006 with six cover versions of Collins, who was at his solo tour in the U.S. in limited numbers.

Honors

From the English Folk Dance and Song Society ( an English company to preservation of folk songs and dances ) 2004, she earned the gold badge for their services. 2007 Shirley Collins was awarded for her contribution of the British Order of Knights Order of the British Empire.

Discography (selection)

  • Shirley Collins - Sweet England ( Argo, 1959)
  • Shirley Collins - False True Lovers ( Folkways, 1960)
  • Shirley Collins - Heroes In Love ( Topic EP, 1963)
  • Shirley Collins and Davy Graham - Folk Roots, New Routes ( Decca, 1964)
  • The Young Tradition and Shirley and Dolly Collins - The Holly Bears The Crown ( Fledg'ling 1969 /1995)
  • Shirley Collins - The Sweet Prime Roses ( Topic, 1970)
  • Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band - No Roses ( Pegasus, 1971)
  • Etchingham Steam Band - Etchingham Steam band ( Fledg'ling, 1975)
  • Shirley and Dolly Collins - Power of the True Love Knot ( Polydor, 1968)
  • Shirley and Dolly Collins - Anthems in Eden (EMI Harvest, 1969)
  • Shirley and Dolly Collins - Love, Death and the Lady ( EMI Harvest, 1970)
  • Shirley Collins - A Favourite Garland ( Gama, 1973)
  • Shirley Collins - Adieu to Olde England ( Topic, 1974)
  • Shirley and Dolly Collins - For as Many as Will ( Topic, 1978)
  • Current 93 - Thunder Perfect Mind ( Durtro, 1992)
  • Shirley Collins - Fountain of Snow ( Durtro, 1992)
  • Shirley and Dolly Collins - harking back (Live in Concert 1978/1979, Durtro, 1998)
  • Shirley Collins - The Classic Collection ( High Point, 2004)
  • Shirley Collins - Within Sound ( Fledg'ling, 2003)
  • Shirley and Dolly Collins - Snapshots ( Fledg'ling, 2006)
727725
de