Julie Felix facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julie Felix
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Felix performing for Dutch television in 1967
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| Background information | |
| Born | June 14, 1938 Santa Barbara, California, U.S. |
| Died | March 22, 2020 (aged 81) |
| Genres | Folk music, folk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, guitarist, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1963–2020 |
| Labels | Decca, Fontana, RAK, EMI, Remarkable (own label) |
Julie Ann Felix (born June 14, 1938 – died March 22, 2020) was an American-British folk singer. She became very popular on British television in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Later, she released many albums on her own record label.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Julie Felix was born in Santa Barbara, California. Her father had Mexican and Native American heritage. Her mother had English and Welsh roots. Julie finished high school in Westchester, Los Angeles in 1956.
Music was a big part of Julie's family life. Her father was a professional mariachi musician. Her mother loved to sing and enjoyed the music of Burl Ives. Julie's father taught her to play the ukulele and then the guitar. She even wrote her first song when she was only seven years old.
After studying drama at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Julie worked at a school for children with disabilities. At night, she started singing in coffee shops in Los Angeles. There, she met a young musician named David Crosby.
Journey to the United Kingdom
Julie saved up $1000 from her job. In June 1962, she left the USA and traveled all over Europe for about two years. She often played music in bars and coffee shops to earn money. While staying on the Greek island of Hydra, she met the famous singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen.
Julie arrived in the United Kingdom in 1964. She became the first solo folk artist to sign with a major British record company, Decca Records. She recorded three albums with them. Her first big moment was headlining a show at the Fairfield Hall in Croydon in 1965. Later that year, she was the first folk singer to perform a solo show at the Royal Albert Hall. The Times newspaper called her "Britain's First Lady of Folk."
Her first big break on British television was an appearance on the Eamonn Andrews TV show. People liked her performance so much that she was asked back the next week. Julie Felix was also the first "pop" musician to ever perform at Westminster Abbey.
Television Success and Popularity
In 1966, Julie Felix met comedian David Frost. He was about to host a new BBC TV show called The Frost Report. Frost was very impressed by Julie's singing. He convinced the BBC to include her as a regular musical performer on his show. Her appearances on The Frost Report made her famous across the UK.
After her contract with Decca ended, Julie signed with Fontana Records. She made six albums for Fontana between 1966 and 1969. Her first Fontana album, Changes, became a UK Top 40 hit.
With strong support from David Frost, Julie was chosen to host her own musical variety shows on BBC2. These shows ran from 1967 to 1970.
Hosting Her Own Shows
Julie Felix hosted two popular musical-variety shows for the BBC. The first was Once More With Felix. The first episode aired on December 9, 1967. It was one of the first BBC TV series made in color. It was also one of the first British shows of its kind to be hosted by a female "pop" performer.
Julie remembered that the BBC gave her one of the first color televisions in Britain. She said her Chelsea apartment was "packed" with friends. They all came to watch The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour on her new color TV on Boxing Day 1967.
Many famous musical guests appeared on Once More with Felix and The Julie Felix Show. These included Dusty Springfield, Billy Preston, The Kinks, Tim Buckley, The Hollies, The Incredible String Band, Fleetwood Mac, and The Four Tops. Comedians Peter Cook and Spike Milligan also appeared. Julie invited her old friend Leonard Cohen to appear in 1968. This was his first time on British TV. Led Zeppelin's lead guitarist, Jimmy Page, gave a rare solo performance. He played his guitar pieces "White Summer" and "Black Mountain Side."
Julie often performed with her guests. She sang with Leonard Cohen and played guitar with The Incredible String Band. She also sang her own song "Going to the Zoo" with The Hollies. Sadly, the BBC later erased most of the original recordings of her shows. Only some parts still exist today.
Julie also performed at other events. On May 1, 1967, she appeared on the German TV show Beat-Club. In September 1968, she performed at the International Essen Song Days. She also played at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1969.
