The Roches facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Roches
The Roches in 1980. Left to right: Suzzy, Maggie, Terre
Background information
Origin	Park Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Folk folk pop pop rock
Years active	1973 (1973)–2017 (2017)
Labels	Warner Bros. Real Live Paradox MCA Rhino Baby Music Boom Rykodisc 429
Past members	Maggie Roche Terre Roche Suzzy Roche

The Roches were a music group from Park Ridge, New Jersey. It was made up of three sisters: Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy Roche. They were known for their unique singing style.

The Roches' Music Career

Starting Their Music Journey

Maggie and Terre Roche, the older sisters, started their music career in the late 1960s. They left high school to tour as a duo. Maggie wrote most of their songs. Terre also helped write some.

A big moment for them was when famous musician Paul Simon asked them to sing on his 1973 album. This helped them get noticed in the music world.

Forming the Trio

Later in the 1970s, their youngest sister, Suzzy Roche, joined the group. This formed the trio known as The Roches. They worked at a folk music club in New York City called Gerde's Folk City. This experience inspired their song "Face Down at Folk City."

Their first album as a trio, The Roches, came out in 1979. A famous producer named Robert Fripp helped make it. Maggie's song "The Married Men" became a hit for other singers, like Phoebe Snow. The Roches even performed on Saturday Night Live in 1979.

Music in the 1980s and 1990s

Throughout the 1980s, The Roches kept releasing music. They had a small but loyal audience. In 1983, they had a special concert on the TV show Soundstage. They also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1985.

In 1990, they released a Christmas album called We Three Kings. It included a special song called "Star of Wonder." After another pop album, they made an album of children's songs called Will You Be My Friend?. Suzzy's daughter, Lucy Wainwright Roche, even sang on it.

Their album Can We Go Home Now came out in 1995. It was their last album together for a while.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1997, the sisters decided to take a break from the group. They worked on their own music and projects. They often sang together on albums and at shows. Terre taught guitar, and Suzzy acted in movies and plays.

The sisters reunited for holiday tours in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, after 12 years, they released a new album called Moonswept. After this tour, they stopped touring regularly. However, they still performed together sometimes in New York City.

On January 21, 2017, Maggie Roche passed away at age 65. Suzzy shared that Maggie was a very talented songwriter. She was known for her unique and heartfelt songs.

The Roches' music was among many recordings lost in a big fire at Universal Studios in 2008.

The Roche Family

The sisters had very distinct voices. Maggie had a deep, low voice. Terre sang the high parts. Suzzy filled in the middle. When they performed, they played guitars and keyboards. Sometimes, other musicians joined them.

Terre Roche still performs in New York City. She also leads a "Sunset Singing Circle" in a park.

Their brother, David Roche, is also a singer and songwriter. He often sang on their albums. Maggie's son, Felix McTeigue, is also a musician. Suzzy's daughter, Lucy Wainwright Roche, sings too. She has released her own albums and toured with other artists. Her father is Loudon Wainwright III.

The Roches' Albums

Albums by Maggie and Terre Roche

• I Gave My Love a Kerry (2004)

Albums by The Roches

• The Roches (1979)
• Nurds (1980)
• Keep On Doing (1982)
• Another World (1985)
• No Trespassing (1986)
• Speak (1989)
• We Three Kings (1990)
• A Dove (1992)
• Will You Be My Friend? (1994)
• Can We Go Home Now (1995)
• The Collected Works of the Roches (2003)
• Moonswept (2007)
• Rhino HiFive: The Roches (2007)

Albums by Suzzy Roche

• Holy Smokes (1997)
• Songs from an Unmarried Housewife and Mother, Greenwich Village, USA (2000)

Albums by Terre Roche

• The Sound of a Tree Falling (1998)
• Imprint (2015)

Albums by Suzzy and Maggie Roche

• Zero Church (2002)
• Why The Long Face (2004)

Albums by Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche

• Fairytale and Myth (2013)
• Mud and Apples (2016)
• I Can Still Hear You (2020)

Albums by Terre Roche, Sidiki Conde and Marlon Cherry (as Afro-Jersey)

• Afro-Jersey (2013)

Other Music and TV Appearances

• There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973): Maggie and Terre sang on Paul Simon's album.
• Saturday Night Live (1979): The Roches performed two songs on this TV show.
• Exposure (1979): Terre sang on this album by Robert Fripp.
• Soundstage (1983): The Roches were featured in an episode of this music series.
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1985): The Roches performed two songs.
• Songs from Liquid Days (1986): The Roches sang on two songs by Philip Glass.
• Crossing Delancey (1988): Suzzy acted in this movie, and The Roches provided songs for the soundtrack.
• Stay Awake (1988): The Roches contributed to this Disney tribute album.
• Tiny Toon Adventures (1991): The Roches played singing cockroaches in an episode.
• Princesses (1991): The trio sang the theme song for this TV series.
• A Weekend in the Country (1994): The trio played themselves in this film.
• The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure (1994): The band wrote songs for this animated movie.
• Tracey Takes On... (1997): The Roches appeared in an episode about music.
• Time and Love: The Music of Laura Nyro (1997): They sang "Wedding Bell Blues."
• What's That I Hear?: The Songs of Phil Ochs (1998): They performed "The Bells."
• Live at the World Café: Volume 9 (1999): They sang "Hammond Song."
• Rites of Passage (1992): Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy sang backup vocals for the Indigo Girls.
• Nod to Bob: An Artist's Tribute to Bob Dylan on His 60th Birthday (2001): Suzzy and Maggie performed a song by Bob Dylan.
• Endless Highway: The Music of The Band (2007): The Roches performed "Acadian Driftwood" by the Band.
• Please Give (2010): The Roches sang "No Shoes" in this movie.
• Amen & Goodbye (2016): Suzzy sang on several songs for the band Yeasayer.

Other Musical Connections

Images for kids

• 

  The Roches in 1980. Left to right: Suzzy, Maggie, Terre

See also

In Spanish: The Roches para niños

• List of sibling groups