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Legendary singer Judy Collins, known for her stunning interpretations of “Both Sides Now,” “Send in the Clowns” and “Amazing Grace,” has provided fans around the world with more than 40 years of music recording with 37 albums, top 10 hits, Grammy nominations, and gold and platinum status. It is certainly no wonder that this artist was the muse for the classic rock song, “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.”
Judy’s early musical background was classical piano. Her father, Chuck Collins, was a singer, composer and broadcaster during the golden age of radio. By age 10, Judy was studying with mentor Antonia Brico, the famed orchestral conductor, who was subject of Judy’s 1974 prize-winning documentary, “Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman.”
At 13, Judy made her public debut performing Mozart’s “Concerto for Two Pianos.” But the music of such artists as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and the traditional songs of the folk revival sparked Judy’s love of lyrics and, by 16, she had moved from playing the Steinway to playing guitar. Soon she was singing at folk clubs around the country.
As the Sixties grew more rebellious, Judy was drawn to songs by the social poets of the time: Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan. Soon to come were early dramatic moves that established Judy’s eclectic nature. Her 1966 album “In My Life” had her stepping assuredly into a broad mixture of songs, a characteristic that has stamped her albums ever since. She also began playing the piano again, bringing her musical roots back into her performance. On her next album “Wildflowers,” she asked Joshua Rifkin to arrange the entire album for orchestra, breaking new ground in the contemporary song movement. Today, it’s regarded as a turning point in her career, giving Judy her first major single, “Both Sides Now” and earning her the first of many Grammy nominations.
Judy continues, with music of hope and healing, to light up a world that needs music that matters and speaks to the heart.
Judy’s early musical background was classical piano. Her father, Chuck Collins, was a singer, composer and broadcaster during the golden age of radio. By age 10, Judy was studying with mentor Antonia Brico, the famed orchestral conductor, who was subject of Judy’s 1974 prize-winning documentary, “Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman.”
At 13, Judy made her public debut performing Mozart’s “Concerto for Two Pianos.” But the music of such artists as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and the traditional songs of the folk revival sparked Judy’s love of lyrics and, by 16, she had moved from playing the Steinway to playing guitar. Soon she was singing at folk clubs around the country.
As the Sixties grew more rebellious, Judy was drawn to songs by the social poets of the time: Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan. Soon to come were early dramatic moves that established Judy’s eclectic nature. Her 1966 album “In My Life” had her stepping assuredly into a broad mixture of songs, a characteristic that has stamped her albums ever since. She also began playing the piano again, bringing her musical roots back into her performance. On her next album “Wildflowers,” she asked Joshua Rifkin to arrange the entire album for orchestra, breaking new ground in the contemporary song movement. Today, it’s regarded as a turning point in her career, giving Judy her first major single, “Both Sides Now” and earning her the first of many Grammy nominations.
Judy continues, with music of hope and healing, to light up a world that needs music that matters and speaks to the heart.