Later Career and Activism
In 1971, Julie Felix traveled to New Zealand. She performed at the Western Springs music festival. On December 19 of that year, she had her only child, a daughter named Tanit. Julie chose to raise her daughter as a single mother.
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Julie had two hit songs in 1970 on the RAK label. The first was "If I Could (El Cóndor Pasa)". The second hit was "Heaven Is Here," written by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson of Hot Chocolate.
Julie continued to record music throughout her life. She released fourteen albums between 1972 and 2018. Many of these were released on her own label, Remarkable Records. This included the 1989 album Bright Shadows.
In the late 1970s, Julie lived in Norway for several years. She then returned to California and took a break from music. She studied yoga and other spiritual practices. In the late 1980s, she started performing again and moved back to the UK. She lived there for the rest of her life.
Julie Felix was also very involved in social activism and charity work. She performed and worked for many important causes.
On March 24, 2008, she appeared on a BBC Four show. Stars from The Frost Report gathered to celebrate 40 years since Frost Over England. Julie sang "Blowin' in the Wind" on the program. She also performed yearly at the Wynd Theatre in Melrose, Scottish Borders in the 2000s.
Julie Felix lived in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, England, until her death. She kept recording and performing. In 2018, she celebrated her 80th birthday with a special concert. It featured guest appearances by John_Paul_Jones_(musician), Madeline Bell, and John Cameron.
Julie Felix passed away on March 22, 2020, after a short illness.
Discography
Albums
- 1964 Julie Felix (Decca)
- 1965 2nd Album (Decca)
- 1966 3rd Album (Decca)
- 1966 Changes (Fontana) – UK No. 27
- 1967 In Concert (World)
- 1967 Flowers (Fontana)
- 1968 This World Goes Round and Round (Fontana)
- 1968 Julie Felix's World (Fontana)
- 1969 Going to the Zoo (Fontana)
- 1972 Clotho's Web (RAK)
- 1974 Lightning (EMI)
- 1977 Hota Chocolata (Monte Rosa)
- 1982 Colours in the Rain (Scranta)
- 1982 Blowing in the Wind (Scranta/Dingle's)
- 1987 Amazing Grace (Starburst)
- 1989 Bright Shadows (Remarkable)
- 1993 Branches in the Mist (Remarkable)
- 1995 Windy Morning (Remarkable)
- 1998 Fire – My Spirit (Remarkable)
- 2002 Starry Eyed and Laughing: Songs by Bob Dylan (Remarkable)
- 2008 Highway of Diamonds (Remarkable)
- 2013 La Que Sabe (She Who Knows) (Remarkable)
- 2018 Rock Me Goddess (Talking Elephant)
EPs
- 1965 Sings Dylan & Guthrie (Decca)
- 1966 Songs from the Frost Report (Fontana)
- 1967 Songs from the Frost Report, Vol. 2 (Fontana)
Singles
- 1965 "Someday Soon" (Decca)
- 1966 "I Can't Touch the Sun" (Fontana)
- 1967 "Saturday Night" (Fontana)
- 1967 "The Magic of the Playground" (Fontana)
- 1968 "That's No Way to Say Goodbye" (Fontana)
- 1970 "If I Could (El Cóndor Pasa)" (RAK) – UK No. 19
- 1970 "Heaven Is Here" (RAK) – UK No. 22
- 1971 "Snakeskin" (RAK)
- 1971 "Moonlight" (RAK)
- 1972 "Fire Water Earth and Air" (RAK)
- 1974 "Lady With the Braid" (EMI)
- 1974 "Finally Getting to Know One Another" (EMI)
- 1974 "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" (EMI)
- 1977 "Hota Chocolata" (Talent)
- 1978 "Come Out" (Talent)
- 1981 "Yoke (We Believe)" (Scranta)
- 1981 "Dance With Me" (Scranta)
- 1988 "The Sea and the Sky" (Remarkable)
- 1992 "Woman" (Remarkable)
