Judy Collins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Judy Collins
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Collins at the Cambridge Folk Festival, 2008
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| Birth name | Judith Marjorie Collins |
| Born | May 1, 1939 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Origin | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1959–present |
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Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Her career has lasted for nearly seven decades. She is a Grammy Award-winning artist known for her clear voice and for recording many different kinds of music. She has performed folk music, country, pop music, and rock and roll.
Her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, came out in 1961. It was her version of the song "Both Sides, Now" that made her famous around the world in 1967. The song was written by Joni Mitchell. It became a top 10 hit and won Collins her first Grammy Award. She also had success with songs like "Someday Soon", "Chelsea Morning", and "Amazing Grace".
Collins' biggest hit was her version of "Send in the Clowns" from the 1975 album Judith. The song was a major success and earned her a Grammy nomination. The album Judith also became her best-selling album. It sold over one million copies in the United States.
In 2017, her recording of "Amazing Grace" was chosen by the Library of Congress to be saved in the National Recording Registry. This means it is considered an important part of American culture and history. In 2022, she released Spellbound, her first album of all-new songs written by her. It earned her another Grammy nomination.
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Early Life and Musical Start
Collins was born in Seattle, Washington. She was the oldest of five children. When she was ten, her family moved to Denver, Colorado. Her father, Chuck Collins, was a blind singer and piano player who had a radio show.
At age 11, Collins had polio and had to spend two months in the hospital. As a child, she learned to play classical piano. Her teacher was the famous conductor Antonia Brico. Collins gave her first public piano performance at age 13, playing a concerto by Mozart.
However, Collins became very interested in folk music. She loved the songs of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. This new passion led her to stop her classical piano lessons and start playing the guitar. After high school, she began performing at local clubs in Colorado.
Career Highlights
The 1960s: Rise to Fame
Collins moved to Greenwich Village in New York City, a center for folk music. She signed with Elektra Records and released her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, in 1961. At first, she sang traditional folk songs and songs by other writers like Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs.
She helped make other musicians famous by recording their songs. She was one of the first to record songs by Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, and Randy Newman.
Her 1966 album, In My Life, was different. It used a full orchestra on many songs, which was unusual for a folk artist. This new sound set the stage for her future work.
In 1967, she released the album Wildflowers. It included her first original song, "Since You Asked." The album also had the hit song "Both Sides, Now", which reached No. 8 on the Billboard charts and made her an international star.
Her 1968 album, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, had a country sound. It featured guitar playing by Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills & Nash. Collins was the inspiration for the famous CSN song "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes".
The 1970s: Major Success
In the 1970s, Collins became known for her own songwriting and for singing a wide variety of music. She had major hits with the Christian hymn "Amazing Grace" and the Broadway song "Send in the Clowns".
Her 1975 album, Judith, was a huge success. It included "Send in the Clowns" and became her best-selling record, selling over a million copies.
During this time, Collins also appeared on children's television shows. She was a guest star on The Muppet Show and also appeared on Sesame Street, where she sang with the Muppets.
1980s and 1990s: New Directions
In the 1980s, Collins continued to record music. She sang the theme song for the animated movie The Wind in the Willows. She also released her first memoir, Trust Your Heart, in 1987.
In the 1990s, she released the album Fires of Eden. She also performed at the first inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1993. The Clintons have said they named their daughter, Chelsea, after Collins's recording of the song "Chelsea Morning".
She released an album of Bob Dylan songs and her first Christmas album. In 1995, she published a novel called Shameless. In 1999, she started her own record label, Wildflower Records.
2000s–Present: Still Making Music
Collins has remained very active in the 21st century. She has released many albums on her own label. In 2015, she released Strangers Again, an album of duets with artists like Willie Nelson and Jackson Browne.
In 2016, she worked with singer Ari Hest on the album Silver Skies Blue. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. In 2017, she released an album of songs by Stephen Sondheim and another album with her friend Stephen Stills.
In 2019, at the age of 80, she had her first No. 1 album on a Billboard chart with Winter Stories. In 2022, she released Spellbound, her first album where she wrote all the songs herself. It also received a Grammy nomination.
Activism and Social Causes
Like many folk singers of her time, Collins has been involved in social activism. She has used her music to bring attention to important issues. She supported the Yippie movement in the 1960s and was friends with its leaders. In 1969, she testified in support of the Chicago Seven, a group of anti-war protesters.
In the late 1990s, she worked with UNICEF on a campaign to ban land mines. Her more recent songs have been about protecting the environment and supporting young immigrants.
Personal Life
Collins has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Peter Taylor in 1958. They had one son, Clark C. Taylor. The marriage ended in 1965. In 1996, she married designer Louis Nelson. They lived together in New York City until his death in 2024.
In 1962, Collins was diagnosed with tuberculosis and spent six months in a hospital recovering. She has also been open about her personal challenges, hoping to help others. She became an activist for suicide prevention after her son Clark died in 1992.
Awards and Recognition
Judy Collins has received many awards for her music and activism.
- She has been nominated for seven Grammy Awards and won one for "Both Sides, Now".
- Her 1974 documentary film, Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman, was nominated for an Academy Award.
- In 2006, she was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame.
- In 2009, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
- In 2017, her version of "Amazing Grace" was added to the National Recording Registry.
- In 2019, she received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
Discography
Collins has released over 36 studio albums, nine live albums, and many other collections. Her most successful albums include:
- In My Life (1966)
- Wildflowers (1967)
- Who Knows Where the Time Goes (1968)
- Whales & Nightingales (1970)
- Colors of the Day (1972)
- Judith (1975)
Images for kids
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Collins performing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, 1968
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Collins in Hilton Amsterdam, a hotel, in 1971
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Judy Collins before a performance at the Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver, 2016.
See also
In Spanish: Judy Collins para niños
- List of peace activists
