Inspired by American folk music, Judy gave up a promising career as a classical pianist and took up the guitar. She managed to bring folk art to a new level, to make it popular all over the world.
Biography
Judy was born in Seattle to a large family. My father made a living playing the piano, including on radio shows. When the girl was 10 years old, he received a lucrative offer, and the family moved to Denver, Colorado.
In Denver, Judy starts attending music lessons for the first time. She studies with Antonia Brico, studies classical piano. At the age of 13, he makes his first public debut, performing a work by Mozart.
A great love and interest in folk music awakens in the girl. Not finding understanding from her teacher, Collins decides to leave piano lessons and do what she wants.
Thanks to her father's musical career, Collins was personally acquainted with many musicians, communication with whom helped her in finding herself. Leaving the piano, Judy learns to play the guitar, develops vocal skills, tries to write poetry.
Career
After leaving school, he begins public performances with folk songs in pubs, parties, and clubs. She dreams of recording songs of her own performance, she succeeds in 1961, after signing a contract with a large recording company Electra Records.
Collins' first album came out when she was only 22 years old. In this album, she performed her own versions of classic folk songs, as well as versions of her closest protest songs of the time. For example, she covered songs by Bob Dylan and Tom Paxton.
Judy wanted to open up little-known poets and songwriters to the general public, which she successfully did. So, work with the Canadian poet Leonard Cohen, practically unknown at that time, grew into long-term strong friendship and cooperation.
Collins played the first album on acoustic guitar, without adding any other musical instruments. On the second album she collaborated with Mark Abramson and Joshua Rifkin, who reworked many of her melodies for orchestral performance. The combination of folk music with an orchestra became her trademark over the next decade.
In 1967, Collins released the album "Wildflowers", in which, in addition to revised works by other authors, he recorded several compositions of his own composition. The album was warmly received by the public and critics, was nominated for a Grammy, and reached high lines in the charts. Two songs were used as soundtracks in the film "If Not For Roses," based on the Pulzer Prize-nominated play by Gilbert.
She recorded the 1968 album with Stephen Stills, a young performer with whom she has a romantic relationship. The album is notable for its juicy sound and unusual arrangements. It includes a composition, written by Collins herself, "My Father", also continues to collaborate with Leonard Cohen.
By 1970, Judy Collins received universal recognition, her talent in performing songs and folk songs was noted not only by listeners, but also by the most severe critics. The latter are especially admired by the wide variety of her repertoire, from traditional Christian hymns to Broadway ballads.
In January 1978 he starred in one of the series of the Muppet Show, where he performed several of his compositions. He also appears in several episodes on the TV show Sesame Street, starring in the modern fairy tale "The Sad Princess". Voices and performs musical compositions in cartoons.
In 1990 he signed a contract with the Columbia studio, under this label he released the album "Bonfires of Eden", the single of the same name became especially popular. To promote the single, Judy shoots a music video.
Despite his slight popularity in the 2000s, Collins continues to perform concerts around the world.
Books
In addition to music, Judy Collins is successfully engaged in literary creativity. Her first book, the autobiographical novel Trust Your Heart, was published in 1987.
In 1995 the novel "Shameless" was published. In 2003, the second autobiographical novel "Sanity and Grace" was published, in which Judy Collins describes her attempts to understand the reasons for her son's suicide.
Personal life
A flamboyant romance with Peter Taylor led to the wedding in 1958. The couple had a child, Clark Taylor. They divorced in 1965.
Since the 70s, he has been struggling with various addictions. After successfully quitting smoking, Collins develops severe bulimia, and the inability to recognize her addiction has led to repeated episodes of depression. Collins used various types of drugs, had problems with alcohol dependence.
In 1978, the desire to cope with addictions leads Collins to decide to participate in a rehabilitation program. The experience turns out to be successful, she manages to cope with the problem, remaining sober even in the most difficult life situations.
In the same year he met Louis Nelsen, whose support he later calls invaluable. The couple has been living together for a long time, but decides to register their relationship only in 1996.
In 1992, her only son dies. Clark fought for a long time with clinical depression, aggravated by drug addiction, without seeing the results of treatment, committed suicide.
